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In the Fall of 2019 Sandra Etherington from Family Personalities, and I (and 3 of our girlfriends) headed to central Oregon to Breitenbush Hot Springs, one of my favorite hot springs. Sandra joined me on this episode to talk about our experience there, thoughts on nudity and top tips if you want to go. Please Listen above.
The Story of Going to BreitenBush
We went to Breitenbush in the fall, which is one of my favorite times to go. We went with a group of moms for the perfect day getaway. It’s a 2-hour drive from Bend or Portland, so we left Bend at 7 AM and got there right at 9. We had day pass reservations and they were expecting us. When we got out of our car, we checked in at a tiny cabin nestled in a picturesque forest setting. We started walking down a gorgeous forest path.
It was a quintessential Oregon morning. The clouds were low and mist filled the air with occasional raindrops. We grabbed our bags and walked for about 5 minutes before seeing the giant lodge appear.
We were completely disconnected. There was no cell phone service or wifi. What we did have was 5 ladies and lots of conversation.
At the lodge, we changed out of our clothes in the restroom and put on robes and made our way to the Middle pool. We skipped the closest pool because it was getting cleaned (and yes these pools are regularly cleaned). We derobed, some of us were 100% nude and others wore a bathing suit (it’s your choice). Soon we were in a 104-degree hot spring and felt all of our worries lift away.
A few hours later we made our way back to the lodge as the lunch bell was going to ring soon. When the bell rang, we lined up in the dining room for a huge spread of vegetarian food. One of my friends is dairy-free and gluten-free, so she had reserved a special meal in advance and the items that fit that description were noted, so she could still follow her diet.
One of our favorite things about Breitenbush is the food. Oh my, the food is so good. Homemade spaghetti sauce, fresh greens, grains, dressings laid upon us. It smelled so good and everything tasted amazing together. We all sat and filled our bellies with deliciousness and drank herbal tea.
We took the time to connect, eat, drink, and no one had to worry about checking their phone because no one could contact us! This was a dream forest land where we didn’t have to cook, clean, answer e-mails, tend to our children, and all we had to do was eat healthy food, soak and have sparkling conversation.
One girlfriend started to get a migraine, so she laid down in a library where others were enjoying a quiet lunch (if they wanted a quiet space).
Learning while Soaking
We started making friends with other soakers and in that middle pool, we met Adeline. She’s a doula from Washington and was there for a week-long personal retreat. It was her last day of her stay there at Breitenbush and explained how she wanted to take away things that she learned during her personal retreat. Including:
- The importance of eating healthy and making the extra effort to make a healthy meal full of veggies and grains.
- Broth is not just a lunch or dinner drink… it can be part of an excellent breakfast.
- Take the time to walk places. During her stay, she’d walk to her cabin, to the lodge to eat, to a soaking pool, to a trail.
- Having time to disconnect and take care of yourself
While talking to Adeline in the all-natural soaking pool she inspired me to think about my own eating and exercise habits and taking the time to disconnect.
We all started to heat up in the pool and I watched Adeline get out and take a nice cold shower by the pool and get back in. She said it felt really good. Cold showers have never been a favorite of mine, but she encouraged me to try it.
I got out of the pool and timidly turned on the shower. I felt cold water envelop me and I wanted to turn it off immediately but forced myself to stay in the cold water, and it started to feel good. Soon I got back into the pool and felt the pins and needle feeling on my skin. Now, this is how you could soak all day!
The Silent Pool at Breitenbush
Adeline asked me if I have tried the silent pool, the next pool over. I quickly told her ‘no’ and that I’m just not a silent person, I didn’t think I could handle not talking to anyone in the pool. She encouraged me to try it, but I was still unsure. Being silent with other nude soakers seemed awkward to me, I wanted to get to know everyone!
I am that annoying person that you sit next to on a plane who wants to chat and learn everything about you, yes, I’m an extrovert. Sandra, on the other hand, is an introvert and chatting with nude strangers isn’t high on her list.
We soaked some more, then decided to try the silent pool. I got out of the middle pool, put on my robe and flip flops, walked to the silent pool and left my friends behind for a few. I derobed then entered the silent pool nude.
There was another couple in the silent pool and as I stepped into the pool, I started to say ‘hi’, but stopped myself mid-way through the ‘h’. I closed my mouth and started to take in the scenery. There were no nods of acknowledgment from the other couple, they were in their own world soaking in the silence. I stared out into the trees and listened to the nearby river. I even managed to take a cold shower in silence, which took so much energy not to yip when I felt the first hit of cold water.
