Unnamed Thermal Spring
Three Forks Hot Spring flows at 95°F on BLM land at 3,992 feet in the North Fork Owyhee River Canyon, creating a 42.5°F temperature differential above the 52.5°F ambient air. Located 2,642 meters from Skull Creek Road, the spring requires a substantial hike through terrain designated as Wilderness in 2009, accessible only to those willing to undertake serious backcountry travel.
The spring emerges in the dramatic canyon country where the North Fork Owyhee has carved through layered volcanic rocks, creating walls of columnar basalt and rhyolite that rise hundreds of feet above the river. At this elevation, vegetation includes sagebrush, juniper, and riparian communities along the perennial stream. Annual precipitation of 12.8 inches and 29.1 inches of snow support limited vegetation adapted to cold winters and hot, dry summers. The canyon's geologic diversity creates habitat for bighorn sheep, raptors, and native trout.
Access requires hiking skills and overnight gear for most visitors; the 2,642-meter approach demands fitness and navigation ability. Visit May through October; winter conditions can be severe. The 95°F water provides excellent soaking after cooling in the river. North Fork Campground, 17.6 km away, serves as trailhead. Download offline maps as no cellular coverage exists. Respect wilderness regulations: no mechanized equipment, pack out all waste, minimize campfire impacts.
The spring's name references its location near the confluence of multiple tributaries in the North Fork drainage. Indigenous use by Shoshone-Paiute groups likely occurred for centuries, though specific documentation is absent. Euro-American discovery probably came with early 20th-century prospecting and cattle operations. The 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act designated much of the canyon as wilderness, protecting the area's primitive character.
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A small popular semi-developed site offers camping and picnicking in the scenic beauty of the North Fork of the Owyhee River Canyon, much of which was designated Wilderness in March 2009. There is no potable water at this site.
this spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear.
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