Jonesboro Warm Spring

Malheur County, Oregon · Near Vale
43.7950°N, 117.9580°W · 2,847 ft
112°F 43°F air · Good soaking weather 2,847 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (9.9 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Jonesboro Warm Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Jonesboro Warm 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.

Jonesboro Warm Spring is misnamed on temperature: the water is hot, a bit over the line where a soak stops being relaxing. It sits in Malheur County thirty-eight miles from Vale. Ownership and access go unrecorded here. No photo on record. No USGS site is attached, and no water chemistry has been logged.

Location

The Central Oregon Highway runs a few hundred feet off, a short walk. Elevation is under three thousand feet, dry country, and winter brings snow in the two-foot range with little rain the rest of the time. The ground has no listed manager.

The best window on file is midwinter. Chukar Park Campground is around ten miles off. Test the water with a hand before sitting down. With no access on file, look for signs at the highway. Vale is a long way for supplies, so plan accordingly.

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 Jonesboro Warm Spring.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
503 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
81 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 18% 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
31°
Jan
36°
Feb
44°
Mar
51°
Apr
60°
May
69°
Jun
80°
Jul
80°
Aug
69°
Sep
54°
Oct
41°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 11.9 in Annual Snow: 25.9 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 31°F · Water 112°F · +81° contrast
December Air 32°F · Water 112°F · +81° contrast
February Air 36°F · Water 112°F · +76° contrast
January offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
43°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 81% Good soaking weather
Today 73° Low 48° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Wednesday 76° Low 49° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 48° Chance Rain Showers 44% precip
Spring is +40° warmer
Friday 76° Low 49° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 50° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Chukar Park Campground 9.9 mi away

Let the sounds of the babbling North Fork of the Malheur River lull you to sleep at one of the riverside campsites of Chukar Park Campground. This primitive facility offers 19 campsites, seven of which are situated along the shady, lush riparian vegetation. Popular as a base camp with birders, hunters and fishers as well as those venturing through along nearby highway 20, Chukar Park has campsites with partial shade and in full sun. Note that the high-standard, graded county road leading to t...

Fee $5 per night.
Stay limit 14 days.
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
112°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 112°F (45°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +58°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Central Oregon Highway
Distance to Road 336 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Jonesboro Warm Spring?
Jonesboro Warm Spring has a water temperature of 112°F (45°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Jonesboro Warm Spring located?
Jonesboro Warm Spring is located in Malheur County, Oregon at 2,847 feet elevation, near Vale. Coordinates: 43.7950°N, 117.9580°W.
How do I get to Jonesboro Warm Spring?
Jonesboro Warm Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Central Oregon Highway (336 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Jonesboro Warm Spring?
Yes, Chukar Park Campground is located nearby (9.9 miles away). $5 per night..
Is it safe to soak at Jonesboro Warm Spring?
With care. At 112°F Jonesboro Warm 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.