It was hard being silent, especially while feeling slightly vulnerable nude next to nude strangers. But we found harmony in the silence. Soon the nude couple left and my friends joined.
Massage at Breitenbush
Sandra elected to have a 90-minute massage while we were there. She was there with a slight head cold, so laying down on her face wasn’t quite enjoyable. If you do have a massage, go when you’re feeling good and can lay face down.
The Spiral Pools at Breitenbush
We were at Breitenbush to spend the day soaking so we headed over to the Spiral pools. They are 4 soaking tubs noted by direction, North, East, South, and West. Each one gets progressively hotter, so you can start at the warm one and work your way up to the hot one. Each of these pools fits 4-5 people comfortably. There’s one more pool there a cold plunge.
Adeline showed up and encouraged us to experience the cold plunge. I had tried a cold shower, but a cold plunge sounded miserable. But my new soaking friend seemed to know a thing or two and she was right about the cold shower, so after having a nice soak in the hottest spiral tub I headed to the cold plunge and braved the cold stinging water. I gave it a good 5-10 seconds before getting out to warm back up in a pool. Adeline was right, it did feel amazing.
So sometimes something may sound completely miserable and may be uncomfortable, but worth it in the end.
We soon went back to the lodge, packed up our belongings and walked out of the forest fairyland to our car and made the drive back to Bend, Oregon.
Personally, I didn’t want to leave. My friends had to drag me out of there, as I left Breitenbush with one of my favorite songs on their piano.
While we only stayed a day, it was a day that made a true impact on my well being. It was a day to connect with other moms, a day to try new things, a day to learn to be ok with silence and a day to feel comfortable in your own skin. I’m a mom with stretch marks and maybe not the most flattering sides, but it didn’t matter. I saw all body types there at Breitenbush and no one cared about your scars, marks, body rolls, etc.
It was a day to connect with people and ourselves and to feed our soul mindfulness and healthy food.
Breitenbush Logistics
What’s the Best City to Fly into to get to Breitenbush?
If you’re coming from out of town, I would fly into Portland, rent a car and drive to Breitenbush, but you could fly into Eugene or Redmond, OR too.
How far in advance should you make reservations?
You need to make a reservation whether you are coming for the day or staying a night or more. If coming for the day, you should make your reservations a few weeks in advance. If wanting to stay the night that falls over a weekend, then you will want to make those reservations a few months in advance.
How much does it cost to go to Breitenbush?
A day pass is on a sliding scale: $23-$39. Meals are on a sliding scale as well. We paid $20 each for our lunch. If you stay the night, your meals are included and prices range from $75-$169 per night depending on if you come during off-peak season and staying in the dorm or staying during peak season on a weekend in a cabin with a toilet and sink. The cost gives you full access to the soaking pools, yoga classes, food, tea, their rustic wet sauna, hiking trails and more.
Are kids allowed?
Yes, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children not potty-trained are required to wear a swim diaper. Please know that most of the people soaking are nude and you would want to be ok with that if bringing your kids.
What’s if You have Limited Mobility or You’re in a Wheelchair?
There are steps going into the pools, but they do have handrails. They don’t have lifts to help you into the pool if you’re in a wheelchair.
This is a rustic retreat center and hot spring and distances between the cabins and lodge for meals can be up to several hundred yards on hard-packed paths or snow depending on the season. There is uneven ground as well. Keep that in mind and if you have questions about accessibility, it may be best to call the lodge.
Tips for going to Breitenbush:
- Plan a retreat here in late spring or early/mid-fall to give you the best chance of not having snow on the pass to get there and it being cool enough to enjoy the hot springs.
- Book your time there in advance and try to stay multiple nights if you can to truly experience Breitenbush.
- Let your family and work know that you won’t have access to wifi or cell reception there (if there’s an emergency, someone could contact you through the Breitenbush office).
- Bring a robe and flip flops and warm socks to change into in the lodge. I also brought a wrap-around towel that stays on via velcro that I wore under my robe and was glad I did.
- Pack a reusable water bottle as you will want to stay hydrated while you’re there.
- Bring a flashlight if you’re staying for the day, as it may be dark when you head to your car.
- If you are prone to headaches, bring headache medication that you would normally take.
Go ahead, plan your personal retreat to a fairyland hot spring in the forest. There you will make new friends, feel cleansed and eat delicious food. It’s the perfect way to experience a digital detox while enhancing your mind and soul.