I've been back 5 times now and never have had a bad experience. Front desk has always been polite and communicative. If they are busy, they will let you know. People need to understand, this place isn't like Seattle, Portland, or a large city - it's a nice little hot spring in the middle of the desert. The amenities are as they come, and that's all you'll really need. They also have a good selection of beef from the local ranch. We always will buy some to cook there and then a couple to take home. Will definitely be back. Worth the drive. read more

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If you're exploring all the unique Oregon places this place has to be on the list! The hot springs were magnificent. There were a few things I wish I had known before going. There is no cold water for cooling down from the hot springs or for drinking. I think there might be water for sale in the office there. Of course fill up on gas because there is none available Mind your step when you get into the pools it may be super slippery. There are rattlesnakes, scorpions and mice that might visit at night! Plus other critters probably. I originally wanted to just due a day soak but I'm glad I decided to camp. It was amazing getting to lay in the springs at night and driving the playa at sunset. I loved every second of it except for getting stalked by a rattlesnake. Very fun experience just make sure you're prepared to be in the Outback! read more

Alvord Hot Springs - Hot Springs Near Me - Princeton, Oregon

Didn't really come out there with expectations. Do your research. Stayed in the spots across the street, which are still part of the Hot Springs campground. Loved it. Few campers trickled in & out of the campgrounds & onto the playa. Playa access is also down the road if you'd prefer that instead of camping at the springs. Vibes were exactly as expected. Dry. It's a desert after all. Not a lot to do out here. No water. Again, it's a desert so do your research. Guys in the office were helpful, kind & funny. Everything done old school - appreciated that. If you're looking for a Disneyland resort - this isn't your place. If you're looking to disconnect, camp & stargaze - this is the place for you, & it was definitely the place for us. It was quiet & what we wanted. Got some steaks from them too & they were good! We will definitely come back. ;] read more

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We had a great time! Second time here, this time we used the hot springs and I can't believe we didn't before. They were amazing! The bunkers are definitely cold at night in October but we saw the weather and brought lots of blankets and first layer and appropriate clothes and were fine. Definitely more cellular service than when we came 2 years ago. We took the dogs on the playa a ton and on hikes nearby and drove to Nevada for breakfast and gas at Denino Junction. We would love to come back next time with our camper and camp on the playa in our camper. Such a nice relaxing spot to decompress and enjoy those you are with, definitely . read more

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Alvord desert is one of the amazing places in Oregon. I've seen spectacular natural beauty and this rivals it. The playa is big and expansive. Some people complain about getting stuck in mud. It's real easy - if the playa is light beige it's bone dry and hard, if it's dark brown it's mud and sticky. There isn't a lot of mud. Maybe 10 percent but you need to be aware as this is the wilderness and there are no signs. The hot springs as a complex is overcrowded and expensive. People are nice but if you are there on a weekend they have a lot of people to deal with. Enjoy this spectacular place, and don't wig out if someone doesn't cater to your every need. read more

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The girl at the front desk was so lazy and bad at her job we got free stuff so that was cool. But the price was $50 to camp in a parking lot and $20 for a "hot spring" pass. Don't pay just came after they close and camp and use the hot spring for free. Definitely won't be back to camp there. read more

Alvord hot springs was quite an experience and you have to come in knowing not to expect much! The communal bathroom was large and pretty clean. You park right next to your bunker which is really convenient. When we got there check in is was very easy and the staff was nice! There's some snacks to purchase and other essentials there in case you forget. Forewarning, it gets so windy into the afternoon. The hot spring itself was a small pool that didn't seem super appealing to go into because it was so windy and especially during COVID times so we just walked around it. The bunker has 1 light, a table, 2 chairs, and 2 beds. The beds did NOT come with any sheets, blankets, or pillows which we did not know about ahead of time but luckily had some in our car. For the price, I would think they would provide that. Alvord Hot Springs is the most convenient place to stay to go to the Alvord Dessert and has a direct entrance. For staying there you get free access otherwise there is a fee. The entrance is chained off with a code you get from the front desk at check-in. The best part of our stay was being able to see so many stars at night. It was truly an experience that was a one and done. read more

