# Hot Springs, Oregon

Hot Springs in Oregon. 207°F (97°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Harney County.

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

## Can you soak at Hot Springs?

No. The water at Hot Springs reaches 207°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 207°F (97°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,083 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.9 mi from the nearest road (Borax Lake Road) |
| Land | Borax Lake, NGO |
| County | Harney County |
| Nearest town | Hines |
| Coordinates | 42.33800, -118.60200 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | South Steens Campground, 22.9 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Hot Springs reaches 207°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

## About Hot Springs

Listed only as Hot Springs, this is thermal water at Borax Lake in Harney County, far from anywhere; Hines, the nearest town on file, is close to ninety miles off. The water is scalding, near boiling, and the ground is held by a nonprofit under a private conservation designation. Public access is recorded as unknown. Nobody should plan a soak here.

Borax Lake Road ends about nine tenths of a mile short, so there is a walk across flat desert at roughly four thousand feet. Snow is light, under two feet, and rain is scarce. The land owner is listed as an NGO and the unit as Borax Lake, with a conservation designation attached.

Winter months are listed best, December through February. South Steens Campground, twenty-three miles away, is the closest camping on record. The water is hot enough to kill, so keep to firm ground and away from any pool edge. Since access is unknown and the land is private conservation ground, find out from the owner before visiting. A photo exists on the record.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Hines](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/oregon/hines), 15 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Oregon](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon)
- [Borax Lake (Hot Lake), OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/borax-lake-hot-lake): 97°F source, Short Walk, near Hines, Harney County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/unnamed-spring-harney-county-3): 90°F source, Short Walk, near Hines, Harney County
- [Alvord Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/alvord-hot-springs): 174°F source, Short Walk, near Hines, Harney County
- [Flagstaff Butte Hot Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/flagstaff-butte-hot-spring): 126°F source, Roadside, near Winnemucca, Humboldt County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/unnamed-spring-humboldt-county-4): 100°F source, Short Walk, near Winnemucca, Humboldt County
- [Mickey Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/mickey-springs): 187°F source, Short Walk, near Hines, Harney County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Springs?**
Hot Springs has a water temperature of 207°F (97°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hot Springs located?**
Hot Springs is located in Harney County, Oregon at 4,083 feet elevation, near Hines. Coordinates: 42.3380°N, 118.6020°W.

**How do I get to Hot Springs?**
Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Borax Lake Road (0.9 mi from the road).

**Is Hot Springs free to visit?**
Hot Springs has Unknown access. It is managed by NGO.

**Can I camp near Hot Springs?**
Yes, South Steens Campground is located nearby (22.9 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Hot Springs reaches 207°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