Clothing is optional — but the use of phones and cars is not.
There aren’t many students who will give up their means of communication or transportation for a day, but the staff at Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center expects its patrons to do just that.
Breitenbush Hot Springs is an ideal winter retreat at the edge of the Willamette National Forest in Detroit, Ore. For Eugene residents, that translates to about a two-and-a-half-hour drive through Salem and onto Highway 22.
“(We’re) an escape from the city with an easy drive to the mountains, steaming hot soaking pools, nourishing organic vegetarian cuisine, hiking in the old growth forests … we see deer every day, bear tracks and cougar tracks,” said Hillary Ekberg, a staff member at Breitenbush since 2001. “The forest is calm, clear and grounding.”
Keizer resident Kathy Baldwin agrees that Breitenbush has many draws.
“It’s funky. It was built a long time ago, and it’s the woods,” she said. Baldwin has been going to Breitenbush for many years and enjoys the relaxing effect of soaking in the center’s rock-lined pools.
Breitenbush is famous for its pools. It has three rock-lined meadow pools that overlook the Breitenbush River and have a view of the nearby mountains. Another set of pools, called the Medicine Wheel Tubs, consists of five tubs with different temperatures. These are located next to a mineral steam sauna and adjacent to a cold tub, offering the benefits of hot-cold therapy.
All of the tubs have 24-hour access.
In addition to the tubs, a retreat to Breitenbush offers alternative activities. Both day and overnight guests can take daily well-being programs, such as yoga or meditation, go for a hike in the old-growth forest, take a walk in the labyrinth, get a 90-minute massage or explore the library and gift shop.
Day use of the
facilities is available on a sliding scale of $10 to $20 per day, with an option to include a meal for $8.
The meals are described by the staff as bountiful and
organic. Guests enjoy the variety of
all-you-can-eat organic vegetarian meals served three times a day.
“It is cafeteria-style dining with a lot of rice curry dishes and homemade bread,” Baldwin said. “The salads are immense, and there are a lot of options in there.”
For people who can’t fit their desired activities into the time frame of one day, both Ekberg and Baldwin recommend an overnight stay.
Ekberg described the cabins as rustic, clean and simple and said they provide a good night’s rest away from phones, cars, barking dogs and sirens. Each cabin is geothermally heated and powered by hydro-electricity. Some, but not all cabins, have private toilets and sinks. The remaining cabins share one of the common bath houses.
The 20,000 people who go to Breitenbush every year are as diverse as their surroundings. The staff welcomes all ages and walks of life. On any given day, the clientele can range from newcomers to older people who have been visiting to Breitenbush for 20 to 30 years.
In addition to using the center as a place for renewal, many visitors use Breitenbush as a base camp for their winter recreation activities. Located in the Cascade Mountains and within 10 miles of Mount Jefferson and the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, it offers mountain proximity that winter recreation enthusiasts love.
Overall, Breitenbush provides something for everyone.
“We strive to provide a relaxing, cleansing and enlightening experience,” Ekberg said.
Whether it is being used for renewal or recreational opportunities, with this many ways to relax in a place free from outside distractions, Breitenbush Hot Springs
Retreat and Conference Center
accomplishes its task.

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