Limekiln Hot Spring

Grant County, Oregon · Near Canyon City
44.3740°N, 118.7380°W · 4,150 ft
70°F 44°F air · Good soaking weather 4,150 ft Roadside Camping nearby (14.2 mi)

Limekiln Hot Spring is a tepid roadside spring in Grant County, Oregon, about ten miles from Canyon City. Despite the name the water is only lukewarm. It sits practically in the shoulder of Indian Creek Road. Ownership and access are not recorded. With the road this near, that is worth knowing before you stop.

Location

Indian Creek Road is six feet away, per the record. Mid elevation, moderate snow, a couple of feet of precipitation. Big Creek Campground, fourteen miles out, is the one the record pairs with it. Nothing is given for land unit or designation.

The file recommends winter. Not warm enough to soak. Nothing on file says who owns it, and nothing says it is open, so don't assume. The USGS recorded the temperature; the date is not given, and no water chemistry exists for the site. There is a photo on file, which is more than most springs in this part of the state can say.

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 Limekiln Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Limekiln Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Limekiln 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
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
342 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
90 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 30% 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
30°
Feb
36°
Mar
42°
Apr
51°
May
59°
Jun
70°
Jul
70°
Aug
61°
Sep
47°
Oct
35°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 23.8 in Annual Snow: 81.8 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 27°F · Water 70°F · +43° contrast
January Air 29°F · Water 70°F · +41° contrast
February Air 30°F · Water 70°F · +40° contrast
December offers 43°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
44°F
Clear E 33.0 mph 71% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 70° Low 39° Mostly Sunny 7% precip
Wednesday 70° Low 41° Mostly Sunny 8% precip
Thursday 67° Low 42° Chance Rain Showers 51% precip
Spring is +3° warmer
Friday 73° Low 43° Sunny 7% precip
Saturday 77° Low 44° Sunny 1% precip
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Big Creek Campground 14.2 mi away

Overview Big Creek Campground sits at the edge of beautiful Logan Valley along Big Creek and is a great starting point for multiple recreation opportunities, including mountain biking, hiking, stream fishing, hunting and bird watching and exploring the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. In the spring and early summer the area is exceptional for wildflower viewing.Recreation Big Creek Campground offers a central base for all your recreation activities. From casting a line in Big Creek to biking n...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
70°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 70°F (21°C)
Avg Air Temp 47°F
Above Ambient +24°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Indian Creek Road
Distance to Road 6 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Limekiln Hot Spring?
Limekiln Hot Spring has a water temperature of 70°F (21°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Limekiln Hot Spring located?
Limekiln Hot Spring is located in Grant County, Oregon at 4,150 feet elevation, near Canyon City. Coordinates: 44.3740°N, 118.7380°W.
How do I get to Limekiln Hot Spring?
Limekiln Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Indian Creek Road (6 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Limekiln Hot Spring?
Yes, Big Creek Campground is located nearby (14.2 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS