Antelope Hot Springs (Hart Mountain) | Eastern Oregon

Fantastic and unique Antelope Hot Springs, also known as Hart Mountain Hot Springs is nestled in the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge at an elevation of 6,000 feet.

The 278-acre Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge was found in 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the conservation of the endangered pronghorn antelope, the fastest land mammals in North America. Pronghorn antelope can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (96 km/h); this is slightly less than the fastest mammals in the world African cheetah with the ability to run at 61 miles per hour (98 km/h).

Other 340 protected species of wildlife include 69 species of mammals (California bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes, and rabbits) and 246 species of birds.

The Hart Mountain offers a variety of activities including hunting, fishing, rockhounding, wildlife observation, and, of course, soaking in the hot mineral-rich water. A collection of the hot springs is located perfectly in the middle of the refuge.

The hot springs are man-made. A rancher is said to have stuck a stick of dynamite into a rock with bubbling water spouting out of it.

Enclosed by walls made from natural rocks, the main pool is 8 by 11 feet across and 4 feet deep. This pool features a concrete walkway, a small ladder, and two sitting benches. The walls provide some sort of privacy and protection from chilly winds. The spring's water is bubbling from the bottom at a temperature of about 100-degree Fahrenheit.

Located 100 yards away, the smaller pool with an uneven trapezium-shape is a few degrees warmer. Though this pool is free from any improvement like walls, it offers a great view of the mountain ranges and meadows. This pool has a sand bottom and is 6-foot in diameter and one-foot deep. The spring's water is coming from the pool's base.

Open year-round, the Antelope Hot Springs is the perfect location for camping during the warmer months of the year (summer, fall, and spring). Since the hot springs are located in the high desert, conditions can be extreme. So, be well prepared. Temperatures often fluctuate dramatically. You can expect a temperature of 60-70-degree Fahrenheit during days and a temperature below freezing at night. Visiting Antelope Hot Springs during the cooler time of the year will make escaping the cold weather in hot mineral water even "cooler".

Location: 67 miles northeast of Lakeview • Oregon • USA
Open: Year-round
Development: Semi-developed and primitive
Clothing: Optional
Amenities: Pit toilets
Accommodations: Campground
Hiking distance: Short
Road Access: Any vehicle on the maintained roads
Day-use fees: None

Elevation: 5,930 ft (1,807 m)

Water T°:
Semi-developed pool 95°F(35°C) - 100°F(38°C)
Undeveloped pool 98°F(37°C) - 104°F(40°C)
Water acidity level: Weak alkaline (pH=8.3)
Springs type: Sodium Silicate Bicarbonate
Flow rate: 30 gallon/min/ (114 l/min)
Chemical used: None
Average dissolved solids: 695 ppm

Cations
Sodium (Na) - 191 Mg/L
Potassium (K) - 13 Mg/L
Calcium (Ca) - 10 Mg/L
Magnesium (Mg) - 2.5 Mg/L

Anions
Carbonate (CO3) - 376 Mg/L
Silica (SiO2) - 168 Mg/L
Chloride (Cl) - 64 Mg/L
Sulfate (SO4) - 57 Mg/L
Fluoride (F) - 3.6 Mg/L

From Burns,

Head OR-78 East to OR-205
Turn right onto OR 205 South and drive about 67 miles to Rock Creek Road
Turn right onto the gravel Rock Creek Road that becomes Frenchglen Road
Drive on Frenchglen Road (41 miles from OR-205) to Refuge Headquarters
Turn left onto Hot Springs Road and continue 4.4 miles to the Hart Mountain (Antelope) Hot Springs and campground.

From the north end of Plush,

Take Lake County Road 3-12 or Hart Mountain Road toward Hart Lake and Mountains
Continue 23 miles to Refuge Headquarters, the road is mostly gravel
Bear slightly right onto Hot Springs Road and travel 4.4 miles to the Hart Mountain (Antelope) Hot Springs and campground.

GPS: N 42°30.103', W 119°41.391' | 42.501715, -119.689842