Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge Visitor Center — Attraction in Burns

Hart Mountain in Lake County, Oregon, stands at an elevation of over 8,000 feet in the surrounding Warner Valley floor. This massive fault block ridge is noted for a series of steep slopes, craggy cliffs, and rugged ridges. From the west-side, there are spectacular views of the Warner Valley Wetlands. The east-side of Hart Mountain showcases the rolling sage lands and high-desert plateaus well-known in southeastern Oregon. Hart Mountain is most notably known to be home to the expansive Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge.

At one time in our national history, the pronghorn antelope was nearly as populous as the American bison. However, around the turn of the century, Western settlers nearly hunted the pronghorn antelope to extinction. In the 1930s, local residents in favor of protecting the pronghorn urged federal support with their grassroots movement. In response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established by executive order, the range as breeding ground for pronghorn antelope in 1936. You may ask, “Why are these animals called pronghorn antelope?” Well, the antelopes at Hart Mountain are actually pronghorns, a family of hoofed animals that are related, but are not part of the true family of antelopes found in Africa or Asia. The pronghorn is only found in North America and are commonly referred to as pronghorn antelope.

Recreational opportunities are almost as diverse as the local inhabitants. They include wildlife observation, hiking, overnight backpacking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, rock hounding, hunting, and photography. Fishing is allowed per refuge regulations in Warner Pond, Rock Creek, and Guano Creek, except during drought periods. There is seasonal hunting permitted for partridge, quail, deer, pronghorn antelope, and bighorn sheep. Rock collecting is permitted with a 7-pound limit per person for above only ground collection. Digging and blasting are prohibited within the refuge.

The Hot Springs Campground is very primitive but will accommodate tent camping and small to medium sized motor homes. No water or other services are provided. The Hot Springs Campground has 30 camping sites. The camping spots are first-come first-serve, unmarked, and at no cost. The land at the campground is nestled nicely between rolling hills, and is fairly plush with aspen groves amidst a more barren prairie-like surrounding landscape. Most notable at the Hot Springs Campground is the Hart Mountain Hot Springs (also known as Antelope Hot Springs). This is a natural hot springs that is open year round. The hot springs is located in the middle of the campground, at the head of Rock Creek, and is surrounded by an aspen-dotted meadow. This natural rock pool is 6 by 9 feet, and 5 feet deep, made of bedrock, and can accommodate up to 6 people. The water is a very comfortable 100-104 degrees F and bubbles up from the pool’s gravel and bedrock bottom. A small ladder at one end of the pool provides convenience in getting in and out of the warm water. The Hart Mountain Hot Springs is well defined by the castle-like stone and concrete wall around the spring. This nicely constructed feature makes the hot springs very relaxing, can add privacy, and adds a bit of style and flair to this otherwise natural and rugged landscape.

This is a destination reminiscent of life on the range with its throwback to Oregon’s pioneering start. The picturesque land embodies solitude and has unrivaled majesty. The refuge has a sense of calm that is in stark contrast with many more highly visited recreational destinations in the state. With craggy vistas and flat sage-tipped plateaus, to rolling hills and aspen-lined springs, the landscape is a pristine ground for both discovery and tranquility. Hart Mountain is truly a home on the range where the deer and the...

Just returned from a 4 night camping trip at Hart Mountain, staying all 4 nights at the Hot Springs Campground and it was EXCELLENT! For lovers of expansive and epic vistas, this place was top notch. On the west side on top of the Hart Mountain ridge, the view was jaw dropping taking in a huge array of seasonal lakes, jagged cliff lines, and distant mountain peaks. Views looking eastward toward the very distant Steens Mountain were equally impressive, showing the vastness of the Oregon desert stretching out for many uninterrupted miles ahead.

Camping wise, the Hot Springs campground was an oasis in a desert of a sagebrush. A creek runs through the middle of the campground with large aspens growing nearby that gives pretty much every campsite I saw a good amount of shade. Something that was very welcome during the heat of the day. We were there starting June 13th and it was close to 80 most days, though it felt hotter when not in the Aspen shaded campgrounds. The nights were very cold however, mid 30's, so bring plenty of warm clothes/sleeping bags. Also there is no firewood available for collection so plan on bringing a good supply. The campground is FREE (we were astonished to find) and potable water is available 4 miles away at the Refuge Headquarters.

We saw plenty of wildlife including pronghorn, coyotes, and birds galore.

The petroglyphs were incredible to see as well due to their estimated 9000+ year age and great condition. Crazy to see clearly distinguishable carvings that were made by people who lived thousands of years before the pyramids were built.

All in all Hart Mountain couldn't have been a better experience, and one that in hindsight I am shocked isn't more well known. It is however very far off the beaten path, and especially for folks used to regular 'ole car camping should not be underestimated. In our group of 4 adults we had intermittent at best cell service, and only at the ridges of the mountains. Plan your trip well and be prepared, and Hart Mountain will be an adventure you won't...

There is no paved road into Hart Mountain. I have driven the unpaved roads in a MH (slow but doable). The hot springs campground is fairly busy with people going in and out frequently, mostly staying just a night or two, but I've never had a problem getting a spot. I suspect it might be a little tougher to get a site during hunting season (starts in early Sept.), so watch your timing. The sites can accommodate a variety of rigs. Most don't seem big enough for the hugest rigs (40 foot MHs or 5th-wheels), but I found two or three that would accommodate a 30 foot MH.

Most sites have some shade and are right next to a little creek (which, in late summer, was more like a series of puddles). There are vault toilets in the campground, no water or garbage. There is water (no garbage) at the visitors center about 5 miles away.

The hot springs are small, consisting of 3 small pools. One is nicely constructed of rocks with a wall around it, deep and clear but not very hot. The other two are basically natural but have been slightly enhanced by piling rocks at the outflows. Both are shallow and hotter than the main pool. One has a bit of algae cover and both have some muck on the bottom. That sort of thing doesn't bother me, so I happily sat in the algae/muck pool every day after sunset and found it heavenly.

The refuge is high desert with a few riparian areas. Roads are bikeable and there's great wildlife viewing. This is one of my...