Hart Mountain Hot Springs: access, fee and temperature
Hart Mountain Hot Springs, also called Antelope Hot Springs, sits inside the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in one of the most remote corners of southeastern Oregon, a small, free soak with a main pool built into stone walls and a smaller secondary pool nearby. Reaching it means committing to a genuinely out-of-the-way drive. It's one of the desert-refuge entries in our hot springs in Oregon guide.
No sourced coordinates are on file for this spot yet — see methodology.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Plush, Oregon; Lakeview is the nearest full-service town, roughly 65 miles from refuge headquarters |
| Access | Short walk from Hot Springs Campground, about 4 miles south of refuge headquarters |
| Fee | None |
| Camping | Free at the adjacent Hot Springs Campground, first-come, first-served |
| Legal status | Public, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Access risk | The refuge has closed roads here during extreme fire danger in past summers, most recently after a 2024 wildfire; check current conditions with refuge staff before a trip in fire season |
| Temperature (source, historical) | The NOAA/NCEI thermal springs archive lists this location, recorded as "Antelope Hot Springs," at 104°F (historical estimate, base year 1980) |
| Temperature (pools, recent) | The main pool runs around 100°F, and a smaller secondary pool about 100 yards away reaches roughly 104°F, per current visitor reports |
Getting there
Hart Mountain Hot Springs sits about 4 miles south of the refuge's headquarters, a short walk from Hot Springs Campground. There's no fee for the springs or the campground, which operates first-come, first-served. What makes this one different from most springs on this list is the drive to get there: the refuge is genuinely remote, roughly 65 miles from Lakeview, the nearest town with full services, over roads that see little traffic. Fuel up, carry extra water, and don't count on cell service anywhere near the refuge.
Because this is a wildlife refuge managed for pronghorn antelope rather than a recreation-first forest, road access here is more fire-sensitive than at most of the national-forest springs in this guide. The refuge has closed roads in this area during extreme fire danger in past summers, including after a 2024 wildfire that shut down a large section of the refuge for months; current public reports describe the hot springs area and campground as open, but conditions can change quickly during fire season.
The pools
A main pool roughly 8 by 11 feet and 4 feet deep sits inside rustic stone walls, running close to 100°F according to current visitor reports. About 100 yards away, a smaller, undeveloped secondary pool runs slightly warmer, up to roughly 104°F, matching the NOAA archive's historical estimate for the source almost exactly. Unlike springs mixed with a nearby creek, this system stays fairly consistent since there's no adjacent stream diluting it.
How this guide was researched
This page draws on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service information for the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, the NOAA/NCEI thermal springs archive, and published visitor reports. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Road conditions and fire-season closures change; verify current status with refuge headquarters before you go. Last checked August 2026.
FAQ
Is Hart Mountain Hot Springs free?
Yes. There's no fee for the springs or for camping at the adjacent Hot Springs Campground.
How remote is Hart Mountain Hot Springs?
Very. It's inside a national wildlife refuge roughly 65 miles from Lakeview, the nearest town with full services, over lightly traveled roads.
How hot is Hart Mountain Hot Springs?
The main pool runs around 100°F, and a smaller secondary pool nearby reaches roughly 104°F.
Can you camp at Hart Mountain Hot Springs?
Yes, at the adjacent Hot Springs Campground, free and first-come, first-served.
Does fire season affect access to Hart Mountain Hot Springs?
It can. The refuge has closed roads in this area during extreme fire danger before, including a multi-month closure after a 2024 wildfire. Check current conditions with refuge staff before a summer trip.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked August 2026. Read our full methodology.