Juntura Warm Spring 1

Malheur County, Oregon · Near Vale
43.7580°N, 118.0670°W · 2,960 ft
77°F 32°F air · Good soaking weather 2,960 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (5.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Juntura Warm Spring 1 LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Juntura Warm Spring 1
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.

Juntura Warm Spring 1 is BLM land, open to the public, in Malheur County forty-four miles from Vale. The water is tepid, a warm-day temperature and no more. A 1992 USGS sample came back alkaline, with calcium, sodium, sulfate and chloride in the mix. No photograph has been submitted.

Location

Roadside, and the road itself has no recorded name; the spring is a couple hundred feet off it. The ground is the Vale Malheur Field Office's. Elevation is a bit under three thousand feet in dry country. Snow over a winter adds up to a couple of feet. Summers are hot and dry here.

The cold months rate highest on record. Chukar Park Campground sits about five miles away. Open access means no permission hunt. The chemistry is from a single 1992 sample, so take it as a snapshot from that year. Nothing about a fee is listed.

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 Juntura Warm Spring 1.

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

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

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

Heat Below
76 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 12% 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
35°
Feb
43°
Mar
50°
Apr
60°
May
69°
Jun
80°
Jul
79°
Aug
68°
Sep
53°
Oct
40°
Nov
31°
Dec
Annual Precip: 11.4 in Annual Snow: 22.8 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 30°F · Water 77°F · +47° contrast
December Air 31°F · Water 77°F · +46° contrast
February Air 35°F · Water 77°F · +42° contrast
January offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
32°F
Clear NW 12.4 mph 86% Good soaking weather
Today 75° Low 47° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +2° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 48° Sunny 3% precip
Thursday 74° Low 47° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 45% precip
Spring is +3° warmer
Friday 78° Low 48° Sunny 6% precip
Saturday 80° Low 50° Sunny 1% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 1992-06-18

The water at Juntura Warm Spring 1 is alkaline (pH 9.0).

pH 9.0 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 1 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Sodium 59 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 24 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 11 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Chukar Park Campground 5.4 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
77°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 77°F (25°C)
Avg Air Temp 53°F
Above Ambient +24°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 235 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Vale Malheur Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Juntura Warm Spring 1?
Juntura Warm Spring 1 has a water temperature of 77°F (25°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Juntura Warm Spring 1 located?
Juntura Warm Spring 1 is located in Malheur County, Oregon at 2,960 feet elevation, near Vale. Coordinates: 43.7580°N, 118.0670°W.
How do I get to Juntura Warm Spring 1?
Juntura Warm Spring 1 has Roadside road access (235 ft from the road).
Is Juntura Warm Spring 1 free to visit?
Juntura Warm Spring 1 has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Juntura Warm Spring 1?
Yes, Chukar Park Campground is located nearby (5.4 miles away). $5 per night..
What minerals are in the water at Juntura Warm Spring 1?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.0 (alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS