Enjoying a Soak at Wild Willy’s Hot Spring
California is a hotbed of the geothermal sort, with natural hot springs of all types located throughout the state. This website is your guide to ALL OF THEM. Created by hot springers – for hot springers. You’ll find that nearly every natural hot springs in California is listed here.
Our individual hot springs listings include access information, pool conditions, directions, maps, facility details and ratings. Tip! Use the top menu to browse hot springs by region or type from any page.
Find the Best Hot Springs in California
Carved by volcanic activity and geological forces, California’s hot springs are truly a gift from the Earth. These steaming hot pools of mineral-rich water have beckoned locals and travelers for centuries.
Statewide Map
From cushy resorts to primitive hot soaks, there’s a hot springs for every type of hot springer in California. Use our interactive California hot springs map to help plan your next adventure.
Plan your next trip with our statewide California hot springs map
Soak the North
Experience the transformative power of Northern California’s geothermal wonders. From the rugged wilderness of the Sierra Nevada to the coastal retreats of Mendocino, hot springs in Northern California offer a world of natural healing and spiritual connections.
View all Northern California Hot Springs
Soak the South
From the desert’s embrace to the coastal cliffs, hot springs in Southern California offer a diverse array of geothermal escapes. Unwind in mineral-rich waters, soak up stunning views and rejuvenate your mind and body.
View all Southern California hot springs
Why are hot springs in California, hot?
California’s geological diversity, with its active fault lines and volcanic history, provides ideal conditions for hot springs. Water heated from deep within the earth pushes its way through fractures and cracks in rocks while gathering minerals along the way. Groundwater from rain aids in replenishing the water heated by magma subsequently renewing the cycle.
California Hot Springs Bathing Notice
No Soap/Shampoo or BIO-Soap/Shampoo Allowed in Hot Springs! EVER!
Public hot springs in California are not bathing facilities and do not have ‘plumbing’ like that of commercial, improved hot springs. Soap and shampoo, including bio soap and shampoo, do not break down naturally and pollute our fragile ecosystems. FYI, this is also illegal in most wilderness and public land areas. Please report suspicious activity to public lands officials (take pics).
Leave No Trace
It is important to remember when visiting natural hot springs in California or any state to leave them in better shape than when you arrived. Please leave no trace, don’t bring glass and embrace the experience. Clean up the area and hot springs before soaking as it makes for a more authentic experience and reward for your stewardship efforts.
Red Spider Mite Warning
Only a handful of hot springs in California have been reported to have red spider mites.
Visit Hot Springs in Another State
This website is built and maintained by hot springers for hot springers with the goal of being the most complete resource available for natural hot springs in California.
