Discover the best hot springs in California!
California is arguably one of the most popular states in the USA when it comes to tourism and attractions. Disney land and the multitude of beaches often take center stage, but the sunshine state has a lot more to offer than just that.
Hidden among the stunning mountainous scenery and meandering coastline are little gems in the form of many natural hot springs that span the length of the state. Whether you want to hike to find a natural oasis or have the full luxury experience in a resort, California hot springs have you covered!
Hot springs are so common in California that there are whole towns built around them, like Calistoga. However, the area most famous for its hot springs is the aptly named Desert Hot Springs, which is also known as California’s spa city. Wherever you are in California, it’s likely that you are within a few hours of a hot spring.
In this guide, we are going to highlight three of our favorite California hot springs and provide you with a comprehensive list of all the hot springs in the state.
3 of the Best Hot Springs in California
California is a hot spot for hot springs! This state has so many to offer that are all unique in their own right.
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that, regardless of which kind of hot spring you are visiting, it’s important to bring enough water with you. Soaking in the hot water can quickly lead to overheating and dehydration, so drinking water consistently is key. This is especially true in California hot springs where the climate is already very warm.
Here we have compiled three of the best California hot springs in the state just to get you started.
Sierra Hot Springs Resort
The Sierra Hot Springs resort is one that always captures a lot of attention due to the unique geodesic dome that overlooks the stunning forest location.
Located in Sierraville on the edge of the Tahoe National Forest, the Sierra Hot Springs have been highly sought after for over a hundred years for their calming, healing qualities.
The resort features a number of pools of different sizes and locations whose temperature range between 98 F and 110 F. The first can be found inside the geodesic dome, where the stained glass windows cast patterns across the soaking pool and wooden interior. Outside the dome is a large, spring-fed swimming pool-sized warm pool that overlooks the gorgeous forest location. Apart from these pools, there are private tubs available, as well as the Phoenix Baths, which are located inside the spa.
Apart from the hot springs, the Sierra Hot Springs Resort also offers a cafe, hiking trails, biking paths, and cross-country skiing. Visitors can purchase a day pass, stay on-site in the 1870’s main lodge or make use of the available camping facilities.
Wilbur Hot Springs
If you are looking for pure relaxation, look no further than Wilbur Hot Springs.
Two and a half hours north of San Francisco on an 1800-acre nature reserve, Wilbur Hot Springs is an oasis of peace and a place to escape the hustle and bustle of your everyday lives. There is no internet or cellphone signal at the resort, so you have no choice but to disconnect and relax. The main focus of this spa experience is to focus on introspection and having a truly spiritual experience.
This relaxation can take place in one of two soaking pools. The first, the Silent Contemplation Flumes, is a no-talking area where visitors can soak and have a moment of introspection. The second pool is larger with water than is treated, and talking is allowed. Clothing is optional in both hot springs.
Once you’ve spent the day in all the hot springs, you can retreat inside to receive a massage treatment, attend a yoga class, or try out the dry sauna.
When it comes to accommodation, there are bunk rooms, a lodge, and cabins available, along with a campsite that is open between April and October. There is no restaurant on the property, but there is a well-equipped communal kitchen that guests are encouraged to use.
Sespe Hot Springs
If you’re looking for a more natural experience, then the Sespe Hot Springs are the ones for you!
California’s hottest hot spring, the Sespe Hot Springs, can be found in the beautiful Los Padres Forest Wilderness. They are made up of a series of pools that vary in shape and temperature. The source is 190 F, so the higher pools will be hotter than the ones further down.
The route to get to these springs is almost as beautiful as the pools themselves. The Sespe River Trail is lauded as being the best hike in Southern California, and the hot springs at the end make the hike well worth the effort.
The Sespe River Trail starts at the Piedra Blanca Trailhead and begins along Sespe Creek before opening up into a more desert landscape in the hot spring canyon. The hike is 16.8 miles each way, so we recommend camping at the hot springs so you can get the most out of the trip.
Since these are desert hot springs, it may be too hot to make this trip in summer, and some of the pools may even dry up. For this reason, we recommend visiting in winter so you can have a cold, brisk hike and be rewarded with a soak in the hot mineral water at the end.
