Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs

Hood River County, Washington · Near Cascade Locks
45.6580°N, 121.9620°W · 75 ft
97°F 52°F air · Good soaking weather 75 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (1.9 mi)

Moffetts Hot Springs, also listed as Bonneville Hot Springs, sits a few dozen feet above sea level near Cascade Locks, which is the town on record. The county on file is Hood River. The water comes out a shade under body temperature, a long, gentle soak kind of warm. Access is listed open, and the ground is Forest Service, part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Location

The closest road, unnamed in the record, is two tenths of a mile off. Low ground, seventy-odd feet of elevation. The climate is wet and mild, with under a hundred inches of snow in a typical year and close to eighty inches of precipitation. Designated national forest, fee unrecorded.

Eagle Creek Overlook group site is the camping listed, under two miles away. The winter months come up as best in the record, and at this elevation snow is less of a problem than it would be higher up. The warmth is comfortable and carries no scald risk. Nothing in the record describes a pool or a bath type, so go expecting to find out for yourself.

History of Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs

The spring carries two names in the record, Moffetts and Bonneville, and USGS carries it as a thermal site.

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 Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
271 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from north to south, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
87 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 26% 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
38°
Jan
40°
Feb
43°
Mar
50°
Apr
57°
May
62°
Jun
69°
Jul
71°
Aug
64°
Sep
53°
Oct
44°
Nov
38°
Dec
Annual Precip: 78.9 in Annual Snow: 93.4 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 38°F · Water 97°F · +59° contrast
December Air 38°F · Water 97°F · +59° contrast
February Air 40°F · Water 97°F · +58° contrast
January offers 33°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
52°F
SSE 4.5 mph 94% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 70° Low 54° Mostly Cloudy 8% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +19° warmer
Thursday 82° Low 59° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +15° warmer
Friday 80° Low 60° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +17° warmer
Saturday 83° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +14° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Eagle Creek Overlook Grp Site 1.9 mi away

Overview Eagle Creek Overlook Group Site is set on a forested bluff above the Columbia River, providing an ideal setting for family gatherings and group events. Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s as a place to view construction of the Bonneville Dam, this site features CCC masonry and offers expansive views of the Columbia River and mountains rising from the gorge.Recreation The Eagle Recreation Area, just a short walk or bike ride away, provides visitors with op...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
97°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 97°F (36°C)
Avg Air Temp 52°F
Above Ambient +45°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs?
Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs has a water temperature of 97°F (36°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs located?
Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs is located in Hood River County, Washington at 75 feet elevation, near Cascade Locks. Coordinates: 45.6580°N, 121.9620°W.
How do I get to Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs?
Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Is Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs free to visit?
Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Moffetts (Bonneville) Hot Springs?
Yes, Eagle Creek Overlook Grp Site is located nearby (1.9 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS