• Snively Hot Springs is located on the bank of the Owyhee River
• Features a primitive pool lined with the river rocks
If you are on the lookout for an excellent location to enjoy a hot soak, then Snively Hot Springs should definitely be considered. Located around the upper part of the Owyhee River Canyon, this spot offers the stunning vista of the Owyhee River that flows through the colorful geological formations of the picturesque canyon.
The hot water up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit comes out of the ground near the Owyhee Lake Road approximately 300 feet from the riverside. It flows via a ditch to a manually built pool situated right in the river. Lined with river rocks and boulders, the pool is two to three feet deep and 20 feet with gravel and sand bottom. The water within the pool is shallow, between two to three feet deep.
The hot water coming from the ditch mixes in with the cold river water. Therefore, some place of the pool might be extremely cold or extremely cold. Consistently stirring the water with your hand, in order to mix hot water with cold water, helps to maintain an even temperature and prevent the hot water from floating to the top.
The pool temperatures may vary depending on the distance from the river or the source of the springs. You can find the perfect soaking location by moving towards or away from the hot springs source.
The hot springs area is open year-round but during spring runoff or when the dam releases water, the Snively pool can submerge with the river.
So, late summer, fall and winter are the best seasons to enjoy soaking here.
The high desert of Owyhee River Canyon offers an attractive set of outdoor adventures including hiking, kayaking, rafting, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, rockhounding, and wildlife watching.
The springs are situated on BLM land 12 miles below the Owyhee Dam and come with a big parking area, pit toilet, and picnic table.
The Snively Hot Springs recreation area gets overused and littered. To keep the place clean and safe, BLM allows day-use only, camping and fires are not allowed and glass containers are prohibited within 30 feet of the hot springs.
Please, pack all your trash and leave no trace behind!
Caution. Watch out for poison oak along the river bank and around the parking area.
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Snively Hot Springs | Facts
Location: 31 miles southwest of Ontario • Eastern Oregon • USA
Open: Year-round from dawn to dusk
Development: Undeveloped
Clothing: Optional
Amenities: Pit toilet & picnic table
Accommodations: No camping and fire are allowed within 30 feet of the hot springs
Restrictions: No camping, no fires, no shooting, no glass containers allowed within 30 feet of the pool
Hiking distance: Short
Road Access: Any vehicle
Day-use: Free
Elevation: 2,400 ft (732 m)
Water T° (source): 134°F (57°C) - 150°F (66°C)
Water T° (pool): 90°F (32°C) - 120°F (49°C)
Water acidity level: Alkaline (pH=9.2)
Springs Type: Sodium and Calcium Chloride Sulfate
Chemical used: None
| Cations Sodium (Na) - 93 Mg/L Calcium (Ca) - 2.7 Mg/L Potassium (K) - 1.1 Mg/L |
Anions Sulfate (SO4) - 91.7 Mg/L Silica (SiO2) - 70.2 Mg/L Chloride (Cl) - 19.5 Mg/L Fluoride (F) - 15 Mg/L |
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Directions to Snively Hot Springs
From Ontario,
- Drive toward E Idaho Ave
- Take I-84 East and drive 4 miles toward Boise
- Take exit 3 for US-95, turn right onto US-95 South, and continue 7.2 miles to US-20/US-26
- Turn right and continue 2.4 miles to OR-201 South
- Turn left onto toward Lake Owyhee and continue for about 8 miles to Owyhee Avenue
- Turn right onto Owyhee Avenue and drive 4 miles to Owyhee Lake Road
- Turn left and continue on Owyhee Lake Road for 6.5 miles to the parking area on the left.
There used to be a swimming pool at the site where the grove of trees are. There are rattlesnakes and ticks in the area.
There are rattlesnakes in the area.
Ticks are also something to be considered.
A little bit of a history lesson…for you.
There used to a swimming pool located where the large trees grow. The Owyhee Dam up stream is built over an extinct volcano. The site was called hole in the ground.
There is a fault line through the canyon.
The large pipes you see along the road to Snively hot springs are irrigation pipes connected to canals and tunnels from the Owyhee Dam.