Metolius Springs, Natural spring at Black Butte base, Oregon, United States
Metolius Springs emerge from two distinct spring groups located just meters apart on the northern slope of Black Butte, immediately combining into a strong river. The water flows with force down the mountain, fully formed at the moment it reaches the surface.
The springs formed roughly 1.5 million years ago when Black Butte erupted and blocked a river that had flowed north. The water then found new paths underground and has been emerging here ever since.
The name Metolius comes from a Warm Springs and Sahaptin word for salmon, reflecting the importance of these waters to Indigenous peoples of the region. Fish and fresh water have long defined how the land around here is used and understood.
A visitor area provides paved walkways, interpretive signs, picnic tables, and restrooms for visitors to learn and explore. The site is generally accessible during warmer months, and the terrain is flat and easy to navigate.
The water emerges at a constant temperature and in enormous volume, creating one of the largest spring-fed rivers on the continent. This combination of steady flow and cool water makes it truly unusual.
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