Willow Creek Hot Springs in Oregon Trip Report

General Description

Miles away from nowhere, Willow Creek Hot Spring features a single pool out in the middle of southeast Oregon's high desert region. An all-season gravel/dirt road will get you most of the way there, but the last bit is on soft dirt, which is impassible during rain. Choose your season wisely.

Wildlife Sighted: Wild Horses, Pronghorn (Antelope), Rabbits (plenty of them!), Bobcats, Cougars, Deer, Owls (spotted 2 of them), Coyotes, Bats and Foxes (oh my) - don't even think of driving out to this one at night, all of the animals listed above are all over the road after dusk [there are also Thunder Eggs in this area]

Seasonal Notes
Accessible all year.

Camping Notes
BLM camping right next to the hot springs and in the surrounding area.

03.03.08 Trip Report

I miss this place. Looking back though my records, I couldn't believe it had been 3 years since my last visit. The northwest has too many incredible places. My return visit to Willow Creek Hot Spring was on a blustery day, very windy and chilly. The soak was stellar, whew! Thank goodness, because I didn't bring any firewood!

On my way to the hot springs I came across two herds of wild horses. I was awestruck. The only other time I experienced such a thing was 6 years ago, just a few miles west of my present location. Wild horses! Can you even imagine!

Please note, the entire BLM area surrounding the hot springs and pit toilet were extremely muddy! There was one small area near the entrance wide enough for a couple vehicles that was just barley dry enough to park.
Rating A

View past trip reports and pictures of Willow Creek Hot Springs in Oregon

Wild Horses and Hot Spring in the Oregon Desert

Willow Creek Hot Spring in Southeast Oregon Video Clip



Clip features two run-ins with real-life wild horses. There are not many of these herds left in the US. The rest of the clip features a high-desert hot spring... Willow Creek. Footage is from the southeast corner of Oregon, approx. 4 hours from Boise Idaho and near Fields Oregon.

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The Biggest Environmental Story You've Never Heard Of

Right now the fate of Idaho's roadless forests is at stake. The Bush Administration is taking one last crack at the Nationwide Roadless Rule with a swipe at Idaho.



Essentially, they want to roll back nationwide protections in Idaho, and hand over millions of our last undeveloped forests to special interests. They are not even bothering to hide their agenda, and continue to move forward with their plans despite tremendous outcry from united groups of backpackers, hunters, anglers, hikers, environmentalists and other outdoor enthusiasts.

While these groups typically don't see eye to eye on environmental issues, they do when it comes to protecting the last of Idaho's pristine roadless forests.

To better understand the issue at hand please watch PBS's NOW Video: Fighting Over Forests.

Ready to take action? Click here to send in your comments!

E-mail direct to: IDcomments@fsroadless.org

Snail Mail them to:
Roadless Area Conservation-Idaho;
PO Box 162909;
Sacramento, CA;
95816-2909,

Check out talking points, background info, links, maps and more

Molly's Tubs Hot Spring in Idaho Shot-Up

According to the Idaho Outdoors Yahoo! User Group, the Tubs at Molly's Tubs Hot Spring northeast of Cascade Idaho (Warm Lake Area) have been used as target practice and are all full of bullet holes.

Sadly, this is yet another example of abuse and overuse that is becoming all too common at easy access hot springs. I hope this is just a rumor, because cleaning up those tubs is going to be a nightmare. This is exactly why natural pools should be built verses hauling in crap to soak in.

Idaho Roadless on PBS

Phosphate mining and resulting contamination will be revealed to the nation on the PBS documentary series NOW airing this Friday, February 22nd.

The program investigates the proposed Idaho Roadless Rule, a Bush administration plan that opens the door for private industry to develop protected land, and examines the relationship between this plan and the phosphate mining industry. The NOW program will feature how the proposed Idaho Rule could result in additional phosphate mining by opening protected lands.

This national program promises to bring national focus on the public lands of southeast Idaho that the Caribou Clean Water Partnership is striving to protect. The program will include interviews with several local residents, including members of the Caribou Clean Water Partnership, industry representatives, and others.

Be sure to tune into NOW on your local public television channel on Friday, February 22nd. The program will air nationally, and will be on all Idaho Public Television channels at 7:30 p.m. If you live outside of Idaho, please check your local listings for the time.

In Regard to Hot Springs

Much of the roadless area in Idaho is also home to many natural hot springs. Along with the land and forests - these unique and sacred places are also at risk.

Additional Roadless Information