Hot Spring
Hot Spring flows at 106°F along Owyhee Reservoir at 2,740 feet elevation on Bureau of Reclamation lands, sitting 58 meters from the nearest road. Recent USGS measurements confirm 50°C water with distinctive chemistry: highly alkaline pH 9.6 and sodium-sulfate character. The spring emerges 49 degrees above the region's 57°F average air temperature in desert canyon terrain technically within Idaho's Owyhee County but near Oregon's border.
The spring emerges at the reservoir's edge in dramatic volcanic canyon country at 2,740 feet elevation. Annual precipitation totals only 11.8 inches with 20.6 inches of snow. Towering rhyolite cliffs and columns characterize Leslie Gulch to the south, where arid-adapted vegetation includes sagebrush, bitterbrush, and sparse juniper. The reservoir fills canyon bottoms carved through ash-flow tuffs and basalt flows. Slocum Creek Campground sits 5.6 kilometers away in a side canyon, where early morning and evening light transforms rock formations into fiery displays.
The spring's generic name reflects limited historical documentation. The Owyhee Dam, completed in 1932, created the reservoir that now surrounds the thermal feature. Northern Paiute groups historically used the Owyhee River corridor before Euro-American ranching began in the late 1800s. The spring has remained undeveloped, subject to reservoir fluctuations.
Access requires navigating unmaintained roads to the reservoir; high-clearance vehicles are recommended. The 106°F temperature is suitable for soaking but requires user-created pools that may flood with reservoir changes. Bring all supplies; services are distant. Late spring through fall offers the best weather. Slocum Creek Campground 5.6 kilometers away provides base camping. Bureau of Reclamation imposes a 14-day stay limit. Explore Leslie Gulch's otherworldly geology.
Is Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.6).
Nestled in a side canyon near the mouth of Leslie Gulch, Slocum Creek Campground makes a good base for gulch explorations. Cool off in the waters of nearby Lake Owyhee or hike the Leslie Gulch Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The campground includes nine campsites, eight of which contain some accessible amenities. The low light of early morning and late evening transforms the abutting rock outcrops of Slocum Creek Wilderness Study Area into magnificent fiery wonder.Know Before You GoCa...