One of the most unique states in the US, California has extremely diverse landscapes, climate zones, and flora and fauna. Rugged Pacific Coast turns into the forested southern Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the east. The forested northern part of the state turns into a subtropical arid and harsh desert to the south. The Golden State is home to redwood forests with giant sequoias, snow-capped mountain peaks, Death Valley that holds the highest air temperature in the world, and the Mojave Desert - the driest area in America.
Characterized by volcanic and seismic activity, California has numerous hot springs located on private and public lands. They differ noticeably from each other. Some of them are wild settlements with unclothed soakers. Others are high-priced sanctuaries and some are remote geothermal wonders.
California has more hot spring resorts than any other West Coast states. Some resorts offering spa treatments, yoga, meditation, and natural health workshops. Some of them boast an old-school spa experience with mud baths, a blanket wrap, and massage.
There are two Hot Spring Spa Towns – Calistoga in Central California and Desert Hot Springs in Southeastern California. Both spa towns offer a variety of soaking choices, accommodations, and spa services.
If you are looking for primitive hot springs in California, you can head east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where you will find a plethora of natural hot springs that are unspoiled and free. One of such places is an active geothermal area – the Long Valley Caldera, featuring numerous primitive hot springs including Hilltop, Crab Cooker, Rock Tub, Little Hot Creek, Shepherd, and Crowley. Most of them are available for bathing year-round. If you want to become a witness of dramatic volcanic and seismic activity in action, visit Hot Creek Geothermal Site.
Comprehensive California Hot Springs Map displays the best natural hot springs throughout the state with locations, short descriptions, pictures, videos, and links to the full descriptions.
Commercial
Primitive
Undeveloped
Closed or No soaking available
• Interactive California Hot Springs Map displays the best natural hot springs of the Golden State
Northern California
Applegate Hot Springs - Undeveloped, no soaking
Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Historic rustic resort, pool
Eagleville Hot Springs - Primitive pools
Glenn's Hot Springs (Seyferth) - Closed to the public
Hunt Hot Springs - Series of primitive pools
Kosk Creek Hot Springs - Rocky pool
Leonards Hot Springs - Closed to public.
Orr Hot Springs Resort - Historic resort, swimming and soaking pools
Sierra Hot Springs - Resort, pools, and private tubs
Stewart Mineral Springs - Rustic resort
Surprise Valley Hot Springs - Resort, tubs in each room
Vichy Springs Resort - Historic resort, Olympic-size swimming pool
West Valley Hot Springs - Primitive, closed to public access
West Valley Warm Springs - Undeveloped, no soaking
Wilburg Hot Springs - Historic resort, pools
Feather River (Woody's) Hot Springs - Rustic resort, cement tub
West Central California
Franklin Hot Springs - Primitive
Golden Heaven Hot Springs Spa and Resort - Resort, swimming pool and hot tub
Harbin Hot Springs - Historic resort, pools and hot tubs
Indian Springs - Resort, two swimming pools
Meadowlark Country House Resort - Resort, swimming pool, and hot tubs
Mercey Hot Springs - Rustic resort, swimming pool, and private tubs
Mono Hot Springs - Partially developed resort, small pool, bathhouse, series primitive pools along the San Joaquin River
Morton Warm Springs Resort - Summer time recreation facility, three pools
River Oaks Hot Springs Spa - Spa services, private tubs
Sykes Hot Springs - Spa and hotel, waterfall lagoon, and private tubs
Tassajara Hot Springs - Zen Buddhist monastery rustic retreat, a pool, soaking baths
Wilburg Hot Springs - Historic resort, pools
East Central California
Alkali Lake Hot Springs - Primitive, shallow tub
Benton Hot Springs - Historic rustic inn, hot tubs
Buckeye Hot Springs - Undeveloped, a few pools, and natural grotto
Carson River Hot Springs - Undeveloped
Crab Cooker Hot Springs - Primitive, small tub
Crowley (Wild Willy's) Hot Spring - Undeveloped, larger and smaller pools
Dirty Sock Hot Springs - Primitive, a concrete pool
Grover Hot Springs - Developed, swimming and soaking pools
Fales Hot Springs - Undeveloped
Hilltop (Pulky's Pool) Hot Springs - Primitive, small tub
Hot Creek Geothermal Area - Geothermal area, no soaking
Keough's (Bishop) Hot Springs - Developed, swimming and soaking pools
Keough Hot Springs Ditch - Undeveloped, primitive pools along the ditch
Little Hot Creek Hot Springs - Undeveloped, a hot creek, and primitive pool
Owens Valley Warm Springs - Undeveloped, a warm pond
Rock Tub Hot Springs - Primitive, small tub
Travertine Hot Springs - Undeveloped, a series of small pools
Saline Valley Hot Springs - Primitive, isolated series of hot springs
Shepherd Hot Springs - Primitive, small tub
Whitmore Pool - Large-size swimming pool
Southern California
Azure Palm Hot Springs - A luxury resort, swimming pool, jacuzzi pools, soaking tubs, himalayan salt room, and ice room
Agua Caliente Hot Springs - Regional Park, three pools
Bashford's Hot Mineral Spa - A RV resort, swimming pool, jacuzzi pool, mineral baths
Big Caliente Hot Springs - A primitive cement pool
Little Caliente Hot Springs - Primitive cement tubs
California Hot Springs - A historic resort, swimming pool, and hot tubs
Deer Creek Hot Springs - Undeveloped with a series of primitive pools
Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel - A resort, swimming and soaking pools
Gaviota State Park Hot Springs - Undeveloped with 2 small sulfur ponds
Glamis North Hot Springs Resort - A resort, saunas, hot tubs, swimming and soaking pools
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa - A day-use resort and spa, varieties of pools
Five Palms Oasis - Undeveloped with warm pond
Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort - A resort, swimming pool, steam rooms, and hot spas
Holtville Hot Springs - Two concrete pools and pond
Jacumba Hot Springs Resort - A resort with swimming pool
Miracle Hot Springs - Primitive pools along the Kern River
Private Hot Mineral Springs - Private soaking pools
Miracle Springs Resort - A resort, swimming and soaking pools
Pyramid Hot Springs - A primitive a pool along the Kern River
Remington Hot Springs - Primitive, a cement pool along the Kern River
Shoshone Inn Hot Springs - Inn and RV Park, a swimming pool
Tecopa Hot Springs Resort - Rustic resort, soaking tubs.
Tecopa Hot Tub - Primitive cement tub.
Tecopa Mud Baths - An undeveloped large pond.
Turtle Back Mesa - Bed & Breakfast, a swimming pool, soaking tubs
Tuscan Springs Hotel & Spa - Resort, swimming and soaking pools.
Warner Springs Ranch Resort - Historic resort, swimming and soaking pools.
California-Nevada Border
Ash Meadows - Wildlife Refuge
Bailey's Hot Springs - Closed for renovation
Carson Hot Springs Resort - Historic hot springs, swimming pool, and tubs
Fish Lake Valley Hot Well - Primitive, concrete pool, and two ponds
Steamboat Healing Center and Spa - Historic hot spring resort
Walleys Hot Spring - Resort and Day-spa
If you so desire; update name
Jacumba Hot Springs Resort: Description written as Resort, swimming pool, spa, massage, sauna.
Unfortunately, the entire “resort” burned down, the hot spring source has been plugged and the swimming pool has been filled in with drit
You’ve omitted Sykes Hot Springs in Big Sur.
Skyes got shut down. It was closed due to the fires from 2016-2021 and when they reopened the trail the tubs were taken apart.