# Mount Vernon Hot Springs, Oregon

Mount Vernon Hot Springs in Oregon. 121°F (49°C). Short Walk. Grant County.

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

## Can you soak at Mount Vernon Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 121°F, hotter than any hot tub. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 121°F (49°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 3,448 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.9 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Grant County |
| Nearest town | John Day |
| Coordinates | 44.45100, -119.10500 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | FALL MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT CABIN, 11.3 mi |

## About Mount Vernon Hot Springs

Eight miles or so from John Day in Grant County, Mount Vernon Hot Springs is a hot source that the USGS tracks as a thermal site. The water is hot, past comfortable soaking temperature at the outlet, which means it needs cooling or mixing before anyone gets in. No access status is recorded, and no owner.

The spring lies in the John Day country of eastern Oregon at a middling elevation. It is not drive-up. The record calls it a short walk, a bit under a mile of walking from the closest road, which goes unnamed. Winters are snowy, around five feet in a year, so the walk in can be a slog or impassable in the cold months. Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin is the nearest overnight option listed, about eleven miles off.

Oddly, the record ranks December through February as the best months, snow or not. Hot water at this temperature can burn with prolonged contact, so test before committing. It is a short walk in. Ownership and permission are both unknowns here, so assume nothing and ask in John Day.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Pilot Rock](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/oregon/pilot-rock), 50 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Oregon](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon)
- [Joaquin Miller Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/joaquin-miller-hot-springs): 104°F source, Short Walk, near Canyon City, Grant County
- [Limekiln Hot Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/limekiln-hot-spring): 70°F source, Roadside, near Canyon City, Grant County
- [Blue Mountain Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/blue-mountain-hot-springs): 136°F source, Short Walk, near Canyon City, Grant County
- [Ritter Hot Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/ritter-hot-springs): 106°F source, Short Walk, near John Day, Grant County
- [Brisbois Ranch Springs, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/brisbois-ranch-springs): 72°F source, Short Walk, near Canyon City, Grant County
- [Weberg Hot Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/weberg-hot-spring): 115°F source, Short Walk, near Hines, Harney County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Mount Vernon Hot Springs?**
Mount Vernon Hot Springs has a water temperature of 121°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Mount Vernon Hot Springs located?**
Mount Vernon Hot Springs is located in Grant County, Oregon at 3,448 feet elevation, near John Day. Coordinates: 44.4510°N, 119.1050°W.

**How do I get to Mount Vernon Hot Springs?**
Mount Vernon Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.9 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Mount Vernon Hot Springs?**
Yes, Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin is located nearby (11.3 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Mount Vernon Hot Springs?**
With care. At 121°F Mount Vernon Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals