Tub Springs State Wayside is a quiet little spot tucked away in the forest in the southwestern part of the state. It has an interesting history, and it’s a great place to stop for a cold drink of water and a shady picnic. Check it out:

You'll find Tub Springs State Wayside tucked amongst the trees in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. It's about 20 miles east of Ashland.
Eric Worthey/Google
The state purchased a 40-acre parcel here back in 1939, and the stone tubs were installed. The spot quickly became a popular place to stop and fill up jugs of cold, clear spring water.
Oregon State Parks
The three stone tubs are arranged to create a cascade effect, and they're sanitized every month with chlorine.
Dan Hoffman/Google
Since the sanitizing method just entails a surface cleaning of the agates on the inside of the tubs, the chemistry of the water isn't affected, so even after a recent cleaning it's still fresh and delicious.
Bill Jennings/Google
The springbox is cleaned and sanitized once a year in the spring. That cleaning affects water quality for about 48 hours.

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While you're here, you'll want to fill up a jug of spring water to take with you. Some Oregonians visit often so they can enjoy fresh spring water at home.
Cendy Prator/Google
In addition to the delicious spring water, Tub Springs State Wayside has an interesting history. Back in the mid-1800s, the Applegate Trail was cleared, which gave pioneers an alternate route to avoid the Columbia River. Pioneers surely enjoyed the fresh spring water as they passed through.
Kareem Hadee/Google
In the 1950s, many of the old growth trees in this area were cut down illegally.
Michael Anderson/Google
The timber thief tried to sell them at local sawmills in Medford and Kalmath Falls, but the owners of the sawmills could tell that something was amiss. They alerted local authorities who quickly discovered the stumps at Tub Springs. The thief was prosecuted and later settled out of court.
The largest remaining sugar pine in the area stands just a few hundred feet from the parking lot. Take a stroll through these trees, and enjoy a picnic here.
Katherine Dyer/Google
Through June, 2021, the tubs are closed every second Wednesday of the month for cleaning and water sampling, so plan your trip accordingly.
Bill Jennings/Google

Visit Tub Springs State Wayside’s page on the Oregon State Parks website to learn more. Have you visited this place? We’d love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments!

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Tub Springs State Wayside, Ashland, OR 97520, USA