Full List of California Hot Springs
Picking just three hot springs to highlight above was a serious challenge because of the sheer number of hot springs across California. There are a large variety of both developed and undeveloped hot springs, so you can pick the perfect one for your California hot spring experience.
Here is a comprehensive list of the hot springs in California that are publicly accessible.
| Hot Spring | Location in California | Developed or Primitive |
| Avila Hot Springs | San Luis Obispo | Developed |
| Big Bend Hot Springs | Madesi Valley | Primitive |
| Big Caliente Hot Springs | Los Padres National Forest | Primitive |
| Bumpass Hell Creek | Lassen National Park | Primitive (too hot for soaking) |
| Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa | Calistoga | Developed |
| Sierra Hot Springs | Sierraville | Developed |
| Casa Diablo Hot Springs | Mono County | Primitive |
| Coso Hot Springs | Inyo County | Primitive |
| Crabtree Hot Springs | Lake County | Primitive |
| Deep Creek Hot Springs | San Bernardino County | Primitive |
| Delonegha Hot Springs | Sequoia National Forest | Developed |
| Franklin Hot Springs | Paso Robles | Developed |
| Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs | Gilroy | Developed |
| Grover Hot Springs State Park | Sierra Nevada Mountain Range | Primitive |
| Harbin Hot Springs | Middletown | Developed |
| Hot Creek | Mono County | Primitive |
| Jordan Hot Spring | Sequoia National Forest | Primitive |
| Keough Hot Springs | Owens Valley | Developed |
| Matilija Hot Springs | Ojai | Previously developed, currently primitive |
| Mercey Hot Springs | Fresno County | Developed |
| Miracle Hot Springs | Kern River Valley | Closed due to uranium levels |
| Mono Hot Springs | Fresno County | Primitive |
| Murrieta Hot Springs | Murrieta | Developed |
| Palm Springs Hot Springs | Palm Springs | Developed |
| Remington Hot Springs | Bodfish, Kern River | Primitive |
| Saline Valley Hot Springs | Death Valley National Park | Developed |
| Scovern Hot Springs | Kern County | Primitive |
| Sespe Hot Springs | Sespe Condor Sanctuary | Primitive |
| Slates Hot Spring | Big Sur, Monterrey County | Developed |
| Tassajara Hot Springs | Ventana Wilderness | Developed |
| Travertine Hot Springs | Bridgeport | Primitive |
| Wilbur Hot Springs | Colusa County | Developed |
| Willet Hot Springs | Sespe Wilderness | Primitive |
| Agua Caliente Country Park | Julian | Developed |
| Aqua Soleil Hotel and Mineral Water Spa | Coachella Valley | Developed |
| Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort | Coachella Valley | Developed |
| Bashfords Hot Mineral Spa | Niland | Developed |
| Buckeye Hot Springs | Bridgeport | Primitive |
| Caliente Springs Resort | Palm Springs | Developed |
| California Hot Springs Resort | Sequoia National Forest | Developed |
| Carlin’s Cottage Court | Calistoga | Developed |
| Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa | Carlsbad | Developed |
| Delight’s Hot Spring Resort | Tecopa | Developed |
| Desert Hot Springs Inn | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Dirty Socks Hot Spring | Olancha | Primitive |
| Dr Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs | Calistoga | Developed |
| Drakesbad Guest Ranch | Chester | Developed |
| Eagleville Hot Springs | Surprise Valley | Primitive |
| Ectopia Hot Springs | Ojai | Primitive |
| El Morocco Inn and Spa Resort | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Elm Hot Springs Resort | Aguanga | Developed |
| Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge | Elsinore | Developed |
| Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa | Sonoma | Developed |
| Fale’s Hot Springs | Coleville | Primitive |
| Feather River Hot Springs | Twain | Primitive |
| Five Palms Hot Springs | Borrego Springs | Primitive |
| Gaviota (Las Cruces) | Goleta | Primitive |
| Glamis North Hot Springs Resort | Niland | Developed |
| Glen Ivy Hot Springs | Corona | Developed |
| Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa and Resort | Calistoga | Developed |
| Hilltop Hot Springs | Mammoth Lakes | Primitive |
| Holtville Hot Springs | Holtville | Primitive |
| Hope Springs Resort | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Hunt Hot Springs | Big Bend | Primitive |
| Indian Springs | Calistoga | Developed |
| Isabella Hot Springs | Lake Isabella | Primitive |
| Kosk Hot Springs | Big Bend | Primitive |
| Lido Palms Resort and Spa | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Meadowlark Country House and Resort | Calistoga | Developed |
