Springs At Tecolote Tunnel

Harney County, California · Near Hines
43.5130°N, 119.9030°W · 4,743 ft
93°F 34°F air · Good soaking weather 4,743 ft Short Walk
Aerial view of the ground around Springs At Tecolote Tunnel LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Springs At Tecolote Tunnel
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Springs At Tecolote Tunnel is the name on file for a thermal outflow in Harney County, listed right at Hines, zero miles by the record's distance. The water came out at soaking warmth, low nineties, the kind of temperature you could sit in. Nothing identifies a landowner, and the public access line is empty.

A short walk, about a thousand feet, reaches a road that goes unnamed in the listing. Elevation is close to 4,750 feet, and the climate reads as high desert. The yearly mean is about forty-seven degrees. Fourteen inches of precipitation, roughly three feet of snow across a winter. Hines is listed at zero miles, which puts this at the edge of town.

Winter is the recorded best time. The water is warm enough to soak in without any scalding concern. No campground appears on file within reach, and nothing about a fee. Since the ownership and access entries are blank, find out whose land it is before walking in.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Springs At Tecolote Tunnel.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the south.
Highest ground nearby
58 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
86 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 24% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
28°
Jan
31°
Feb
37°
Mar
44°
Apr
52°
May
61°
Jun
71°
Jul
71°
Aug
61°
Sep
47°
Oct
36°
Nov
28°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.7 in Annual Snow: 34.5 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 28°F · Water 93°F · +65° contrast
December Air 28°F · Water 93°F · +65° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 93°F · +62° contrast
January offers 43°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
34°F
ENE 0.0 mph 76% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 69° Low 37° Mostly Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +24° warmer
Wednesday 66° Low 40° Mostly Sunny 11% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Thursday 66° Low 38° Chance Light Rain 38% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Friday 71° Low 40° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +22° warmer
Saturday 74° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +19° warmer
Temperature
93°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 93°F (34°C)
Avg Air Temp 47°F
Above Ambient +46°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Springs At Tecolote Tunnel?
Springs At Tecolote Tunnel has a water temperature of 93°F (34°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Springs At Tecolote Tunnel located?
Springs At Tecolote Tunnel is located in Harney County, California at 4,743 feet elevation, near Hines. Coordinates: 43.5130°N, 119.9030°W.
How do I get to Springs At Tecolote Tunnel?
Springs At Tecolote Tunnel has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).