Alvord Hot Springs - Day-use fee or pay-per-soak in Fields, OR (2026)
Twin steel tubs and a concrete pool sit beside the Alvord Desert playa, offering sunrise views of Steens Mountain. Owners maintain a small store with snacks, ice, and firewood for people crossing the basin.
Alvord Hot Springs sits at the edge of southeast Oregon's Alvord Desert playa, a remote, low-key fee-area soak run by the same family that owns the cattle ranch behind it. Two galvanized steel tubs and a small concrete pool catch ~105°F mineral water, with the dry lakebed stretching unbroken to the west and Steens Mountain rising behind. There's no cell signal, no spa, no menu — just hot water, big sky, and the closest thing to true desert silence the Lower 48 still has.
What to expect
Pull off Fields-Denio Road, pay $15 in cash at the small store (snacks, ice, firewood, basic restrooms), and walk a few hundred feet to the soaks. Sunrise over the playa from the eastern tub is the famous moment; sunset is quieter. Clothing-optional after dark, family-hours posted in summer. Bring everything: water, layers, headlamp.
Temperature
102°-112°F
Pools
2 soaking pools
Best season
May-October
Reservations
Walk-up friendly
Dog policy
Leashed dogs welcome
Family policy
Family windows available
Safety notes
- Desert temperatures swing from 110°F afternoons to freezing nights—pack accordingly.
- Respect playa closures during wet seasons; driving on the mud destroys the fragile surface.
Amenities & etiquette
FAQ
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