• South Harney Lake Hot Springs is located in the remote caldera depression
• The second hottest geothermal source in the Harney Basin
South Harney Lake Hot Springs is located inside of the Harney Basin - a caldera depression that has been created 32,000 years ago when huge lava flows separated the basin from the Malheur River.
Found at the southeastern edge of Harney Lake, South Harney Lake Hot Springs is a collection of bubbling hot springs with a distinct sulfur smell. The temperature of the geothermal sources is over 150 degrees F. The mineral water cools down while flowing from the colorful hot pond through the flat sagebrush landscape into the narrow channel. According to GTILO, South Harney Lake Hot Springs is the second hottest geothermal resource in the Harney Basin. The flow of the springs is greater than 450 liters per minute.
The plastic tub or any container is one of the options to take a soak. You can fill it with hot water from the channel. The water downstream of the pools is cleaner and hot enough at about 100-110°F to take a bath. Overall, this hot springs doesn't provide the cleanest or safest soaking experience, due to its very high temperatures, muddy interior, and possible red spider mites.
It is not recommended to travel to the hot springs until mid-summer. The last 8.5 miles of unimproved road is likely to be either snowy or incredibly muddy during the winter and spring seasons.
Though the hot springs are located on private land, it's available for public use. No signs are indicating if overnight camping is prohibited here but we suggest looking for BLM camping options.
If you ever visit this area, please do not abuse the privilege of accessing the area. Be sure to leave no trace behind!
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South Harney Lake Hot Springs | Facts
Location: 34 miles south of Burns • Eastern Oregon • U.S.
Open: Year-round
Development: Undeveloped
Clothing: Optional
Amenities: None
Accommodations: No camping nearby the hot springs
Hiking distance: Short
Road Access: High-clearance vehicles, the road can be inaccessible during wet weather
Day-use fees: None
Elevation: 4,100 ft (1,250 m)
Water T° (source): 140-150°F (60-65°C)
Water acidity level: Neutral (pH=7.26)
Springs type: Sodium Bicarbonate Chloride
Flow rate: 119 gallon/min (450 l/min)
Chemical used: None
Average dissolved solids: 2,100 ppm
| Cations Sodium (Na) - 630 Mg/L Potassium (K) - 13 Mg/L Calcium (Ca) - 12 Mg/L Magnesium (Mg) - 1.8 Mg/L |
Anions Chloride (Cl) - 590 Mg/L Carbonate (CO3) - 568 Mg/L Sulfate (SO4) - 140 Mg/L Silica (SiO2) - 92 Mg/L Fluoride (F) - 3.3 Mg/L Boron (B) - 11.3 Mg/L |
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Directions to South Harney Lake Hot Springs
From Burns,
- Head south on OR-205 to South Harney Lake Lane
- Turn right (west) just before milepost 24 onto South Harney Lake Lane (South Harney Road) and continue 8.2 miles
- Bear right at the fork and drive 0.2 miles to the hot springs.
- After heavy rain, roads can be wet and muddy. High-clearance vehicles are recommended.
"Geothermal Information Layer for Oregon". www.oregongeology.org
