2026 Earth Day Weekend

April, Saturday the 18th

Join us April 17, 18, and 19 for the tenth annual Lower Breitenbush Hot Springs Cleanup. The volunteer day is on the 18th. 

Once a popular destination in Oregon, Lower Breitenbush Hot Springs has been unmanaged since 1980 and is now in a state of disrepair. The hot springs are still accessible for outdoor activities. Friends of the Breitenbush Cascades steward the spring in cooperation with the Detroit Ranger District, and as part of the Adopt-A-River initiative, we respect the thermal mineral springs and work to improve the experience for visitors who come to soak in its current condition.

The Day of Event starts at the Cleator Bend intersection of Hwy 46 and Forest Service Road 2231 (Lat: 44°46'39.94”N, Long: 121°59’51.71"W).

Meet at 9:30 am and check in. We will caravan to the cleanup site at 10 am. Bring your sack lunch for 1 pm. Cleanup ends at 4:30 pm.

Free camping is available at Cleator Bend Group Campground for SOLVE registrants for Friday and Saturday nights (optional). Once registered with SOLVE, contact friends@breitenbushcascades.org or call 503-897-8575 to reserve a campsite.

The group campground offers campsite fire rings, a clean pit vault toilet, and a dumpster. The water system will not be available in April, so there will be no potable water. Remember to bring your camping gear, food supplies, water, and, if possible, firewood. If the weather is nice, we plan to have some programming around the fire on Saturday night.

This is a rain-or-shine event; layered clothing is essential. Bring water, snacks, and sack lunch for the day. We will have all of the basic tools. You are welcome to bring your own gloves, but we have some to lend for the day.

SOLVE check-in meet location

Lat: 44°46'39.94”N Long: 121°59'51.71”W

Cleator Bend Group Campground

Lat: 44°46'41.42”N Long: 121°59'54.98”W

Lower Breitenbush Hot Springs North side parking

Lat: 44°46'57.94"N Long: 121°58'46.10”W

Lower Breitenbush Hot Springs Trailhead South side parking

Lat: 44°46'35.53"N Long: 121°58'44.79"W

Additional questions call 503-897-8575 or email friends@breitenbushcascades.org

Advanced Registration: Is highly suggested but not required. Please sign up (green button below) ahead of time to guarantee your spot.

Meeting Location: Gravel Parking area of Intersection of Hwy 46 and FSR 2231 (Next to Cleator Bend Group Campground.)

Address: 5300 Breitenbush Road Breitenbush, Oregon 97342 | Map Link

What to Bring: Please wear closed-toed shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, and bring a backpack for hands-free convenience. Feel free to bring your personal tools if available and a reusable water bottle to support our sustainability efforts.

What's Provided: Grabbers, gloves, garbage bags, 3 and 5 gallon buckets. Bring layered clothing and rain protection, water, snacks, sack lunch. Free camping is available with additional registration in the event description.

Restrooms: We have access to a clean pit vault toilet at Cleator Bend Group Campground. The actual cleanup sites are a mile and half away and do not have toilets

Parking: Gravel parking areas.

Transit: Not available nearby

Accessibility: This area may not be easily accessible for folks with mobility concerns.

Translation Services: There will not be a Spanish speaker present at this event.

Participant Age Guidelines: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up

Groups: If you'd like to register a group, please create a team first. For detailed instructions, review our Teams Guide.

We would like to thank these organizations for making this volunteer effort possible: Breitenbush Alliance, Detroit Ranger District, Cascade Volunteers, North Santiam Watershed Council, Balneology Association of North America, and SOLVE.