# Mickey Springs, Oregon

Mickey Springs in Oregon. 187°F (86°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Harney County.

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

## Can you soak at Mickey Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 187°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road. It's on Bureau of Land Management land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 187°F (86°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,041 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.3 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Burns Andrews Field Office, Bureau of Land Management |
| County | Harney County |
| Nearest town | Hines |
| Coordinates | 42.67600, -118.34400 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Jackman Park Campground, 14.5 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 187°F, the source water at Mickey 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 Mickey Springs

Mickey Hot Springs, listed on file as Mickey Springs, is a cluster of scalding vents and mudpots at the north end of the Alvord Desert in Harney County. Nothing here is for soaking. The water surfaces hot enough to burn skin in an instant. The site belongs to the Bureau of Land Management's Burns Andrews Field Office and is open to the public. Hines, the closest town of any size, is roughly seventy miles away.

The spring field lies on the dry floor of southeastern Oregon's high desert, with Steens Mountain to the west. You leave the vehicle and walk about a third of a mile to reach it. This is a dry corner of the state. A foot of rain in an ordinary year, modest snow, so getting there is rarely a weather problem. Wikipedia notes the much larger 2-6 Hot Springs to the south, bigger than Mickey and less known.

Wikipedia describes Mickey Hot Springs as a small hot spring system with several natural bubbling mudpots and steam vents, sitting north of the larger 2-6 Hot Springs. OpenStreetMap carries it as Mickey Hot Springs, and the USGS has a thermal site number on record here.

Winter is the season the record favors, December through February. Keep well back from the vents and mudpots; water at this temperature scalds on contact. There is no fee on file. Jackman Park Campground, around fifteen miles off, is where the record puts the nearest campsite. Nothing describes a soaking pool, so come expecting to look.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Hines](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/oregon/hines), 13 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Oregon](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon)
- [Alvord Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/alvord-hot-springs): 174°F source, Short Walk, near Hines, Harney County
- [Tudors Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/tudors-spring): 68°F source, Short Walk, near Homedale, Owyhee County
- [Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/hot-springs-harney-county): 207°F source, Short Walk, near Hines, Harney County
- [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-4): 83°F source, Hike, near Hines, Harney 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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Mickey Springs?**
Mickey Springs has a water temperature of 187°F (86°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Mickey Springs located?**
Mickey Springs is located in Harney County, Oregon at 4,041 feet elevation, near Hines. Coordinates: 42.6760°N, 118.3440°W.

**How do I get to Mickey Springs?**
Mickey Springs has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).

**Is Mickey Springs free to visit?**
Mickey Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

**Can I camp near Mickey Springs?**
Yes, Jackman Park Campground is located nearby (14.5 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Mickey Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Mickey Springs reaches 187°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/Mickey_Hot_Springs