Fisher Hot Springs
Fisher Hot Springs in Baker County flows at 99°F, emerging 52.7°F above the 46.3°F ambient air temperature in mountainous terrain receiving 27.6 inches of precipitation and 91.1 inches of snow annually. Located 175 meters from Foothill Road, the spring requires a short walk to reach this thermal feature in the Blue Mountains region where wet mountain conditions contrast sharply with Oregon's desert springs.
The spring emerges in mixed conifer forest at elevations characteristic of the Blue Mountains, where ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and grand fir dominate slopes shaped by volcanic activity and glacial processes. The terrain features steep ridges and creek valleys, with substantial winter snowpack feeding perennial streams through the region. The setting represents Oregon's wettest thermal spring environment outside the High Cascades, where annual snowfall approaches 100 inches and creates conditions more similar to mountain resorts than desert hot springs typical of southeastern Oregon.
Historical records provide limited specific information about Fisher Hot Springs in Baker County. The name likely references a homesteader or early prospector in the region, as Baker County saw significant mining activity following the 1861 gold discovery that established Baker City. The Blue Mountains attracted both miners and ranchers who utilized scattered springs for camps and livestock. The spring's remote location suggests limited commercial development, remaining a minor feature in a region better known for mining history than thermal tourism.
Access from Foothill Road requires crossing unimproved terrain best navigated in summer and fall (July-October) after snowmelt. The massive annual snowfall makes winter access impossible and spring access muddy through June in most years. The spring's temperature allows comfortable soaking only during warmer months. Anthony Lake Guard Station, a historic CCC cabin available for rent 14.7 kilometers away, provides the nearest lodging option with advance reservations required. Bring insect repellent for summer visits in the wet mountain environment.
Is Fisher Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Anthony Lake forms the source of Anthony Creek, named for William 'Doc' Anthony, an ambitious homesteader who came to Baker County in 1864. He was a farmer and a doctor, collected tolls on the Dealy Wagon Road for a time, and ran his ranch until he died in 1914 at age 85. Anthony Lake Guard Station is a historic Civilian Conservation Corps log cabin built in the 1930s - one of only a few Forest Service cabins built of logs. For questions for Anthony Lake, Grande Ronde Lake, Mud Lake,...