Three Forks Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Three Forks Hot Springs is a private hot spring listed near Jordan Valley, Oregon. Reported soak temperature: 95°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Warm (~90-95F) riverside soaking pools beside a small waterfall on the Owyhee River at Three Forks — one of Oregon's most remote springs, reached by ~36 mi of dirt road plus a steep 4WD descent, then a hike with Owyhee River fords; the pools sit on unmarked private land whose owners have long tolerated respectful visitors.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 8 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Tolerated access — verified below — confirm via BLM — Three Forks Recreation Site (managing agency).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 95°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None. BLM Vale District manages the recreation site/campground; the pools themselves are private land with informal tolerated access.
- Best time to go: Late June-October when river is low enough to ford and roads are dry; spring runoff (Mar-May) makes the ford dangerous/impossible. Essentially empty midweek.
- Clothing reality: No official policy — private land with no posted rule. Clothing-optional is customary at this very remote site; swimwear also fine.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — steep 4WD road plus uneven hike and unbridged river fords.
- The hot springs and much of the riverbank upstream of the BLM campground are UNMARKED PRIVATE LAND — owners have allowed hiker access for years but there is no guarantee; respect no-trespass signs, pack out everything, no guarantee of future access
- ~36 mi of dirt road from US-95 near Danner (Soldier Creek Loop/Three Forks sign, ~16 mi west of Jordan Valley); impassable even to 4WD when wet — check weather
- Final ~3 mi descent from the canyon rim (corral) to the river is steep, rocky 4WD only; many visitors park at the rim and hike down
- Reaching the main pools requires fording the Owyhee/Middle Fork — March 2025 report: 4.5+ ft deep with strong current, crossing abandoned; only fordable at low water (roughly late June-Oct)
- Small warm pool near the road on the near side is reachable without the big ford; the waterfall pools require the river crossing
- No cell service; nearest services Jordan Valley ~40 mi; BLM Three Forks Recreation Site has primitive campsites, boat ramp, vault toilet, no water
- Hazard: Owyhee River ford — deep, strong current at high water; drowning risk in spring/early summer
- Hazard: Steep unmaintained 4WD descent; road impassable when wet
- Hazard: Extreme remoteness — no cell, no services, self-rescue
- Hazard: Rattlesnakes, summer heat, flash-flood risk in canyon
About this spring
Extremely remote undeveloped warm springs (~95°F — warm, not hot) near the confluence of the Owyhee, North Fork and Middle Fork Owyhee rivers in the Owyhee Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Main pools sit beneath a small warm waterfall. One of the most remote soaking spots in Oregon. Springs sit on unmarked private land — access tolerated but not guaranteed. 4WD mandatory; river ford dangerous in high water. Private land — pack out everything. No services or cell coverage.
Three Forks is a cluster of genuinely warm — not hot — springs (~95°F at the source) near the confluence of the Owyhee, North Fork Owyhee, and Middle Fork Owyhee rivers in the Owyhee Canyon Wilderness Study Area, roughly 39–40 miles south of Jordan Valley in Malheur County. The main west-bank pools sit beneath a small warm waterfall that cascades from an upper pool to a lower one (flow estimated near 3,000 L/min, which keeps the pools fresh); smaller, shallower east-bank seeps can be reached without crossing the river. Because the water is only ~95°F, expect a tepid soak rather than a hot one.
Access is the defining challenge. From US-95 about 16 miles west of Jordan Valley (near Danner), a signed dirt road (Soldier Creek/Three Forks turnoff near MP 36) runs ~28–36 miles to the canyon rim; the final descent into the canyon is steep, rocky, and unmaintained — BLM and ONDA both advise high-clearance 4WD and parking at the rim to walk down if conditions look bad. The road becomes impassable after even modest rain. In the canyon, BLM's Three Forks Recreation Site offers five primitive campsites, a boat launch, and vault toilets. Reaching the main pools requires fording the Middle Fork Owyhee — attempt only at calm, knee-depth-or-less water; it is dangerous during high flows.
Land status matters here: multiple sources (ONDA, AllTrails, Hot Springs Guides) note the springs and much of the riverbank sit on unmarked private land where the owner has historically tolerated visitors — access is not guaranteed. Pack out everything, observe fire restrictions, and respect the landowner. There are no services and no cell coverage. The 3-mile 'hike' in the record corresponds to the rough 4WD track most visitors walk from the rim/camp area rather than a formal trail.
Directions & trailhead access
From Jordan Valley, US-95 west ~16 mi to the Three Forks/Soldier Creek turnoff; ~28 mi of dirt road (high-clearance 4WD required) to the canyon rim; descend and ford the Middle Fork to reach west-bank pools.
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 private-access site means here
This spring is on private property. Listing it documents the location's existence — it is not an invitation. Visiting requires explicit owner permission, and some sites are accessible only through memberships, hosted events, or arrangements with the land manager. Do not arrive unannounced.
Best time to visit
May – October (Spring through Fall)Pacific Northwest springs are framed by lush temperate rainforests. Summer brings dry, sunny trail conditions, while autumn provides vibrant foliage and crisp soaking weather.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 95°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 95°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission |
Three Forks Hot Springs FAQ
Is Three Forks Hot Springs open right now?
Warm (~90-95F) riverside soaking pools beside a small waterfall on the Owyhee River at Three Forks — one of Oregon's most remote springs, reached by ~36 mi of dirt road plus a steep 4WD descent, then a hike with Owyhee River fords; the pools sit on unmarked private land whose owners have long tolerated respectful visitors. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Three Forks Hot Springs free?
Three Forks Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Malheur County, Oregon. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Three Forks Hot Springs?
Three Forks Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 95°F and a historical source temperature of 95°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Three Forks Hot Springs clothing optional?
Three Forks Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Three Forks Hot Springs?
Public use of Three Forks Hot Springs is tolerated rather than formally authorized — there is no reservation system. Follow posted rules and keep a low profile to preserve access.
Where to stay in Jordan Valley
Jordan Valley is a pre- or post-trip base for Three Forks. The separate approach includes about 28 miles of remote dirt road and a river crossing; check weather and river conditions before booking.
Check the road and access notes above before you book.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- BLM — Three Forks Recreation Site (managing agency) — official · 2026-09
- Owyhee Canyonlands (ONDA) — Three Forks camping & springs — community · 2026-09
- AllTrails — Three Forks Hot Springs (Mar 2025 river-ford report) — community · 2025-03
- Hot Springs Locator — Three Forks Hot Springs — community · 2026-09
- Friends of the Owyhee — Three Forks visit — community · 2025-08
- OVR Mag — Three Forks Hot Springs overland trip — community · 2025
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- onda.org/hike/owyhee-canyon-rim-three-forks-hot-springs
- www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/three-forks-warm-springs-oregon
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
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