Overview

Hype:

Juntura Hot Spring is a unique spot because the spring is located on a gravel bar island in the Malheur River. The spot is also nice because it is close to the Highway but on a bend in the river that takes it away from the road, so you feel like you're out in the middle of nowhere. It is called Juntura because of the nearby town, or Horseshoe Bend because that is the name of the bend in the river on the maps.

Because the spring is so easily accessible and has abundant camping it is very well know with hunters during the Fall hunting season, and with hippies other times of the year.

The hot water bubbles up on the far side of the gravel bar from under the main large, about 15 feet wide by 30 feet long, shallow 2-3 foot deep pool. On one side of this pool are two concrete slabs to rest on directly next to the pools edge. The water is generally very hot at Juntura Hot Springs. During the winter months, or when the river level is very high, the main pool is around 109-111 deg F so it is soakable and very nice in the cold air. During the summer the main pool gets to around 115 deg F, and sometimes higher, making it barely soakable (maybe only a feet soak). You can try to cool the upper main pool by adding buckets of cold water from the river (bring your own bucket), this usually works depending on how hot it is.

The overflow from this pool goes down to the rivers edge where it mixes with the cold river water and some other springs that bubble up from the sand. This is the main soaking area in the summer, where you can shift the rocks blocking the cold water to create whatever temperature you want.

Time:

Fees: None

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Links: soakoregon.com

Getting There

Navigate to 43.776100, -118.047633.

There are two ways to get to Juntura Hot Spring.

Turn off Hwy 20 at 43.766800°, -118.039678° and take the dirt road along river. Go under the steel bridge and then turn right where bridge is closed. When the water level is low you can drive through the river onto the gravel bar island and directly next to the spring. But when the water level is high you park next to the tree and walk across the river. The safest spots to cross are at the top or bottom of the island. 

Turn off Hwy 20 at 43.767619°, -118.047493° and take the dirt road along river. Turn left where bridge is closed. When the road forks, turn right and drive as far as you feel comfortable. Park on the side of the road. Wade or swim across the river depending on flow.  

Maps

Closest City or Region: Juntura, Oregon

Coordinates: 43.776100, -118.047633

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July 21, 2018 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Anthony Dye, Arianne Dye, Miller Dye, Ondylyn Wagner, Killian Wagner,

Story

After we checked into our motel and got Savannah, Madilyn, and Cooper in bed, we went and checked out Juntura Hot Spring. We drove around the north side of the river and crossed that way because we didn't know about the other road on the south side. The river was flowing pretty high, so I went first. It was deeper and swifter than I could walk through, so I ended up swimming across. Tara came second. Then Anthony came across with Killian. You should have heard the screams from that kid. The water was a bit cold, but not too bad, but Killian didn't want anything to do with it. We had a life jacket for him, so he was plenty safe, but it was still not something he wanted to be doing. Anthony also swam Miller across, and Miller screamed even harder than Killian.

Eventually we all made it across. The larger hot spring was way too hot to soak in, but the smaller one down by the river was quite comfortable. We soaked for an hour or so then headed back across the river. On the way back, we found that the section near the upstream point of the island was shallow enough to wade across although the current was strong enough to sweep you off your feet if you're not careful. Anthony waded across with the boys, and the rest of us swam because it was easier.

Pictures