Ritter Hot Springs – Explore a Historic Hot Springs Resort in Oregon

Hot spring water is also piped across the Middle Fork John Day River to a swimming pool that is 40 feet wide and 60 feet long, with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The pool is maintained at a comfortable temperature of 80–85°F (27-29°С), making it suitable for swimming and soaking during the summer.

There are also plenty of toys in the pool for children to enjoy.

Next to the river, a pipe shower delivers a powerful stream of water for massaging the neck and shoulders.

Ritter is open to day-use visitors as well as overnight guests.

Besides soaking, the area offers many other outdoor opportunities. The Middle Fork John Day River provides fishing opportunities, with wild rainbow trout found in the river. The surrounding mountains and high-desert landscape also provide opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, wildlife watching, and photography.

The area around Ritter is remote and quiet, making it a good place to enjoy the natural scenery and explore the historic surroundings.

The facility offers eight rooms in a rustic hotel with shared bathrooms, two cabins, RV sites, and tent campsites.

There are restrooms and a shower in the changing area for day-use guests. Ritter Hot Springs does not sell food, so bring your own. Guests can use a community kitchen equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and gas grill.

Ritter Hot Springs is generally open from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year.

The hot springs were discovered in the mid-19th century by William Neal McDuffee. The discovery followed an accident that nearly cost him his life. He fell through the ice on the frozen river and nearly froze to death before finding steaming hot water nearby.

McDuffee later filed a land claim and established McDuffee Hot Springs Resort. One of McDuffee's original cabins remains on the site.

Years later, McDuffee shot a man on the property and was sent to prison.

The hot springs were later renamed Ritter Hot Springs after Joseph Ritter, a prominent pioneer in the region. He owned a ranch near the hot springs and established the local post office.

The first wooden structures were built in 1886 but were later destroyed by fire. The General Store, built in 1894, still stands as a reminder of the area's early settlement and frontier history.

The two-story Ritter Hotel was built in 1905. The first floor was used for guest accommodations, while the second floor served as a meeting and dance hall.

From I-84,

• Take Highway 395 near Pendleton
• Travel 77 miles to milepost 77B and turn west onto Ritter Road
• Continue 10 miles on Ritter Road, go across the river's bridge, and after 0.2 miles, turn right onto a gravel road and drive to the destination.

Phone: 541-421-3849

40035, Ritter Road, Ritter, Oregon 97856