Alvord Hot Springs is a
geothermal spring
A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow bodies of magma (molten rock) or by circ ...
located in
Harney County in southeastern
Oregon
Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
Geography
The spring lies at elevation on the western edge of the
Alvord Desert
The Alvord Desert is a desert located in Harney County, in southeastern Oregon in the Western United States. It is roughly southeast of Steens Mountain. The Alvord Desert is a dry lake bed and averages of rain a year. Two mountain ranges ...
into which the spring flows and eventually evaporates. To the west of the springs lies
Steens Mountain
Steens Mountain is a large fault-block mountain in the northwest United States, located in Harney County, Oregon. Stretching some north to south, on its east side it rises from the Alvord Desert at an elevation of about to at the summit. Ste ...
, a north–south running range with a peak of above sea level.
Soaking pools
The source averages 174 °F (79 °C), but a system of pipes cools and regulates the flow of incoming water so that the pool temperature is maintained about 105 °F (44 °C). The spring smells somewhat of
sulfur
Sulfur ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphur ( Commonwealth spelling) is a chemical element; it has symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms ...
, yet not enough to dissuade visitors from soaking in one of two small, man-made rectangular concrete soaking pools, which are 3 feet (1 m) deep and either 25 by 50 feet (7.5 x 15 m)
or 10 by 20 (3 x 6 m).
The soaking pools have a covered, as well as an open portion, the covered portion being rustic in its corrugated sheet metal and wood construction.
The thermal springs from the Alvord Basin discharge sodium-bicarbonate-chloride-type water with a significant proportion of sulfate.
Public access
Though they are on private property, before 2013, the use of the hot springs was free and open to the public year-round.
In early 2013, the property owners (the Alvord Ranch) installed a full-time caretaker in a trailer and started construction of a parking-lot and a small building which will house a store. Access to the hot springs is no longer free. Maintenance is volunteered by local residents and all visitors are encouraged to help keep the springs clean.
See also
*
List of hot springs in the United States
This is a dynamic list of hot springs in the United States. The Western states in particular are known for their thermal springs: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington (state), Washi ...
References
Hot springs of Oregon
Bodies of water of Harney County, Oregon
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