Joaquin Miller Hot Springs

Grant County, Oregon · Near Canyon City
44.2800°N, 118.9560°W · 3,942 ft
104°F 46°F air · Good soaking weather 3,942 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (4.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Joaquin Miller Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Joaquin Miller 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.

Joaquin Miller Hot Springs sits in Grant County about eight miles from Canyon City, with water at a comfortable soaking temperature, a little above a hot bath. USGS keeps a site here. Who owns the ground, and on what terms you can visit, is not recorded. No photo on file.

Location

Canyon Creek Road is a tenth-mile away, so the approach is brief on foot. The spring sits at nearly four thousand feet in country that gets about six and a half feet of snowfall a year and a fair amount of rain. No land unit is named. Grant County is cooler on average than the desert counties to the south and east.

On record, the three winter months do best, which means snow on the approach. Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin is the listed camping, four and a half miles or so. No burn risk at this temperature. Ownership is unknown; look for posting. Canyon City is the closest supply town.

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 Joaquin Miller Hot Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the east.
Highest ground nearby
440 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
108 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 58% 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
29°
Jan
31°
Feb
36°
Mar
43°
Apr
52°
May
60°
Jun
70°
Jul
71°
Aug
61°
Sep
48°
Oct
35°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 22.5 in Annual Snow: 79.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 27°F · Water 104°F · +77° contrast
January Air 29°F · Water 104°F · +75° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 104°F · +73° contrast
December offers 43°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
46°F
Clear E 37.0 mph 67% Good soaking weather
Today 70° Low 45° Partly Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +34° warmer
Wednesday 68° Low 45° Mostly Sunny 8% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Thursday 67° Low 46° Chance Rain Showers 46% precip
Spring is +37° warmer
Friday 73° Low 47° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +31° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin 4.4 mi away

Overview Fall Mountain Lookout Tower is situated about 20 miles from John Day, in central Oregon. It provides 360-degree views of the surrounding Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, as well as the towns of Seneca and Mt. Vernon. The lookout offers access to a variety of recreational activities. In addition to sightseeing, visitors to the area enjoy hunting, hiking and viewing wildlife. The lookout can accommodate just two people and provides few amenities. It can be accessed by vehicle. Guests ar...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
104°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 104°F (40°C)
Avg Air Temp 47°F
Above Ambient +57°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Canyon Creek Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Joaquin Miller Hot Springs?
Joaquin Miller Hot Springs has a water temperature of 104°F (40°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Joaquin Miller Hot Springs located?
Joaquin Miller Hot Springs is located in Grant County, Oregon at 3,942 feet elevation, near Canyon City. Coordinates: 44.2800°N, 118.9560°W.
How do I get to Joaquin Miller Hot Springs?
Joaquin Miller Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Canyon Creek Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Joaquin Miller Hot Springs?
Yes, Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin is located nearby (4.4 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS