Kahneeta Hot Springs

Jefferson County, Oregon · Near Warm Springs
44.8620°N, 121.2010°W · 1,450 ft
126°F 43°F air · Good soaking weather 1,450 ft Unknown Roadside DESG Camping nearby (6.1 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Kahneeta Hot Springs

The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Kahneeta Hot Springs is on the Warm Springs Reservation in Jefferson County, eight or so miles from the town of Warm Springs. The ground is tribal land, and no one has recorded a public access status. The water is hot, past comfortable soaking for most people. USGS tracks a site here. No photo has made it onto the record.

Location

Agency Hot Springs Road passes within about twenty feet, so it is roadside. Elevation is low, under fifteen hundred feet, and most winters deliver something like two feet of snow, with moderate rain. The reservation is the land unit, and the designation is tribal land. The land owner appears on the record as DESG.

Winter gets the nod on the record. Trout Creek Campground is about six miles away. Ease in carefully; the temperature is past most people's comfort. Because this is tribal land with access unknown, check with the reservation before visiting.

Terrain

USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
474 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
85 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 23% 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
37°
Jan
39°
Feb
43°
Mar
50°
Apr
59°
May
66°
Jun
74°
Jul
75°
Aug
66°
Sep
54°
Oct
43°
Nov
36°
Dec
Annual Precip: 19.0 in Annual Snow: 25.1 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 36°F · Water 126°F · +90° contrast
January Air 37°F · Water 126°F · +89° contrast
February Air 39°F · Water 126°F · +87° contrast
December offers 39°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
43°F
Clear 93% Good soaking weather
Today 73° Low 50° Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers 16% precip
Spring is +53° warmer
Wednesday 74° Low 50° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +52° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 52° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +45° warmer
Friday 85° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +41° warmer
Saturday 86° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +40° warmer
USGS Field Measurements
Recent Temperature 62.6°F (17.0°C) Measured Jan 01, 1974
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Trout Creek Campground 6.1 mi away

Featuring a boat launch, a seasonal ranger station and trailhead, Trout Creek campground offers 21 campsites and three group-use campsites along the Lower Deschutes Wild and Scenic River. Some pull-through campsites as well as day-use parking are available in the recreation site. Access to the 7-mile Trout Creek Trail and Trout Creek Climbing Area originate at the south end of the campground.Know Before You Go:The campground is open year round but no potable water is available.Cell phone serv...

Stay limit 14 days.
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
126°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 126°F (52°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +73°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Unknown
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Agency Hot Springs Road
Distance to Road 21 ft
Land
Ownership DESG
Agency DESG
Designation Tribal Land
Unit Warm Springs Reservation
Manager TRIB
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Kahneeta Hot Springs?
Kahneeta Hot Springs has a water temperature of 126°F (52°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Kahneeta Hot Springs located?
Kahneeta Hot Springs is located in Jefferson County, Oregon at 1,450 feet elevation, near Warm Springs. Coordinates: 44.8620°N, 121.2010°W.
How do I get to Kahneeta Hot Springs?
Kahneeta Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Agency Hot Springs Road (21 ft from the road).
Is Kahneeta Hot Springs free to visit?
Kahneeta Hot Springs has Unknown access. It is managed by DESG.
Can I camp near Kahneeta Hot Springs?
Yes, Trout Creek Campground is located nearby (6.1 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Kahneeta Hot Springs?
With care. At 126°F Kahneeta Hot Springs 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.
Sources: USGS NWIS