Unnamed Thermal Spring

Harney County, Oregon · Near Burns
43.6630°N, 118.7390°W · 4,205 ft
72°F 32°F air · Good soaking weather 4,205 ft Hike Camping nearby (15.7 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around the spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around the 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.

An unnamed thermal point in Harney County, roughly seventeen miles from Burns, that the USGS tracks by site number. The water on file is tepid, a bit above room temperature and well under body heat. Nothing is recorded about who owns the land or whether the public may visit.

Location

Plan on a mile and a half of walking, more or less. The road it starts from goes unnamed in the record. Ground sits a shade past four thousand feet, high desert. Winter drops about three feet of snow onto it. The year runs dry. No land unit or designation was ever listed.

The months on file as best are the winter ones. The water is too cool to soak in. Idlewild is the nearest campground recorded, around sixteen miles away. Ownership and access are both blank, so find out whose land the hike crosses before you go. No 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 this spring.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southwest.
Highest ground nearby
356 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
71 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 6% 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
27°
Jan
31°
Feb
39°
Mar
45°
Apr
55°
May
64°
Jun
74°
Jul
74°
Aug
63°
Sep
49°
Oct
37°
Nov
28°
Dec
Annual Precip: 14.2 in Annual Snow: 36.3 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 27°F · Water 72°F · +45° contrast
December Air 28°F · Water 72°F · +45° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 72°F · +41° contrast
January offers 47°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
32°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 86% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 71° Low 40° Mostly Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +1° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 44° Mostly Sunny 4% precip
Thursday 70° Low 42° Chance Rain Showers 44% precip
Spring is +2° warmer
Friday 74° Low 42° Sunny 5% precip
Saturday 76° Low 43° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Idlewild 15.7 mi away

Overview Idlewild Campground is the perfect place for large gatherings in any weather. In sun, rain or snow, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors while spending time with friends and family. The campground is situated along Highway 395 north of Burns, Oregon. In the summer, it is popular with hikers and mountain bikers. In the winter, visitors can snowmobile and cross-country ski.Recreation Idlewild offers opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking and mountain biking. Devine Su...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
72°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 72°F (22°C)
Avg Air Temp 49°F
Above Ambient +23°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 1.5 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at ?
has a water temperature of 72°F (22°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is located?
is located in Harney County, Oregon at 4,205 feet elevation, near Burns. Coordinates: 43.6630°N, 118.7390°W.
How do I get to ?
has Hike road access (1.5 mi from the road).
Can I camp near ?
Yes, Idlewild is located nearby (15.7 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS