Hunters Hot Springs

Lake County, Oregon · Near Lakeview
42.2210°N, 120.3680°W · 4,773 ft
205°F 32°F air · Good soaking weather 4,773 ft Roadside Camping nearby (10.1 mi)
Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking

Hunters Hot Springs reaches 205°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

Hunters Hot Springs lies two miles outside Lakeview in Lake County. The water comes out scalding, nearly at a boil, which rules out any direct soaking at the source. The record includes a photo. The record leaves owner and access blank, and the nearest road is unnamed.

Location

Under two hundred feet from the road, it counts as a roadside spring. Elevation is high desert at close to forty-eight hundred feet. Winters drop around five and a half feet of snow, and precipitation overall is moderate. The town is within easy reach for supplies, given the distance on file.

The record rates December through February highest. Aspen Cabin, a Fremont-Winema National Forest site, is the nearest camping listed, around ten miles off. At this temperature the water burns on contact; stay well off the vents and channels. Check access before walking in. No fee is on record.

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 Hunters Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Hunters Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Hunters 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.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
33 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
127 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 77% 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
30°
Jan
31°
Feb
36°
Mar
43°
Apr
52°
May
61°
Jun
72°
Jul
71°
Aug
62°
Sep
49°
Oct
37°
Nov
28°
Dec
Annual Precip: 19.1 in Annual Snow: 65.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 28°F · Water 205°F · +177° contrast
January Air 30°F · Water 205°F · +175° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 205°F · +174° contrast
December offers 44°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
32°F
Clear N 20.7 mph 80% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 74° Low 39° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +131° warmer
Wednesday 67° Low 42° Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny 18% precip
Spring is +138° warmer
Thursday 68° Low 41° Chance Light Rain 41% precip
Spring is +137° warmer
Friday 74° Low 40° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +131° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +128° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Aspen Cabin (Fremont Winema National Forest, Or) 10.1 mi away

Overview Historic Aspen Cabin is nestled in a forest of fir, pine, and aspen, and provides an ideal setting for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. It was built in 1930 and originally used as an administrative cabin and fire guard station by U.S. Forest Service employees. It also served as a warming shelter for snowmobilers and cross-country skiers during the 1990s. Today, the cabin offers guests a secluded getaway in a landscape abundant with wil...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
205°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 205°F (96°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +157°F
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 194 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hunters Hot Springs?
Hunters Hot Springs has a water temperature of 205°F (96°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Hunters Hot Springs located?
Hunters Hot Springs is located in Lake County, Oregon at 4,773 feet elevation, near Lakeview. Coordinates: 42.2210°N, 120.3680°W.
How do I get to Hunters Hot Springs?
Hunters Hot Springs has Roadside road access (194 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Hunters Hot Springs?
Yes, Aspen Cabin (Fremont Winema National Forest, Or) is located nearby (10.1 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Hunters Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Hunters Hot Springs reaches 205°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.
Sources: Wikipedia