How can I find good mud pits?

[Creamy]

I'm moving to Oregon soon, and am planning to do my first mud trip. I was wondering if there are any tips in finding good places that have mud + a place to clean myself afterwards. So far I have mostly been looking at near by rivers on Google maps, but seem to be either very public, almost inaccessible, or have no place to park.

However, I am also worried that mudding would make me sick due to pollutants and germs. Are there areas of mud that I should avoid? So far I'm hesitant to go to tidal / costal mudflats and rivers close to farmland.

[aMuddyToedBoy]

Always follow the water! Generally speaking, mud does not exist in any stable form in nature-- it's a product of soil/clay/sand being suspended in water, or the other way around (depending on mud/soil type). Mud is a product of environmental inconsistencies. Tidal mud is the most common and plentiful variety for that reason, having a swell of water submerge and expose it twice a day prevents it from drying up or settling out and condensing.

My general rule when seeking out new mud spots is to look for an area with a shallow grade and a source of water. The flatter an area is, the more slowly water moves through it and finer/silitier soil is able to settle as opposed to just rocks and pebbles. Much like tidal mud, flatter areas deal with changing water levels differently than steeper grades. The water is more likely to be absorbed into the ground after rains, or saturated in the wet season, leaving mud in dry spells. Easiest way to find such an area is to see how wide are the rivers, and how much they meander. In lieu of a river, a pond or lake with similar features is also a good bet. The more mountainous the surrounding terrain is, the more likely for it to be rocky and absent of good mud.

As for your concern about safety hazards, germs and pollutants I wouldn't worry too much about unless you're sneaking into an industrial site to play in their mud, which is a lot of fun but the most possibly hazardous as they may have some unknown chemicals in their slurry. Any mud out in nature will be as clean as the water around it which, thanks to state and federal laws is pretty clean. Biggest concern I'd have is litter (glass mostly), sharp sticks, and wildlife depending on how undressed you get while mudding. Ants and leeches are about the only thing that's bothered me--some ants nest around muddy areas particularly tidal mud in Maine and their bites are pretty rough, leeches I don't mind them much though as they're harmless.

Best spots to find are the ones off the beaten path! You can use GIS databases to find public land that may not otherwise be marked. Get acquainted with the conditions that make good mud in your area, and do some adventuring!!! Good luck, enjoy, and if you find a good spot, add it to the mud map!