Blue Mountain Hot Springs

Grant County, Oregon · Near Canyon City
44.3540°N, 118.5740°W · 4,259 ft
136°F 44°F air · Good soaking weather 4,259 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (10.7 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Blue Mountain Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Blue Mountain Hot Springs
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.

In Grant County, Oregon, around nineteen miles from Canyon City, Blue Mountain Hot Springs emerges hot, above comfortable soaking temperature though short of scalding. Neither a land owner nor a public access status appears on file, so whether you can legally reach it is not something this page can tell you. What is here is a hot source and a name.

Location

Summit Prairie Road passes about two hundred yards from the spring. The ground is mid elevation, drier eastern Oregon country, with a moderate snowpack and modest rainfall. A guard station at Short Creek is the nearest camping on record, roughly eleven miles away.

Winter is flagged as the best season on file. Let the water cool before soaking; at source it will sting. Owner and access status are both blank here, so ask locally. Camping is at the Short Creek Guard Station, eleven miles off, and there is no fee noted. No water chemistry has been recorded for this spring.

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 Blue Mountain Hot Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
439 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
103 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 52% 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
30°
Feb
35°
Mar
41°
Apr
50°
May
59°
Jun
69°
Jul
69°
Aug
60°
Sep
47°
Oct
34°
Nov
26°
Dec
Annual Precip: 23.8 in Annual Snow: 84.8 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 26°F · Water 136°F · +110° contrast
January Air 28°F · Water 136°F · +108° contrast
February Air 30°F · Water 136°F · +107° contrast
December offers 43°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
44°F
Clear E 33.0 mph 71% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 67° Low 43° Mostly Sunny 6% precip
Spring is +69° warmer
Wednesday 68° Low 46° Mostly Sunny 8% precip
Spring is +68° warmer
Thursday 65° Low 47° Chance Rain Showers 54% precip
Spring is +71° warmer
Friday 71° Low 47° Sunny 8% precip
Spring is +65° warmer
Saturday 74° Low 48° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +62° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Short Creek Guard Station 10.7 mi away

Overview Short Creek Guard Station is a great place to stay to enjoy the nearby Monument Rock and Strawberry Mountain wilderness areas, as well as the North Fork of the Malheur Scenic River. The cabin offers access to a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, hunting, fishing and viewing wildlife. The cabin provides all the comforts of a home, including drinking water during the summer months. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
136°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 136°F (58°C)
Avg Air Temp 46°F
Above Ambient +90°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Summit Prairie Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Blue Mountain Hot Springs?
Blue Mountain Hot Springs has a water temperature of 136°F (58°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Blue Mountain Hot Springs located?
Blue Mountain Hot Springs is located in Grant County, Oregon at 4,259 feet elevation, near Canyon City. Coordinates: 44.3540°N, 118.5740°W.
How do I get to Blue Mountain Hot Springs?
Blue Mountain Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Summit Prairie Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Blue Mountain Hot Springs?
Yes, Short Creek Guard Station is located nearby (10.7 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Blue Mountain Hot Springs?
With care. At 136°F Blue Mountain Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia