Fisher Hot Springs

Current status

Fisher Hot Springs used to appear on most lists of southeast Oregon soaks. Today it should be treated as off limits. The spring sits on the eastern edge of Warner Valley, and the soaking tub and the parking area beside it are on private ranch land. A soaking guide that still maintains a page on the spring now says, at the top, that the owner does not allow access. Federal land-status data for the mapped spring location also shows private land.

Some older descriptions say the spring source itself is on BLM land and that visits to the tub were tolerated. Sources disagree on exactly where the property line falls. It does not change the practical answer: the only tub and the only parking are on private property, and the reported current position of the owner is no. Unless you have the landowner’s permission, do not drive out to soak here.

We are keeping this page so that people who find Fisher in an old guidebook know where things stand and can plan something else.

What it was like

The setting is classic Great Basin. Warner Valley is a long chain of shallow lakes and marshes at the foot of the Hart Mountain escarpment, and Fisher sits near Crump Lake at about 4,500 feet, looking across the valley floor toward the mountain. It is one of several thermal springs in what soaking guides call the Crump geothermal area, named for the nearby Crump Geyser, a geothermal well that has erupted in the past.

The spring itself is very hot. Recorded surface temperatures are about 154 to 155°F68°C, and the water is a sodium bicarbonate chloride type with a near-neutral pH and modest dissolved solids. It rises on a hillside about 50 yards from the old soaking tub, and a hose carried it down. By the time it reached the tub it still averaged around 140°F60°C, far too hot for a soak.

So soaking at Fisher was always an exercise in patience. Visitors would pull the hose aside and let the tub cool, sometimes for hours, before getting in. The considerate habit was to leave the tub half empty with the hose set aside, so the next person arrived to water that was already cooling. One outdoor writer described the tub as algae-filled and messy, with views that made up for it. There was a small parking area with a fire pit and nothing else.

Getting there (for reference only)

These directions are here so you can recognise the area, not as an invitation. The route crosses private land near the end, and the tub is on private land.

From Adel, the old route ran about 5 miles east on OR-140 to milepost 33, then north on a dirt road for roughly 5.5 miles, through a couple of junctions, and then about 5 miles more past a ranch to the parking area. Soaking guides recommend a high-clearance vehicle for the last 10.5 miles, and rain can make the road impassable. Adel is about 14 miles southwest of the spring, and Lakeview is about 42 miles west.

When it was visited

When it was open, Fisher was a year-round spring. Cool months were the best time, since the tub was easier to cool and the desert was more comfortable. Summer brings heat and dust to Warner Valley, and spring storms turn the dirt roads to mud.

Rules and etiquette

The rule that matters now is simple. Respect the landowner and do not trespass. If you have contacts in the valley and gain permission, follow whatever conditions the owner sets, leave gates as you find them, keep vehicles on existing tracks, and pack out everything.

The spring was described in older guides as clothing optional. That is moot while it is closed.

Where to stay nearby

There is no camping at the spring, and the parking area is private.

• Adel is a very small community on OR-140 with limited services. Do not count on more than basic supplies.
• Lakeview, about 42 miles west, is the nearest town with motels, restaurants and full services.
• Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, about 12 miles northeast of Plush, has primitive camping near Hart Mountain Hot Springs, a small public pool where the water comes out at about 104°F40°C. It is the obvious substitute for anyone who drove this far for a soak.
• BLM land covers much of the country around Warner Valley, and dispersed camping is generally allowed on BLM land away from private parcels. Check a land-status map before you pitch a tent.

Safety notes

• Scalding water. At about 155°F68°C, the source can cause serious burns. Never put a hand or foot into the source or a fresh outflow.
• Remoteness. Expect no cell service. Carry water, food and a spare tire, and tell someone where you are going.
• Roads. Dirt roads in Warner Valley turn slick and deeply rutted when wet. Do not drive them after rain unless you know the road.
• Private land. Ranchers in this country take trespass seriously. Stay on public roads unless you have permission.

Nearby stops worth adding

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge rises above the east side of Warner Valley and is the best-known stop in the area, with pronghorn, bighorn sheep and wide views. The Warner Lakes themselves, including Crump Lake and Hart Lake, are good for birding in spring when the water is high. If you are heading east toward the Alvord Desert, Alvord Hot Springs is a long but popular drive away.