| Miracle Manor Boutique Hotel and Spa | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Monarch Hot Springs | Coachella Valley | Primitive |
| Montecito Hot Springs | Santa Barbara | Primitive |
| Morton’s Warm Springs Resort | Glen Ellen | Developed |
| Mount View Hotel and Spa | Calistoga | Developed |
| Nurturing Nest Retreat and Spa | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Orr Hot Springs | Ukiah | Developed |
| River Oaks Hot Springs Spa | Paso Robles | Developed |
| Rock Tub Hot Springs | Mammoth Lakes | Primitive |
| Roman Spa Hot Spring Resort | Calistoga | Developed |
| Sagewater Hotel and Spa | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Sam’s Family Spa and Hot Water Resort | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Sandpiper Springs Spa and Resort | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Sea Mountain Inn Lifestyles Resort Spa | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Shepherd Hot Springs | Mammoth Lake | Primitive |
| Shoshone Hot Springs Pool | Death Valley | Developed |
| Sky Valley Resort | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Solage Resort and Spa | Calistoga | Developed |
| Sonoma Fit Pool Club | Sonoma | Developed |
| Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa | San Luis Obispo | Developed |
| Tecopa Hot Springs | Tecopa | Developed |
| The Good House | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| The Inn at Benton Hot Springs | Benton | Developed |
| The O Spa Resort | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| The Oasis at Death Valley | Death Valley | Developed |
| The Spring Resort and Spa | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Turtle Back Mesa Bed and Breakfast | Indio | Developed |
| Tuscan Springs Hotel and Spa | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| Two Bunch Palms | Desert Hot Springs | Developed |
| UpValley Inn and Hot Springs | Calistoga | Developed |
| Vichy Springs Resort | Ukiah | Developed |
| Warner Springs Ranch Resort | Warner Springs | Developed |
| Wild Willy’s Hot Springs | Mammoth Lakes | Primitive |
| Wonder Valley Hot Springs | Twenty Nine Palms | Primitive |
| Beverly Hot Springs | Beverly Hills | Developed |
Type of Hot Springs in California
From the list above, you can see there are two primary types of hot springs available in California. Let’s take a closer look at each and what you can expect from them.
Primitive Hot Springs
Although many of California’s hot springs have been developed into resorts, there are still many options for a more natural experience if that’s what you’re looking for.
Primitive springs pop up naturally to create their own pools, but in some cases, the water may be bumped into a manmade soaking tub. Most of the time, these hot springs are accessed by hiking through nature, which makes the journey just as exciting as the destination.
Two significant upsides to primitive springs are that they are free and are often far less busy than those in a resort. Conversely, the pools are not maintained or cleaned, so they may become dirty if too many people use them consecutively.
Although the primitive hot springs may not have the style of accommodation that resorts have to offer, there are other options. Most of California’s undeveloped hot springs will have a camping area nearby where you can stay overnight and enjoy the springs over multiple days. This is especially welcome if it takes a long hike to get there.
Developed or Resort Hot Springs
Although they are developed and pumped into their own pools, the source of all the pools in resorts are natural hot springs.
Due to its location and the draw of people that hot springs attract, many of the hot springs in California are part of a resort. The pools will be available to use for those who stay at the resort and those with day passes.
These hot spring resorts provide a truly luxurious experience with other amenities around the pools, like spa facilities and restaurants, so that you can get truly pampered inside and out. Most resorts will have a range of accommodation options, so you can stay at the resort and visit the hot springs multiple days in a row.
These hot springs are more easily accessible and get regularly maintained and cleaned. However, they are also significantly busier than their primitive counterparts.
With this guide in your pocket, you should be able to explore California and all the incredible hot springs they have to offer. So, the next time you are in California, why not stray off the regular attraction path and go find relaxation in a stunning hot spring?