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Low quality facility, over-priced, money- grabbing, MAGA-influenced, and just plain dumb. It takes an effort to get there, and once you arrive, they've got you... so at Fields for a great milkshake, but don't waste your time making the trip north to the Hot Springs. read more

One of my favorite camping trips of the season. Driving on the lake bed is something else, and being able to use the hot springs since we stayed there (due to rain from hurricane Hillary) we were able to use the hot springs 24/7 which was heavenly read more

Hidden gem. The camp host, spider , was amazing. The pools are secluded and you can control the temp control with a valve to make it hotter or colder. I was able to stay in a bunker for the night. You do need to bring your own bedding but the bunker had two comfy queen size mattresses. No AC, but the temp drops at night, so it's not needed. I opened the windows and there was a fan. I was cozy despite it being july and I tend to sleep hot, so I like it frigid at night. They allow rvs, camp and car camping as well. There is a community camp grill and they sell meat products that are from the ranch grounds which is kinda cool. ( I don't eat meat, but respect the process). They had beer and ice as well for sale. The receptionist , Darsha, is a gem as well. She picked me up from the dry lake bed when the golf cart battery died. I felt very safe as a solo woman being there alone with these ladies . There is surprisingly great cell service. The owner is very involved and invested to a good experience as well. He asked spider to take me down to the lake in the ground gold cart to see a group of gliders taking off. It was a cool experience. They ended up meeting me take a flight with them the next day. I went in with no expectations other than just chilling in a hot tub and seeing the dry lake bed, but the camp host went out of her way to show me an adventure. She gave me some beta on other hot springs in the area as well. I'd you're expecting the ritz or bougie level insta glamping, then you may be disappointed, but if you have no attachments to outcomes, want a safe and secure place to rest your head and you're open to beautiful skies ( the clouds during the day and the Milky Way at night), then you'll love Alvord hot springs. Insider beta- Bring bedding Bring a cooler Bc it's hot AF during the day and ice melts Bring water ( water not pottable in the bathroom) There is electrical in the bunker Bunker 2 is closest to bathroom and hot springs You can ask the camp host to open the gate to drive down to the lake bed while a guest at the springs Public hours are 8- 8 pm in the springs ( I think all night it a guest? Double check this) The road is and out is gravel ( don't let Google maps lie to you) Clothing optional in the springs Dog and kid Friendly if that's your jam Safe for solo campers Good cell signal ( Verizon at least) on campus read more

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I camp a lot and consider myself pretty adventurous and rugged. The springs and site themselves were pretty good, despite being essentially 50$ for a gravel parking spot with a table and fire pit and access to soak in the very crowded communal springs. My friend and I camped there and it was fine, until we went out onto the playa. When we checked in, a younger lady was there and pretty much gave us no info other than "pick a spot". I went back to the office later, as I had questions about how to use the springs, bathrooms, etc etc and the new "night shift" lady seemed surprised about us not getting any of this information on initial check in. She asked if we were planning to go out onto the playa the next day and gave us the code for the access road gate but told us NOTHING ABOUT THE ACTUAL PLAYA ITSELF. We soaked that night in the spring which was FULL of very very loud guests who seemed allergic to quiet. Not the spring's fault, just don't go hoping to have a relaxing soak at all. We packed up camp the next morning and headed out for the playa. We decided to explore the playa a bit to see if there was anything interesting going on. We turned left out of the access road and about 5 minutes later.......were completely stuck in the stickiest, nastiest smelling mud of all time. This wasn't marked at all and looked nearly identical to the rest of the playa from the driver's seat so we had no way of knowing it was out there. Luckily my friend who was following me saw it happen and managed to stop before becoming stuck too. We spent 2 hours trying to dig, push, use recovery boards, to get my SUV out but no dice. When we drove back up to the springs to see if they had any advice for us, the "day shift" lady said "the owner usually charges a hefty fee to pull people out but he's out of town" and to just call AAA. I should have taken this as a sign. We called AAA who refused service due to the nature of the location and were forced to call an independent tow company of our own to come out. We went back out there to grab some supplies from my stuck car to which the "day shift" lady said "don't get stuck again :)". Should have taken that as a sign. Got the supplies and were headed back in when my friend became stuck in a separate patch of also not marked and nearly identical to the rest of the playa, sticky peanut butter mud as well. We were completely fucked. We were forced to pay 1200$ for a towing company to come from 2.5 hours away to get us unstuck. The towers said that they come out there "all of the time" to "pretty much this same spot". Later I asked who owned the parts of the playa and found out that the spring owns this muddy part. When we were finally free hours later, we decided to just go camp at the springs again. We were initially told over the phone that because it was a saturday, the site would now be 80$ which was a real gut punch. I think the lady felt guilty because she later gave us a "discount" back to the initial 50$ (gee thanks). When we got back she even apologized, saying that she usually warns people about that area and that the springs drain there. WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO KNOW, WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE OF THEM TO MARK THE AREA IN ANY SORT OF WAY FOR PEOPLE. Overall, im livid over what should have been a totally preventable incident. Should have been warned ahead of time, should have had ANY sort of normal standard check in process, should MARK THE AREAS if it's such a big issue. The whole incident left me feeling like maybe they intentionally DON'T mark the areas so they CAN charge people to get them out. Overall horrible trip for us that could have been avoided all together. read more

This private hot spring is a fine balance between a primitive hot spring and a developed hot spring. Some people like one or the other and hate one or the other. We have some primitive not-trashed springs and we have the California resort and Breitenbush fancy worlds. This hot spring is on private land. They charge a fee to drive up and camp and a larger fee if your would like to rent their primitive military shelters. There is main office with amenities and a 24x7 one person bathroom with a hot water sink and flush toilet. That's remarkable - they are not on city sewer. The office was a great interaction and source of information. Thanks, lovely. It is about 15 miles in from the South and 40 miles in from the North on gravel roads. The roads are reportedly graded once a month, early month. I was able to drive 50 on them. Dust and dust trails will get you. Maybe not paving is a good thing to select visitors. The path from the parking-camping area was lit by solar path lights but obviously bring a flashlight, camp lantern or headlamp, and a spare. There are two adjacent tubs, one rain-covered and one open to the stars. There are changing areas in the open and rain-covered. There is decking surrounding, easy on the feet. Test the temperature before getting in. Test the temperature before getting in. Do not be burned! The actual springs are uphill and the pools are fed by pipes with soaker-user-controlled valves. You do not know how previous soakers set the valves. One valve is hot and one valve is warm. Test the temperature before getting in. Test the temperature before getting in. Do not be burned! I took a mini-hike to the hot spring sources by the road. That is where super hot burning waters emerge from the Steens. Do not touch the high temperature waters! Access to the Alvord Desert playa is limited. That is because there are very few roads into it. The Alvord Hot Springs has an access road they own. It takes about half an hour to walk it, but to walk the playa is hours. That can be peaceful! Biking it would be an option. Bring GPS, compass and binoculars to find your way to the entrance-exit point, and safety marking/lighting to avoid collision. Bring drinking water. When I was out on the playa lakebed this became clear though I stayed found. The cute story is how the used-to-this-day tubs at Alvord were constructed. The Alvord Ranch, to the North - you can drive by - and who owns the land, had hay farmers and horseback cattle herders who did not ordinarily get along. The woman who ran the mess hall for them at the Alvord Ranch announced none of the would eat without a bath once a week. They collaborated to build build the tubs of today. Quickly. The Alvord Hot Springs and Alvord playa are unique and well worth a visit in the right South corner of the state of Oregon. They are also on the midpoint overland route between Salt Lake City and Portland. read more

We had a great experience staying here. It's more on the rustic side but that's the beauty! Super friendly host and it's right against the playa. They have their own private access road to the playa that's maintained well enough for any car to use to drive out onto the flats. The public access roads just down the way can get a bit tougher for cars to drive on as they do develop ruts. The hot springs are quaint but more than adequate and the open sky makes for amazing nighttime or early morning soaks. The office also has a general store and they sell everything from firewood and camping gear to snacks and alcohol. There's also a microwave for heating anything up, Keurig coffee per cup too. All prices were very reasonable considering the closest store 30 minutes away, each way (and more expensive). A single bathroom on premise with an actual toilet and sink though the water is not potable. No showers. Some people complain about the fees but they're super fair. Sure you can drive out onto the flats and camp for free but you're paying for the conveniences and amenities which are well worth the price. read more

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Great stay, cool accommodations, hot springs, fire pit & desert right there! Lots of fun!!

Super remote. Be prepared for that. Be sure to gas up in Burns before heading over here. Breathtaking views all around. More stars at night than you've ever seen. Temperature of the springs are controlled by a valve, which is convenient. There's one enclosed (protected from wind) pool and one that is open. Clothing is optional. Absolutely loved the bunkhouses. Price is a little steep per night for what you get because there is no bathroom in the bunkhouse. It's like camping in a steel tent. Prices are also high for supplies if you purchase at their little store, so be sure to shop ahead before you come. Winds can really pick up at night, so be sure not to leave any of your belongings outside as they will be carried off. read more

Can't speak for the facilities much as we didn't stay overnight but the caretaker Rick, his pal Joe and another guest helped us keep faith in humanity! We came out to have dinner in the desert and stargaze but got a flat tire right as we pulled up. Joe and another guest helped us get it changed since we forgot to pack a tire iron. Rick refunded our small access fee and gave us a gift since we were having a rough time. He made us feel welcome and obviously extends that to anyone who visits. Thanks Rick and Joe! We made it safety back on our donut. Hope to come back and camp for a much longer stay some time with all the proper gear. This place is magical. read more

These hot springs are very cool and the location is choice- peaceful, remote and taken care of without overdoing the natural beauty of these desert springs. However, this review is specifically to thank the on-site caretaker, Rick, and his sweet wife, who made our time at AHS so special. I spent a beautiful morning talking with Rick and he was kind enough to share so many tales of his life's work with me, as well as share stories about his family and past experiences and really just open up with beautiful conversation. I appreciated his thoughtful take on the world and on his life so much, and was so pleased to have met him. Thank-you Rick for your kind words of encouragement, and for your vulnerability. Everything you said meant so much to me and I will never take it for granted. I hope this review finds you and yours healthy, happy and whole! Thank-you for the amazing service. :) read more

This place is amazing. I love the bunkers (MASH tents). We stayed for 3 nights in the beginning of Sept. ask for bunker 4, 5 or 6. We got up at 4am to soak in the hot springs and watch the sunrise. The stars are incredible. Hot spring is really well maintained and clean and the water doesn't have a lot of sulfur in it, which is nice when there isn't anywhere to shower after. The people running it are super kind and helpful. You can buy ice which was nice to not have to drive to town. The access road is great and convenient. You also get a free parking pass for the Pike Creek trail, which is a must do. The wind was no joke. We had people camp near us but ended up packing up and leaving in the middle of the night. Or sleeping in their car. I think the bunkers were definitely worth the extra $30, at least in September. read more

There was nothing better after spending 3 days hiking and camping in the Steens than soaking in the steaming baths at the Alvord Hot Springs. The views you get from the soaking tub over the salt flats to your east and the Steens to your west are breathtaking, especially at sunset and moonrise. The rustic accommodations are perfect for the mood, simple and sparse, just like the desert it's in. They sell beer and wine in the office as well as basic necessities. And at 8$ (free for vets) for a 24hr pass it's very reasonably priced. The only thing that didn't make much sense to me was charging 30$ to let people camp on their property when the Alvord salt flat is literally 200 yards away and free...kind of a head scratcher. Overall a great experience that topped off an already fantastic trip read more

The only sketchy thing was the state of the soaking pools. Not sure they have ever been cleaned! No showers available so basically everyone who uses the hot springs have not showered for a while. Kind of unsettling! read more

First time to the Alvord Desert camping. The Alvord Desert Hot springs is a campsite/hot springs. Not a B&B. So, not sure why it is classified as that. This hot springs is on private property, but that shouldn't stop you from coming, for it's awesome. It will get better over time from my understanding in talking with management. It was much better than we had anticipated. We got the closest and best tent campsite nearest to the desert. Great for night photography and desert views!! We had no immediate neighbors! The neighbors we did have were in military pods. The fee is $20/night, for tent camping, fee is per CAR. Includes private access to desert, and Pike's Creek hiking (incl Wilderness pass which you can ask for), and unlimited access to hot springs. There is one toilet with running water and a heated toilet seat. Luxury out there!! The problem with the bathroom is that all the people use it. So often there is a line. People change in there as well, which is a pain. The hot springs is clothing optional unless there are kids around, which was sort of a pain, but we went with it. Shannon there as well as the other folks who worked there were great. They are very informational and friendly, yet direct, and are pretty sharp folks!! They did say that more restrooms were coming!! Even outhouses would be awesome. This past weekend with the water in the desert itself meant mosquitos, and they were vicious. Repellent took care of them. The hot springs themselves were awesome! First night there there were a bunch of college students out there, so we had to work around them and all the beer cans left near the pools :( However, it worked out over the weekend. They were very nice!! There is alcohol there to purchase as well as ice, snacks, etc....which was surprising. I think as long as people are respectful of others it's all good. The access to the desert was really nice, and many actually camped out on the playa. This visit there was a lot of water on the desert, which made it a unique experience. There was a mixture of people there, from motorcyclists, to people camping in the military pods, to RVs, and tent campers like us. We got there in time to get the last spot in fact! It wasn't bad people wise considering it was Memorial Day weekend! OH, and we had cell phone access the whole time there, which was weird. We have Verizon though. I HIGHLY recommend this place. The fee of $20 is reasonable. Summer lake hot springs charges the same amount. If you go though, be respectful of others and the folks who manage it. They work hard to make sure that the experience for everyone is good! read more

I wasn't sure what to expect from Alvord Hot Springs before I arrived. I was pleasantly surprised with my stay here. I stayed in one of the bunkhouses. It was comfortable and had everything needed to camp comfortably. My unit had 2 comfy queen beds, a table and chairs, a recliner, a heater, a fan and lights. There were outlets to charge electronics and window shades to block out the light and heat of midday. The property has 2 bathrooms, with toilets and running water fed by the hot springs. There is no potable water on property, so you'll want to be sure to bring plenty of drinking water. The hot springs were about what I had expected. There are two separate pools, one covered and one open. There is no filtration or cleaning of the springs so you do have to deal with the occasional algae clump floating by as people disturb the water, but if you can get past that, it is a pleasant experience. I would recommend this place to people with a strong sense of adventure who want to be away from it all. read more

Whoa! Just leaving the Hot Springs camping area and am very sad. Been here a couple times the past 20 years and love the area. Owners have now commercialized it and are going for every buck they can. $30 a nite per vehicle with no amenities. Doesn't even seem like camping. And the money aspect really changes the flavor of the place. Very disappointed! read more

Showed up kinda late, about 11:00pm, got told off by the "24hour" camp "attendant" saying they were closed. Wouldn't even let us set up camp after driving over 12 hours to get there. He was very rude saying the closed sign was on the office which is not lit up at night. There is no sign from the road indicating it was closed. Terrible people. Don't go here. read more

It seems like greed has won out here over a place that used to have soul. They charge $10 to access the playa if you don't return by 8 pm the same day. If you camp on the playa, it's $5 to access the playa and $5 to come off the next day. Fortunately, you can access the playa perfectly fine on the public access point a bit down the road -- just take it slow. read more

Such a beautiful place but it is shame that the caretaker makes it so difficult to enjoy. Too many arbitrary rules. Camped off property so we would not have to pay the exorbitant fee.. We did not have a lot of time to spend here as we were on our way north and already drove a couple hours out of the way. We showed up at 8 am to pay for a soak but if you're not a guest the spring isn't open till 9. Seems unnecessary to make such silly rules and make it so difficult for people who are 'sort of' passing through to enjoy. Will not be back until Mary is no longer the care taker and they can find someone who will allow for a much more enjoyable experience. read more