Orr Creek Warm Springs

Klickitat County, Washington · Near White Salmon
46.3450°N, 121.6000°W · 2,910 ft
72°F 42°F air · Good soaking weather 2,910 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (2.3 mi)

Orr Creek Warm Springs is a warm seep in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Klickitat County, Washington, a long way from anywhere: White Salmon, the town on record, is over forty miles off. Low seventies on file, tepid, which rules out a proper soak. Access is open. The road gets you close.

Location

Forest Road 5603-017 comes within a tenth of a mile. Elevation is a little under three thousand feet, high enough that the snowfall on file, well over two hundred inches, matters for timing. Forest Service ground, no fee in the record. Precipitation is substantial.

Adams Fork Campground is two miles and a bit away, close enough to make this a side trip from camp. Winter is the recommended stretch per the record, but forest roads under this much snow are a real question; ask the ranger district. The water is tepid. No burn risk, and no reason to expect a hot pool.

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 Orr Creek Warm Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Orr Creek Warm Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Orr Creek 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the south.
Highest ground nearby
557 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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
94 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 38% 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
34°
Jan
32°
Feb
36°
Mar
40°
Apr
49°
May
54°
Jun
63°
Jul
65°
Aug
58°
Sep
47°
Oct
37°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 68.3 in Annual Snow: 265.3 in
Best Time to Visit
February Air 32°F · Water 72°F · +40° contrast
December Air 32°F · Water 72°F · +40° contrast
January Air 34°F · Water 72°F · +38° contrast
February offers 32°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
42°F
NNE 7.2 mph 97% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 60° Low 41° Areas Of Fog then Slight Chance Rain Showers 23% precip
Spring is +12° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 42° Sunny
Thursday 79° Low 44° Sunny 1% precip
Friday 76° Low 45° Sunny
Saturday 80° Low 46° Sunny
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Adams Fork Campground 2.3 mi away

Overview Nestled among tall conifers on the Adams Creek Fork of the Cispus River, Adams Fork Campground offers single sites for tent and RV camping, as well as three double sites, with several of the sites sitting along the banks of the river. Adams Fork Campground makes an excellent base from which to explore Mount St. Helens and the surrounding area. Nearby multi-use trails offer a myriad of recreational activities, in addition to trout fishing in the Cispus River. Recreation Part of the Ra...

Fee Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00
Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
72°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 72°F (22°C)
Avg Air Temp 46°F
Above Ambient +27°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Forest Road 5603-017
Distance to Road 0.1 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 Orr Creek Warm Springs?
Orr Creek Warm Springs has a water temperature of 72°F (22°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Orr Creek Warm Springs located?
Orr Creek Warm Springs is located in Klickitat County, Washington at 2,910 feet elevation, near White Salmon. Coordinates: 46.3450°N, 121.6000°W.
How do I get to Orr Creek Warm Springs?
Orr Creek Warm Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Forest Road 5603-017 (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Orr Creek Warm Springs free to visit?
Orr Creek Warm Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Orr Creek Warm Springs?
Yes, Adams Fork Campground is located nearby (2.3 miles away). Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00.