Canters Hot Spring

Owyhee County, Oregon · Near Murphy
42.9770°N, 117.0610°W · 4,404 ft
120°F 35°F air · Good soaking weather 4,404 ft Roadside Camping nearby (17.1 mi)

A hot spring in Owyhee County, with Murphy listed as the closest town and, on the record, no distance between the two. The water runs hot, well above body heat, so it falls in soaking range for most people with some care. No owner is named and nothing about public access has been recorded, which is the first thing to sort out before you go.

Location

Delamar Way passes within a couple hundred feet, so this is a roadside stop with no walk to speak of. The land sits a little over four thousand feet up. Winters bring a fair amount of snow, around three and a half feet most years, and the rest of the year is on the dry side. There is a photo on file. Whose ground the spring sits on is not recorded.

December through February come up as the best months, so plan on cold air and possibly an unplowed approach along Delamar Way. Silver City Campground is the nearest camping, about seventeen miles off. Water this hot can burn skin if you drop in without testing it first. Access rights are unrecorded, so look for posting before you leave the road.

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 Canters Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Canters Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Canters Hot Spring
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.

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

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

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

Heat Below
70 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 6% 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
32°
Feb
39°
Mar
46°
Apr
55°
May
65°
Jun
76°
Jul
75°
Aug
65°
Sep
50°
Oct
38°
Nov
28°
Dec
Annual Precip: 16.9 in Annual Snow: 41.8 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 28°F · Water 120°F · +93° contrast
December Air 28°F · Water 120°F · +93° contrast
February Air 32°F · Water 120°F · +89° contrast
January offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
35°F
SSE 25.0 mph 66% Good soaking weather
Today 73° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +47° warmer
Wednesday 76° Low 45° Sunny
Spring is +44° warmer
Thursday 70° Low 42° Chance Rain Showers 43% precip
Spring is +50° warmer
Friday 72° Low 42° Sunny 9% precip
Spring is +48° warmer
Saturday 76° Low 43° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +44° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Silver City Campground 17.1 mi away

This small campground is located in a partially restored 19th-century mining town. Please plan to bring your own water. Don't use the water running through the campground from Jordan Creek because it may contain mercury from prior mining activity in the area.

Stay limit 14 Days
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
120°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 120°F (49°C)
Avg Air Temp 50°F
Above Ambient +70°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Delamar Way
Distance to Road 215 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Canters Hot Spring?
Canters Hot Spring has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Canters Hot Spring located?
Canters Hot Spring is located in Owyhee County, Oregon at 4,404 feet elevation, near Murphy. Coordinates: 42.9770°N, 117.0610°W.
How do I get to Canters Hot Spring?
Canters Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Delamar Way (215 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Canters Hot Spring?
Yes, Silver City Campground is located nearby (17.1 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Canters Hot Spring?
With care. At 120°F Canters Hot Spring 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.