The main hot spring (David K.)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 42.4991, -119.6928
• Elevation: 6000 feet

Hikes starting here

• Warner Peak Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Description

The Hot Springs Campground is the trailhead for the Warner Peak Hike.

There is a very primitive campground here. Pit toilets and fire rings are about the only amenities. There are 30 numbered sites. There's a map of the campground at the headquarters. You have to register to camp, but there is no fee.

After it's rained, for example June 2010, it's rather muddy. Many of the campsites are inaccesible. There's a sign on the registration board giving the names of tow companies that will rescue you if you get stuck in the mud.

Probably most of the people at the campground are here for the hot spring. Take the first right (at the registration board). There is a rock privacy wall around the spring, which is basically just a hole in the ground surrounded by concrete deck and two wood benches. During June, it was about 101 degrees - very nice for a hot spring. Someone said that in the winter, when the air temperature is 20 degrees, it's too cool to stay in very long.

There's another pool, down the closed jeep road from the main hot spring. There's no privacy enclosure. This pool is warmer. Might want to use this in the winter when the main pool is too cool.

To find the trail to Warner Peak, stay straight at the registration board, and then take the next right. Maybe the best place to park is next to the main hot spring, in which you can take the jeep trail through the campground. Anyway, take the jeep trail through the campground, and in a short distance is a gate with a sign "closed Dec 1 to Aug 1". Now you know you're on the right trail. There are a couple other trails out of the campground that aren't the correct trail.

If you don't want to do the entire drive in one day, you can find accomodations in LaPine, Klamath Falls, or Lakeview. There a number of forest service campgrounds along Highway 58. I stayed a night at Thompson Reservoir which was okay, from Silver Lake on Highway 31, go a short distance Northwest, and then drive 13 miles on paved road to the campground. There's a small unmarked campground just at the beginning of the gravel road in the refuge.

Driving Directions

Here are two routes. Maybe you can take one there and the other back. Or there other routes - look at your map.

One route - 423 miles - 9 hours

• From Portland, take I-5 South about 100 miles, 5 miles past Eugene.
• Take Hwy 58 East, follow signs to Klamath Falls, go 87 miles.
• Take Hwy 97 South, follow signs to Klamath Falls, go 78 miles.
• In Klamath Falls, take city streets marked Hwy 39, there are several turns, follow signs to Merrill, good luck.
• Still in Klamath Falls, take Hwy 140, follow signs to Lakeview, go 90 miles.
• Go left (North) on Hwy 395, go 5 miles.
• Go right (East) on Hwy 140, follow signs to Plush, go 16 miles.
• Go left (North) on Plush Cutoff Road, follow signs to Plush, go 20 miles.
• Keep going through Plush, turn right at obscure "Hart Mt. Refuge" sign, go 13 miles.
• Up to here, the road is paved, two or more lanes.
• From here, the road is gravel, not too bad for regular vehicles, some washboarding.
• Keep going 10 miles to the refuge headquarters. Fill out backcountry permit if you're backpacking.
• Keep going a little further, then turn right at "Hot Springs Campground" sign. Go 5 more miles.

Another route - 381 miles - 8 hours

• From Portland, take Hwy 26 East past Mount Hood, go 110 miles.
• Take Hwy 97 South, follow signs to Bend or Klamath Falls, go 70 miles.
• Take Hwy 31 Southeast, follow signs to Lakeview, go 114 miles.
• Take Hwy 395 South, follow signs to Lakeview, go 24 miles.
• Go right (East) on Hwy 140, follow signs to Plush, go 16 miles.
• Go left (North) on Plush Cutoff Road, follow signs to Plush, go 20 miles.
• Keep going through Plush, turn right at obscure "Hart Mt. Refuge" sign, go 13 miles.
• Up to here, the road is paved, two or more lanes.
• From here, the road is gravel, not too bad for regular vehicles, some washboarding.
• Keep going 10 miles to the refuge headquarters. Fill out backcountry permit if you're backpacking.
• Keep going a little further, then turn right at "Hot Springs Campground" sign. Go 5 more miles.

Fees and Regulations

none

Contributors

• User:retiredjerry (creator)
• User:David K. (photos)

Map

There is a map available at the HQ, not very much detail: