As an Oregonian for over a decade, Spring Creek Oregon has the be the bluest water that I have ever paddled in. Said to be fed from lava tubes from Crater Lake, the spectacular turquoise and blue colors are some of the best I’ve seen in Oregon.
Paddling in new water for the first time can be a bit intimidating without a guide or a friend who knows the area. Which is why on this blog post I will cover everything you need to know about paddling at Spring Creek so you can properly plan you trip!
Where Is Spring Creek Oregon?
Located in Southern Oregon, just south of Crater Lake near Klamath Falls is where you can find Spring Creek. Spring Creek waters are sacred to Klamath Tribes. It is important to respect the waters here as a sacred place. Do not litter or take from the land that you are recreating on. Spring Creek Day Use area is a part of the Collier Memorial State Park.
From Portland: 4 hours and 2 minutes
From Bend: 2 hours
From Eugene: 2.5 hours
Permits and Boats
It is good to know before you go what permits are needed to paddle on Spring Creek in Oregon. There is no fee to park in the Spring Creek Day Use area, but note that parking may fill up on weekends. We went on a Monday morning and there was plenty of parking and not many people on the water.
A permit is required for a boat more than 12 feet long, and you can get that through the Oregon State Marine Board website. Attain this prior to visiting as there isn’t any cell phone service at the day use area.
Paddle boarding and kayaking are the perfect boats to use for this trip as the water is quite calm. It is not flowing fast enough that you can float, you will need an ore. We rented glass bottom kayaks through Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures. They can drop off boats at the launch, or take a guide with you who is experienced and knowledgable of the area.
What Is the Paddle Like at Spring Creek?
What we loved about this paddle is how mellow the water is. Once you arrive at the day use area for Spring Creek, take your vessel to the water, and paddle upstream (to the left) for about 1.1 miles. The paddle starts with the water being immediately a beautiful blue color. As you paddle, it gets even more spectacular. We took our time and it took us about 45 minutes to get to the headwaters of the natural spring.
The paddle starts by passing some houses and barns, but then your greeted with surrounding trees. Some burnt from a forest fire in 2020, but help grant a stark contrast between the black trees and blue waters.
Once you reach the headwaters, the water isn’t as blue but this is a great time to get out and look at the springs bubbling from underwater! When the water abruptly ends, this is the headwaters.
Pro tip: if your kayak sits to low as this water is shallow, park before the headwaters and get out towards the campsite on the left to take a short hike to witness the springs.
Water in Spring Creek is extremely cold, about 40 degrees year round. While swimming is allowed here and the water is calm, be cautious if you decide to cool off on a hot summer day.
Why Is the Water so Blue?
This was our first question as we started witnessing the gorgeous blue and turqoise colors that made us feel like we were in the Caribbean. Mare’s Eggs line the bottom of Spring Creek. “Nostoc pruniforme (Mare’s eggs) are a species of cyanobacterium. These freshwater bacteria grow in colonies which take the form of dark green, gelatinous spheres with a smooth surface like a plum.” (Wikipedia, 2024)
It is important to not disturb the Mare’s Eggs at the bottom if you choose to go swimming, do not walk on them as they are living. If they are floating at the top like the ones seen here, they are most likely dead and it is okay to check them out. Mare’s Eggs can be found on the Upper Klamath Lake as well. Truly fascinating! It is a type of Blue/Green algae with very particular environmental requirements, including Spring Creek!
Overall, this paddle was worth it for me to be able to see the water here! It has been on my Oregon bucket list for years now and I am happy I got to see it for myself. It is truly spectacular. If your looking to see more blue water in Oregon, head to the McKenzie River to see the results of another lava tube.
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