Deer Creek Hot Springs (Bigelow) is a natural thermal site in the Owyhee Canyonlands of southwestern Idaho, where siliceous hot water flows into the Owyhee River at a remote canyon location accessible by rafting or a significant hike through one of the American West's least-explored wilderness landscapes. The springs emerge directly at river level, allowing rafters on the Owyhee River to combine one of Idaho's great multi-day river journeys with natural hot spring soaking in an exceptionally wild and rugged canyon environment. The Owyhee Canyonlands' extraordinary geological history — a landscape of ancient lava flows, eroded canyon systems, and vast plateau wilderness — provides a superbly dramatic setting.
Insider tip — Deer Creek Hot Springs (Bigelow) is a remote silica-rich spring in the western Cascades of Oregon, reached by forest service roads near the Breitenbush River drainage. Silica minerals give the water a characteristic slippery quality and deposit pale travertine around the seep. Dense old-growth Douglas fir and western red cedar create a cathedral-like canopy overhead. Spring snowmelt season offers the highest flow and most vibrant green surroundings.