Hot Springs
6/11/2014: This hike can be done on the "Main route" on the map or on the "Alternate map." The Main route is longer but if the river is high, perhaps the best. The Alternate route goes along the river. You have to cross the Middle Fork at Three Forks Campground to start and hike through some low willows along the edge of the river to begin. It was here, along these willows, where we saw at least one rattler. Or, if the river is really low, you can just wade up the river to bypass the trees, where you can then climb onto a less dense bank for the remainder of the hike along the river. Both trails lead to some of the best hot springs I have ever been to.
I have hike from both the main and alternate trailheads. Either way is beautiful and in May you will see some gorgeous wildflowers. If the river is low, make it a clockwise loop.
If you have a high-clearance 4-wheel drive rig (a good one), then you can drive all the way to opposite side of the river from the hot springs and camp. I have done this. Believe me, high-clearance 4x4 is required. I would not take our all wheel drive CRV on it. I took the 4x4 Silverado.
Read more: 2014 trip and 2016 trip.
Key: Hot Springs | Wildflowers | Wildlife | River | Fishing | Desert | Oregon | BLM
Rod's Ramblings from the Trail: We followed our standard pattern this morning: I wake up and brew coffee, Lola hears me and whines to be let out of her tent, Ben let’s her out and she comes running over to me for love (after she does her pee and stretch routine), Ben gets a scent of fresh coffee – “Dad, can you make me a cup?” – and digs deeper into his sleeping bag, Gary sleeps, coffee is ready and Ben drags himself out, Gary sleeps, and so on. At one point, I thought Gary was so “dead to the world” that he had perished in his sleeping bag, a bunch of snakes having snuggled up with him in the night. Ignoring that, I sauntered up to the bathroom and when I returned found that Gary had gotten up, moved his sleeping bag out of the sun and crawled back into it. His mistake was that he was markedly close to the truck where Ben, Lola and I were hanging out. We razzed him about his sleeping habits and licked his face. That did not go over particularly well...but it was funny.