Unnamed Thermal Spring
Designated simply as hot without specific temperature data, this spring at 4,709 feet elevation requires a 1.4-mile hike from Old Highway Road on Bureau of Land Management property managed by the Applegate Field Office. The remote location guarantees solitude in backcountry near the Oregon-California-Nevada tri-state area.
Rising at 4,709 feet in terrain receiving 15 inches of annual precipitation including 56.7 inches of snow, the spring emerges in country where mean air temperatures average 50.5°F. The landscape lies within BLM holdings designated for multiple uses, in remote country where distance ensures isolation. Patterson Guard Station, a 1921 structure at 7,080 feet surrounded by aspen, fir, and pine, sits 19.6 kilometers away near the South Warner Wilderness boundary.
Historical records provide no name, Indigenous associations, or development timeline. The H" temperature designation in original surveys indicates hot water without measurement specifics. BLM management under Applegate Field Office began following federal consolidation of public lands."
Serious 1.4-mile hike demands proper footwear, navigation tools, and water. Patterson Guard Station 12 miles distant offers basecamp option. Higher elevation and 56.7 inches annual snow mean limited access season, likely June through October. Verify water temperature on arrival.
Is this spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
Overview *Altitude is 7,080 feet above sea level* Set on the edge of a meadow surrounded by Aspen, Fir and Pine trees, Patterson Guard Station has stood since 1921. It served the Modoc National Forest as a fully staffed fire office and guard station until 1981. Just a few footsteps from the Summit Trail and one-quarter mile from the wilderness boundary, Patterson Guard Station can be your basecamp for trips into the South Warner Wilderness or the perfect place to disconnect and relax. The...