Alvord Hot Springs

Category: Hot Springs-soakable

GPS GeoCoords
Borax Lake: 42.327547,-118.605095
Alvord Hot Springs: 42.543988,-118.532834
Mickey Hot Springs: 42.678401,-118.348325

Weather Forecast

The Alvord Desert is an immense 12-mile long by 7-mile wide dry lake bed in the middle of the Alvord Basin. On the western edge of the Alvord Desert, at the base of Steens Mountain, you'll find Alvord Hot Springs. A large north-trending normal fault defines the eastern face of Steens Mountain, and it is along this fault that geothermal waters migrate to the surface, forming Alvord Hot Springs. The water is just right for soaking, and there are several amenities (concrete pools with wood plugs for adjusting water temperature, a wooden deck, changing room, both outdoor and enclosed bathing areas) to enhance your relaxation experience.

At the southern end of Alvord Desert, before you reach the soakable Alvord HS, is Borax Lake and a series of almost 200 north-northeast-trending hot springs. Although the lake itself is bathwater warm (~90 degrees Fahrenheit), temperatures have been known to fluctuate widely, resulting in mass die-offs of an endangered species of chub. Hot spring temperatures north of Borax Lake are highly variable throughout the year and have been observed to reach up to 212F!

Further north and to the east near the top of the Alvord Depression is Mickey Hot Springs. With temperatures at the boiling point, the springs at Mickey are not suitable for soaking in. Nevertheless, Mickey offer a diverse assortment of springs, including steam vents, mud pots, and "glory pools". Worth the drive -- these impressive springs are not to be missed.

The starting point to this hot spring adventure is the tiny town of Fields on Hwy 205. This is the last place to gas up before you enter the unreal expanse of Alvord Desert to the north.

Directions: From Fields take a left off of Hwy 205 onto Fields-Denio Road. Head north. Alvord Hot Springs is 23 miles in.

For a side trip to Borax Lake, take a gravel road to the right at 4.9 miles up from Fields, and drive 2.4 miles east.

To visit Mickey Hot Springs (and certainly not to soak), drive north from Alvord Hot Springs on Fields-Denio for 10.3 miles (at 9.3 the road curves east; the road curves back north at 10.3). Turn right onto a gravel road that almost switchbacks at the northing curve. The road trends southeast. At 2.4 miles it merges with another road. Continue another 3.7 miles to a spur road to the right. 500 ft south (right) on this spur is the first boiling pool of Mickey Hot Springs.