Antelope Hot Springs Explained

Antelope Hot Springs
Coords:42.501°N -119.693°W[1]
Spring Source:aquifer
Provides:flows into Rock Creek
Elevation:5980feet

Antelope Hot Springs (also Hart Mountain Hot Springs) are natural hot springs located in southeastern Oregon, U.S. 67.4miles northeast of Lakeview and 12miles northeast of the community of Plush, a 28.3miles drive.[2]

The springs emerge at 104F in a semi-improved, accessible location suitable for camping within Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge.[1] The pool is about 5 feet deep and 9 by 12 across (150 cm deep, 3 m x 4 m).[3] The pool can accommodate six people.[4] A posted sign requests that nudists lock the door, though one author suggests the remote location renders such formality unnecessary.[5]

Reportedly a rancher noticed some water bubbling from a rock and blasted it with dynamite resulting in a hot spring pool.[6]

There appears to be no official name for the springs, which GNIS refers to only as Hot Springs,[7] and U.S. topographic maps label similarly.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thermal Springs List for the United States . . 2008-11-25 .
  2. Web site: Plush, Oregon to Hot Springs on Google Maps . 2008-11-25 .
  3. Web site: Antelope (Hart Mountain) Hot Springs . Trails.com . 2008-11-25 .
  4. Web site: Antelope Hot Springs . Community Walk . 2008-11-25 . 2008-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080313154821/http://www.communitywalk.com/location/antelope_hot_springs/frenchglen/oregon/hot_springssoakable/22206 . dead .
  5. Book: Touring Washington and Oregon Hot Springs . Jeff Birkby . Globe Pequot . 2002 . 978-0-7627-1133-8 . 121 . 2008-11-25 .
  6. Web site: Hart Mountain Hot Springs . Oregon Hot Springs . 2008-11-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081226192215/http://oregonhotsprings.immunenet.com/hartmtn.htm. 26 December 2008 . live.
  7. 1122066 . Hot Springs . 2008-11-25 .
  8. Web site: Hot Spring USGS Campbell Lake Quad, Oregon, Topographic Map . 2008-11-25 .