Summer Lake Hot Springs

What to expect

Summer Lake Hot Springs is a small, privately owned resort on the western edge of the Summer Lake basin, in the dry country Oregon markets as the Oregon Outback. It is not a wild spring and not a drop-in pool. The property covers about 145 acres of sagebrush, a wildlife pond and walking trails, with a scattering of cabins, a camping field and RV sites around one old bathhouse.

The bathhouse is the heart of the place. It was first built in 1929 and has been rebuilt several times. Inside is a 15 by 30 foot concrete pool that the resort keeps at about 97-99°F36-37°C, warm enough to float in for a long time without overheating. Around it are changing rooms, two showers and a restroom. Outside, on the west side of the building, owner Duane Graham added three rock-lined pools that run hotter, averaging about 104°F40°C. Those are the ones people talk about, because you lie back in them and look straight up at a sky with almost no light pollution.

The water is untreated mineral water that rises along the Slide Mountain fault. The resort says it reaches the surface at about 113°F45°C; a state geothermal database records a spot reading of about 124°F51°C at the spring. It is high in silica and sodium and feels soft on the skin. You can drink it, but the resort warns it is not very thirst-quenching, so bring your own drinking water.

The overall feel is quiet and low-key. There are no TVs and no Wi-Fi, and the resort asks guests to keep their voices down in the pools, especially in the echoing bathhouse.

The pools

• Bathhouse pool (indoor): about 97-99°F36-37°C, 4-5 feet deep, open roughly mid-May to mid-November.
• Outdoor rock pools: three pools, about 104°F40°C on average, open year-round.

When the indoor pool is open, all pools close for overnight cleaning on Sunday and Thursday nights. In the other months the outdoor tubs stay hot around the clock and are cleaned on a rotation between check-out and check-in (11am-3pm). The policies page also lists soaking hours of 9am-8pm alongside its rules for children, so ask at check-in which hours apply to your group.

Prices and booking

Every visit needs a reservation. The resort is clear that day use is not allowed, and there is no soak-only ticket.

Rates published on the resort site in 2026:

• Tent sites: $30 per person per night. The tent area is a large, flat, unshaded field with fire pits. Sites are not numbered.
• RV sites: $30 per person per night, plus $20 a night for hookups. Hookups are 20-50 amp with water and sewer, and some sites are pull-through.
• Cabins: 10 cabins, most with geothermally heated floors, a kitchen and a fire pit. The Paisley cabin is listed at $150 a night for two. Extra guests are $30 each per night.
• Houses: two three-bedroom houses. The Homestead, a house built in 1916 and later moved to the property, is $225 a night for four.

Cabins and houses need a two-night minimum. Check-in is at 3pm and check-out at 11am. Bring your own bedding, pillows and bath towels; towels and robes can be rented at the office. There is no air conditioning in the cabins, only fans in summer and portable heaters in winter.

Cancellations eight or more days out are free. Inside seven days, early departures and no-shows are charged in full, and holiday dates have a 14-day window. Groups of more than 10 people must call the office first.

When to go

The resort is open all year, but it is not always open to the public. In 2026 it closed to general bookings for several private events and festivals, including late May, mid-June and two weekends in October, and it set aside late August and early September for Burning Man travelers. Online booking simply shows those dates as unavailable, so check the events and closures page before you plan a trip.

Spring and fall give mild days and cold, clear nights, which is when the outdoor pools are at their best. Summer is hot and bright in the basin, so bring a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen and soak after dark. Winter brings freezing nights. The indoor pool is closed from mid-November to mid-May, so you rely on the outdoor rock pools, and a robe and warm slip-on boots make the walk from your cabin much easier.

Rules and etiquette

• Reservations only. No walk-ins and no day visitors.
• Quiet hours run from 9pm to 9am across the property.
• No glass anywhere in the bathhouse or near the outdoor pools.
• Alcohol is allowed in moderation around the property but not in the bathhouse or the outdoor pools. No smoking at the bathhouse.
• Swimwear: the resort’s packing list tells guests to bring bathing suits, and it does not post a clothing-optional policy.
• Kids: children under 14 must be with an adult. The resort asks for quiet floating, not games.
• Campfires are allowed only in the designated pits and depend on wind and Lake County fire rules. Check with the office first.
• Dogs must be leashed in the resort area. The open land beyond the buildings is the place to walk them.

Getting there

The resort is at 41777 Highway 31, at mile marker 92, about six miles from Paisley.

• From Bend: Drive about 32 miles south on US-97 through La Pine to the Highway 31 junction, 2 miles south of La Pine. Turn east onto Highway 31 and follow it to mile marker 92. The resort says to allow about two hours.
• From Lakeview or Reno: Take US-395 north, then turn northwest onto Highway 31 about 25 miles north of Lakeview. Continue roughly 20 miles to Paisley and 6 more miles to the resort.
• From Eugene: Cross the Cascades on Highway 58, take the Crescent Cutoff to US-97, head north to Highway 31, then east.

The resort’s historic sign was lost in a windstorm, so watch for the mile marker rather than a sign. Highway 31 is paved the whole way. The site is very dark at night, so try to arrive in daylight on your first visit and bring a headlamp, ideally one with a red light so you do not spoil other people’s night vision.

Paisley also has a paved, lighted 4,400-foot airstrip about five miles away. Pilots should call ahead to arrange a pickup.

Where to stay nearby

The resort itself is the place to stay, since you cannot soak without a booking. If it is full, Paisley is the nearest town, with a bar and restaurant and a small general store with limited food. Bring groceries and ice from Bend or Lakeview, since nothing in the basin stocks much. Recycling is two hours away in Bend, and the resort asks guests to take their basic recycling home.

Safety notes

• Heat: the outdoor pools are hot enough that long soaks can leave you lightheaded. Drink plenty of fresh water, which you need to bring yourself.
• Darkness: paths between cabins, the camping field and the bathhouse are unlit. Carry a light.
• Weather: the basin gets intense sun in summer and hard frost in winter. Check the wind forecast if you are tent camping.
• Distance: Summer Lake is a long way from full services. Fill your tank and buy supplies before you leave Bend, La Pine or Lakeview.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Paisley Caves, a few miles from the resort, are where University of Oregon archaeologists found human DNA about 14,300 years old, some of the oldest direct evidence of people in the Americas. The Summer Lake Wildlife Area along Highway 31 is a good stop for birders. For another soak on a southeast Oregon road trip, Alvord Hot Springs sits at the foot of Steens Mountain, a long but scenic drive east.