Leithead Hot Spring

Lake County, Oregon · Near Lakeview
42.1620°N, 120.3440°W · 4,779 ft
162°F 32°F air · Good soaking weather 4,779 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (11.8 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 162°F, the source water at Leithead Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Leithead Hot Spring is two miles from Lakeview in Lake County and comes out scalding, far beyond sitting-in temperature. A photo is attached to the record. Access terms and ownership are unknown here. Nothing on record mentions cooler water downstream.

Location

A short walk of under five hundred feet from an unnamed road. It sits high, a hair under forty-eight hundred feet. Snow totals near five and a half feet most winters, with moderate rain otherwise. No land unit is on record. Lakeview is close for supplies.

Midwinter is what the record recommends. The Fremont-Winema's Aspen Cabin is about twelve miles out, the only camping on record. The water will scald; stay clear of the source. Access is unknown, so look for posting. With the town this near, the spring is easy to reach and easy to get hurt at, which is the whole story in two lines.

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 Leithead Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Leithead Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Leithead Hot 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the east.
Highest ground nearby
381 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 78% 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
71°
Jul
71°
Aug
62°
Sep
49°
Oct
37°
Nov
28°
Dec
Annual Precip: 19.6 in Annual Snow: 68.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 28°F · Water 162°F · +134° contrast
January Air 30°F · Water 162°F · +132° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 162°F · +132° contrast
December offers 43°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
32°F
Clear N 20.7 mph 80% Good soaking weather
Today 75° Low 43° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +87° warmer
Wednesday 68° Low 41° Slight Chance Light Rain then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms 18% precip
Spring is +94° warmer
Thursday 68° Low 41° Chance Light Rain 40% precip
Spring is +94° warmer
Friday 75° Low 42° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +87° warmer
Saturday 78° Low 43° Sunny
Spring is +84° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Aspen Cabin (Fremont Winema National Forest, Or) 11.8 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
162°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 162°F (72°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +115°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 485 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Leithead Hot Spring?
Leithead Hot Spring has a water temperature of 162°F (72°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Leithead Hot Spring located?
Leithead Hot Spring is located in Lake County, Oregon at 4,779 feet elevation, near Lakeview. Coordinates: 42.1620°N, 120.3440°W.
How do I get to Leithead Hot Spring?
Leithead Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (485 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Leithead Hot Spring?
Yes, Aspen Cabin (Fremont Winema National Forest, Or) is located nearby (11.8 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Leithead Hot Spring?
No, not at the source. The water at Leithead Hot Spring reaches 162°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.