Jonesboro Warm Spring
Jonesboro Warm Spring flows at 112°F, registering 58 degrees above ambient at 2,847 feet elevation in Malheur County. The spring requires a 102-meter walk from Central Oregon Highway, positioned in high desert supporting sagebrush and juniper communities near Vale.
The spring emerges in basin and range topography where elevations support desert shrublands adapted to 12 inches of annual precipitation and 26 inches of snow. The surrounding landscape extends in gentle slopes and flats interrupted by low ridges. Chukar Park lies 16 kilometers distant along the North Fork Malheur River where riparian vegetation contrasts with upland desert.
The Jonesboro name likely derives from early ranching or mining operations in Malheur County, though specific documentation remains limited. The spring appears in federal thermal surveys from the 1970s with basic temperature data but minimal historical detail, suggesting it served local uses without major commercial development through the 20th century.
Access from Vale via Highway 20 and connecting roads. Spring through fall provide moderate temperatures for visits. The 102-meter walk from Central Oregon Highway crosses desert terrain. Carry water and prepare for temperature extremes. Chukar Park Campground offers primitive camping 16 kilometers northeast with 14-day limits and no reservations required.
Is Jonesboro Warm Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Overnight camping trips
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Let the sounds of the babbling North Fork of the Malheur River lull you to sleep at one of the riverside campsites of Chukar Park Campground. This primitive facility offers 19 campsites, seven of which are situated along the shady, lush riparian vegetation. Popular as a base camp with birders, hunters and fishers as well as those venturing through along nearby highway 20, Chukar Park has campsites with partial shade and in full sun. Note that the high-standard, graded county road leading to t...