Mickey Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
A fenced BLM geothermal field (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) at the north end of the Alvord Desert — boiling pools, mud pots, steam vents and a sometimes-active mini-geyser to LOOK at only; every pool is too hot to soak (coolest ~117-120F) and the thin crust can collapse into boiling water; injuries and deaths have occurred.
Field notes — checked September 2026
- Hazard: Near-boiling pools 117-212F — instant severe burns; documented human and dog deaths/burns
- Hazard: Thin fragile crust that can collapse into boiling water
- Hazard: Steam vents and mud pots; activity shifts seasonally
- Hazard: Remote desert — no cell, extreme summer heat, variable dirt road
- Hazard: Road conditions swing from deep dust to slick clay
- NO SOAKING — every pool is dangerously hot (117-212F); BLM posted signs: 'Injuries and death have occurred to pets and humans. Keep your children a safe distance from the edges of pools. Keep dogs on leash. Thin ground surface could break under your weight and expose you to boiling water'
- Documented incidents: Oct 1996 — Kevin Williams, 35, died (hypothermia) in the southern pool; Apr 2017 — Brent Torchio suffered 2nd/3rd-degree burns over 20% of his body rescuing his dog, which later died
- BLM fenced the thermal area with a walk-through zigzag gate (keeps cattle out) — stay on paths, ground is fragile
- Geothermal activity varies by season/rainfall — sometimes vigorous steam and mud pots, sometimes mostly dried-up holes; mini-geyser first documented erupting ~8 ft in 1992
- White 'salt flat' soil is sodium borate deposits — safe to touch, not snow
- 6-mi dirt access road off East Steens Road (~21 mi south of Hwy 78 out of Burns); varies dusty to wet clay to deep powder — high-clearance recommended; no camping allowed within the spring area
- No facilities, no fee, no cell; Burns is ~60 mi away — nearest real services
Current status
A fenced BLM geothermal field (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) at the north end of the Alvord Desert — boiling pools, mud pots, steam vents and a sometimes-active mini-geyser to LOOK at only; every pool is too hot to soak (coolest ~117-120F) and the thin crust can collapse into boiling water; injuries and deaths have occurred.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
About this spring
Small but dramatic BLM geothermal field at the north end of the Alvord Desert — a 'miniature Yellowstone' of boiling mud pots, steam vents, and mineral-rimmed pools including Oregon's only known natural mini-geyser. VIEW-ONLY: all pools are far too hot to soak (77-212°F). BLM warns deaths have occurred — a visitor died in 1996 and a man suffered severe burns in 2017 rescuing his dog. LETHAL — near-boiling water under thin crust that can collapse. Keep dogs leashed and children close. NO soaking possible.
Mickey Hot Springs is a small hot spring system in southeastern Oregon, United States. The hot springs are located at the north end of the Alvord Desert just east of Steens Mountain and north of the 2-6 Hot Springs which are much larger but less known. There are several natural bubbling mudpots and steam vents. The system contains at least 60 vents, 11 of which are dry. The hydrothermal system may be in its waning stages of existence. Each vent has a characteristic temperature ranging from 77–212 °F (25–100 °C) with the average about 171 °F (77 °C). The majority of the vents are far too hot for bathing. The water pH is neutral to slightly alkaline. An ecosystem of thermophilic organisms exist in the springs, separated by temperature strata.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Mickey Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
Oregon geothermal context
Oregon splits cleanly in two: Cascade volcanic springs like the Umpqua corridor pools west of the crest, and high-desert basin springs like the Alvord area east of it. Western sites sit in dense wet forest prone to fire closures and winter road washouts; eastern ones are remote sagebrush tubs under enormous skies. Both ends reward checking land-manager alerts before driving out.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | 200°F |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | BLM — Mickey Hot Springs (official site page) |
Mickey Hot Springs FAQ
Is Mickey Hot Springs open right now?
A fenced BLM geothermal field (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) at the north end of the Alvord Desert — boiling pools, mud pots, steam vents and a sometimes-active mini-geyser to LOOK at only; every pool is too hot to soak (coolest ~117-120F) and the thin crust can collapse into boiling water; injuries and deaths have occurred. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Can I soak at Mickey Hot Springs?
A fenced BLM geothermal field (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) at the north end of the Alvord Desert — boiling pools, mud pots, steam vents and a sometimes-active mini-geyser to LOOK at only; every pool is too hot to soak (coolest ~117-120F) and the thin crust can collapse into boiling water; injuries and deaths have occurred.
Where can I check access to Mickey Hot Springs?
Check BLM — Mickey Hot Springs (official site page): https://www.blm.gov/visit/mickey-hot-springs
Sources & references
- BLM — Mickey Hot Springs (official site page) — official · 2026-09
- Oregon Discovery — Mickey Hot Springs (BLM warnings, incident history) — community · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Locator — Mickey Hot Springs (incident dates, temps) — community · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Guides — Mickey Hot Springs (ACEC, fence, dog incident) — community · 2026-09
- SoakingSprings — Mickey Springs listing (187F source, Burns Andrews FO) — community · 2026-09
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction