Three Forks Warm Springs

What to expect

Three Forks is the point where the North Fork, the Middle Fork and the main Owyhee River meet in a deep basalt canyon in the far southeast corner of Oregon. The warm springs are upstream of that confluence, on the far bank of the Owyhee. Warm water runs off the canyon wall, drops over a small waterfall and collects in pools at the edge of the river, so you can sit under the falling water with the river sliding past a few feet away.

This is a warm soak, not a hot one. An Oregon state geothermal database, which lists the site as Three Forks Hot Springs or Tudor Warm Springs, records a spot reading of 95°F35°C and a large flow. The pools take in some river water, so the temperature in each one shifts with the river level and the season. On a hot desert day, that is a good thing.

There is nothing built at the springs. No toilets, no signs and no trash cans. The nearest facilities are the vault toilets back at the BLM recreation site.

Land ownership

Read this before you go. The Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) and the Owyhee Canyonlands guide both say the springs and much of the riverbank upstream of the campground are on unmarked private land. The owners have let hikers visit, but there is no guarantee that will continue. Federal surface-management maps show BLM land around the mapped spring, so the exact boundary is unclear on the ground. Behave as you would on someone’s ranch: stay on the route, leave no trace, keep fires out of it, and respect any signs that appear.

Getting there

Three Forks is one of the most remote places in Oregon you can reach by car. ONDA puts it about 3 hours from Boise and about 5 hours from Burns.

The drive: From Jordan Valley, head west on US-95 for about 16 miles to the sign for Three Forks and the Soldier Creek Watchable Wildlife Loop. Turn left (south) onto the dirt road and follow it for more than 27 miles to a junction, then turn right. The BLM’s Owyhee Canyon Overlook, about 22 miles from the highway, is worth a stop. A few miles past the junction you reach the canyon rim.

The descent: The BLM says the last two miles drop fast into the canyon on a rocky, steep road that is not regularly maintained. Stop at the rim and look before you commit. If it looks too rough, park on top and walk down. ONDA advises nothing short of a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle, and both ONDA and the Owyhee Canyonlands guide say not to attempt the road in even slightly wet conditions. The soils here turn to slick, deep mud, and the Soldier Creek Loop Road can become impassable.

The rim route (main route, about 4.2 miles one way): From the camping area on the gravel bar, walk east along the road for half a mile and cross the bridge over the North Fork Owyhee. Continue a quarter mile, keep right, and ford the Middle Fork. Climb about three-quarters of a mile to a junction and gate, then go right toward the canyon. For roughly 1.5 miles the track runs along the rim with the river below on your right. Drop into the canyon, head downriver, and you will see the springs on the other side. The last step is a careful ford of the Owyhee to reach the pools.

The canyon route (about 2 miles): From the boat ramp, ford the Middle Fork Owyhee and follow an intermittent path upstream through the canyon. After about 2 miles the waterfall of the warm springs appears on your right. This is shorter but involves more wading and route-finding.

Strong paddlers sometimes walk in by the rim and float the last two miles back down to the boat launch.

When to go

Everything here depends on dry roads and a low river.

• Late summer and early fall usually give the best combination: dry roads, lower water for the fords, and less heat than midsummer.
• Spring brings green hills and wildflowers, but snowmelt can make the fords dangerous. Do not cross if the water is above your knees or moving fast.
• Midsummer is very hot on the exposed rim route. Start early and carry plenty of water.
• After rain, stay away. The road can trap vehicles for days.

Rules and etiquette

• No fee. The BLM charges nothing at the Three Forks Recreation Site, and there is no permit for the springs.
• Private land. The owners allow visits as a courtesy. Pack out everything you bring in, follow fire restrictions and do not camp at the springs.
• Camping limit: 14 days at the BLM site.
• No soap, no glass. The pools are small and drain straight into a Wild and Scenic river.
• Fire: check current BLM fire restrictions for the Vale District before you leave. Summer bans are common in the Owyhee.

Where to stay nearby

The BLM Three Forks Recreation Site at the bottom of the canyon has five designated campsites, vehicle parking, a boat launch and vault toilets. It is free, with a 14-day limit. Bring all your water and supplies.

Jordan Valley on US-95 is the nearest town for fuel and food. Fill up there, because there is nothing on the road to Three Forks.

Safety notes

• River crossings: the fords are the main hazard. Gauge the depth and current before every crossing, unbuckle your pack’s hip belt and turn back if the water is above your knees.
• Heat and exposure: the rim route has almost no shade. Carry more water than you think you need, plus a hat and sunscreen.
• Rattlesnakes live in the canyon. Watch where you put your hands and feet, and give any snake you hear plenty of room.
• Poison ivy grows along the river corridor.
• Remoteness: help is many hours away and emergency access is very difficult. Do not count on a phone signal. Carry a satellite messenger, a spare tire and enough food and water to wait out a storm.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Owyhee Canyon Overlook on the drive in gives a view straight down into the Owyhee Wild and Scenic River gorge. At Three Forks itself, look for the remains of a historic military road zig-zagging up the west wall of the canyon. Pronghorn graze the rangeland above the rim, and California bighorn sheep live in the river corridor year-round.