Warm Springs

Harney County, Oregon · Near Hines
43.9500°N, 119.6340°W · 5,341 ft
84°F 5,341 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (4.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Warm Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Warm Springs
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.

The other Warm Springs in Harney County lies in the Ochoco National Forest, about 39 miles from Hines, and it is open to the public on Forest Service ground. The water is warm, low eighties, nowhere near a hot soak. It sits high, over 5,300 feet, which puts it in real snow country for the winter. Delintment Lake Campground is about four miles away.

Location

Six tenths of a mile on foot, a short walk, from a road that goes unnamed in the listing. US Forest Service land in the Ochoco National Forest. Winters at this elevation bring close to six feet of snow, and around twenty inches of precipitation falls in a year, which makes winter access a real question.

December, January and February are the best months on file. Snow at this elevation runs deep, so ask the Forest Service about road conditions in those months. Open access, no fee recorded. Camp at Delintment Lake. No chemistry on file. The water is warm and stays well short of hot.

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 Warm Springs.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the east.
Highest ground nearby
85 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
79 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 14% 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
25°
Jan
26°
Feb
31°
Mar
37°
Apr
46°
May
55°
Jun
65°
Jul
65°
Aug
56°
Sep
43°
Oct
32°
Nov
24°
Dec
Annual Precip: 20.3 in Annual Snow: 67.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 24°F · Water 84°F · +60° contrast
January Air 25°F · Water 84°F · +59° contrast
February Air 26°F · Water 84°F · +58° contrast
December offers 41°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
WNW 11.2 mph
Tuesday 64° Low 36° Mostly Sunny 8% precip
Spring is +20° warmer
Wednesday 61° Low 38° Mostly Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +23° warmer
Thursday 62° Low 37° Chance Rain Showers 38% precip
Spring is +22° warmer
Friday 68° Low 39° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +16° warmer
Saturday 71° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +13° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Delintment Lake Campground 4.2 mi away

Overview Delintment Lake Campground provides a wide variety of recreation facilities and activities for the whole family.  The campground has 29 campsites, a group camping area, a natural non-motorized boat launch, beach area, fishing pier, and 12 picnic sites.  Hike the trail along the banks or fish from the dam or pier.The two loop campground offers camping sites near the shore as well as higher on the bank.  The road access is paved up to the campground from Burns, Oregon.  Please pack out...

Fee $10/night single site$5/vehicle per day
Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,341 ft

Warm Springs sits at 5,341 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 21% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
84°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 84°F (29°C)
Avg Air Temp 42°F
Above Ambient +42°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.6 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Ochoco National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Warm Springs?
Warm Springs has a water temperature of 84°F (29°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Warm Springs located?
Warm Springs is located in Harney County, Oregon at 5,341 feet elevation, near Hines. Coordinates: 43.9500°N, 119.6340°W.
How do I get to Warm Springs?
Warm Springs has Short Walk road access (0.6 mi from the road).
Is Warm Springs free to visit?
Warm Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Warm Springs?
Yes, Delintment Lake Campground is located nearby (4.2 miles away). $10/night single site$5/vehicle per day.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia