Crystal Crane Hot Spring

General Description: A hot artesian well feeds a large warm/hot pond and several private wooden tubs at this rustic resort

General Location: In Southeastern Oregon North of the Malheur Lake near the town of Crane

Pool Type: Large pond and reservation only private indoor tubs

Pool Temps: Hot (102° - 104° F), Slightly Hot (100° - 102° F), Warm (Below 100° F)

(Click to enlarge.)

Accessibility: Year round, right off of a paved highway

Restrictions: No nudes in large pond, private tubs and day use open from 9am to 9pm

Elevation: 4200 feet.

Distance from road: 0.00 mile.

Book Reference: Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest, or Touring Washington and Oregon Hot Springs, or Great Hot Springs of the West

Map Reference: Warm Springs Butte OR USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle

Videos

The Hot Spring:

Crystal Crane Hot Springs is a pay-for rustic resort on 160 acres with camping, RV hookups, and geothermally heated cabins for rent. Historically there was hot water seeping from the ground at this location but today the hot water is from two artesian wells, and a cold water well. A large outdoor pond is filled with a constant flow (no chemical treatment needed) from all of these wells keeping a temperature of 97 to 103 degrees depending on air temperature and wind conditions. Several (6 total but some are closed sometimes) private reservation only indoor wooden soaking tubs are in the building adjacent to the outdoor pond, along with the bathrooms and changing rooms. Hot and cold water is piped to each tub so any temperature can be created, and the tubs are cleaned every day.

Went there on a motorcycle

Submitted by riggsfoutz on Sun, 2011-07-24 21:29.

Went there on a motorcycle trip w two bikes, arrived from John Day to the north. Went on a Tuesday, late July. Was a family w three boys there, playing in a round pond, roughly compatible to a city swimming pool. Had some trouble finding water that we could get warm in, finally had to sit within six inches of the bubbling rocks. Pool seemed to be about 80F, not really a hot pool. Otherwise there were about ten people total there. Bottom is mud consistency of axle grease, very black, but rinsed out easily. Water may have been stirred up by the boys, but couldn't see more than a couple mm into the water.
Very pleasant place, windy, and 24 miles from Burns. Great bike ride, and interesting side stop if you're already going to Burns. Not a destination resort.