# Hot Lake Springs, Oregon

Hot Lake Springs in Oregon. 176°F (80°C). Roadside. Union County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/hot-lake-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Hot Lake Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 176°F, hot enough to burn skin. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 176°F (80°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Access | Roadside, 145 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Union County |
| Nearest town | Union |
| Coordinates | 45.24400, -117.95800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Moss Springs Campground, 13.7 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 176°F, the source water at Hot Lake Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Hot Lake Springs

Hot Lake Springs is the thermal spring behind the historic Hot Lake Hotel in Union County, Oregon, about five miles from the town of Union. The water is scalding at the source, well above anything you could sit in. The record has nothing on owner or access, though Wikipedia ties the spring to the hotel property, so expect the property to set the terms.

The spring is a bit over a hundred feet off a road, at an elevation the record leaves blank. Moderate snow, moderate rain. Moss Springs Campground, around fourteen miles off, is the one campground listed.

Hot Lake Hotel, also called Hot Lake Sanatorium and Hot Lake Resort, is a Colonial Revival building first put up in 1864 and named for the thermal spring on its grounds. Around the turn of the twentieth century it ran as a luxury resort and sanatorium, advertising the medicinal qualities of the mineral water and drawing visitors from around the world, according to Wikipedia.

Winter is marked as best. Do not touch the source water; it is hot enough to cause serious burns. Access is not on file, and this is a historic hotel property, so go in expecting the hotel to govern access. Camping is a drive away at Moss Springs.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Elgin](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/oregon/elgin), 18 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Oregon](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon)
- [Union Station Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/union-station-hot-springs): Hot, Roadside, near Union, Union County
- [Warm Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/warm-spring-union-county): 85°F source, Roadside, near Union, Union County
- [Kropp Hot Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/kropp-hot-spring): 109°F source, Roadside, near Union, Union County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/unnamed-spring-union-county): Warm, Roadside, near Elgin, Union County
- [Fisher Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/fisher-hot-springs-1): 99°F source, Short Walk, near Baker City, Baker County
- [Radium Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/radium-hot-springs-3): 135°F source, Short Walk, near Baker City, Baker County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Lake Springs?**
Hot Lake Springs has a water temperature of 176°F (80°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hot Lake Springs located?**
Hot Lake Springs is located in Union County, Oregon, near Union. Coordinates: 45.2440°N, 117.9580°W.

**How do I get to Hot Lake Springs?**
Hot Lake Springs has Roadside road access (145 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Hot Lake Springs?**
Yes, Moss Springs Campground is located nearby (13.7 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Hot Lake Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Hot Lake Springs reaches 176°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Lake_Hotel