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Hot Springs in California

65 hot springs in California with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Mono County has the most (7). The darkest skies are at Hot Spring (Bortle 1).

Top hot springs

Crabtree Hot Springs, CaliforniaHot Spring
Crabtree Hot Springs, CaliforniaLake County
Deep Creek Hot SpringsHot Spring
Deep Creek Hot SpringsSan Bernardino County
Willett Hot SpringsHot Spring
Willett Hot SpringsVentura County
Jordan Hot SpringsHot Spring
Jordan Hot SpringsTulare County
Urbita Hot SpringsHot Spring
Urbita Hot SpringsSan Bernardino County
Big Caliente Hot SpringsHot Spring
Big Caliente Hot SpringsSanta Barbara County
Saline Valley Hot SpringsHot Spring
Saline Valley Hot SpringsInyo County
Tassajara Hot SpringsHot Spring
Tassajara Hot SpringsMonterey County
Hot Spring
Fales Hot SpringsMono County
Hot Spring
Gaviota Hot SpringsSanta Barbara County
Hot Spring
Keough Hot SpringsInyo County
Bumpass HellHot Spring
Bumpass HellPlumas County

Hot Springs by county

All hot springs (65)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Crabtree Hot Springs, CaliforniaLake County689 mUpper Lake3
Deep Creek Hot SpringsSan Bernardino County1,078 mLake Arrowhead5
Willett Hot SpringsVentura County858 mOjai4
Jordan Hot SpringsTulare County1,993 mLone Pine3
Urbita Hot SpringsSan Bernardino County—Colton8
Big Caliente Hot SpringsSanta Barbara County—Montecito4
Saline Valley Hot SpringsInyo County—Lone Pine2
Tassajara Hot SpringsMonterey County—Big Sur3
Fales Hot SpringsMono County—Topaz Ranch Estates2
Gaviota Hot SpringsSanta Barbara County200 mBuellton4
Keough Hot SpringsInyo County—Bishop2
Bumpass HellLassen VolcanicPlumas County—Chester2
Old Faithful Geyser of CaliforniaNapa County—Calistoga5
Sulphur WorksLassen VolcanicTehama County—Chester2
Grover Hot SpringsAlpine County1,807 mGardnerville Ranchos3
Hot SpringsFresno County2,340 mWest Bishop2
Iva Bell Hot SpringsFresno County2,250 mMammoth Lakes3
Kern Hot SpringTulare County2,098 mLone Pine2
Casa Diablo Hot Springs, CaliforniaMono County—Mammoth Lakes4
Alvarado Hot SpringsLos Angeles County182 mRowland Heights8
Ashley Hot SpringKern County1,241 mWeldon3
Buckeye Hot SpringMono County2,116 mTopaz Ranch Estates2
Byron Hot SpringsContra Costa County15 mByron5
Coso Hot SpringsInyo County1,104 mInyokern3
Delonegha Hot SpringsKern County641 mBodfish4
Hot SpringMono County1,960 mMammoth Lakes2
Hot SpringSan Bernardino County598 mCrestline7
Hot SpringSanta Barbara County338 mGoleta4
Hot SpringVentura County455 mMeiners Oaks5
The Hot SpringMono County2,013 mMammoth Lakes2
Hot SpringsKern County856 mKernville3
Hot SpringsSan Bernardino County710 mMentone6
Hot SpringsSanta Barbara County414 mMontecito6
Hot SpringsAlpine County1,596 mGardnerville Ranchos3
Marble Hot SpringsPlumas County1,490 mPortola3
Ontario Hot SpringsSan Luis Obispo County9 mAvila Beach5
Pechanga Hot SpringsRiverside County501 mRainbow5
Reds Meadow Hot SpringsDevils PostpileMadera County2,348 mMammoth Lakes3
Scovern Hot SpringsKern County760 mLake Isabella5
Sespe Hot SpringsVentura County863 mFillmore4
Slates Hot SpringsMonterey County31 mBig Sur3
Tecopa Hot SpringsInyo County430 mPahrump3
Travertine Hot SpringMono County2,057 mHawthorne2
Warner Hot SpringSan Diego County955 mJulian4
Yates Hot SpringsKern County1,166 mBodfish4
Zamboni Hot SpringsLassen County1,376 mCold Springs3
Hot SpringRiverside County250 mHighgrove8
Amedee Hot SpringsLassen County1,221 mJanesville2
Bassett Hot SpringsLassen County1,263 mBurney1
Big Bend Hot SpringsShasta County501 mBurney2
Bumpass Hot SpringsLassen VolcanicShasta County2,497 mChester2
Growler Hot SpringLassen VolcanicTehama County1,557 mChester2
Hot SpringModoc County1,405 mLakeview1
Hot SpringsLassen County1,009 mBurney1
Hunt Hot SpringShasta County499 mBurney2
Indian Valley Hot SpringsPlumas County1,082 mGreenville2
Kellog Hot SpringsLassen County1,275 mAlturas1
Kelley Hot SpringModoc County1,327 mAlturas1
Klamath Hot SpringsSiskiyou County811 mMontague2
Lake City Hot SpringsModoc County1,367 mAlturas1
Leonards Hot SpringsModoc County1,382 mAlturas1
Little Hot SpringModoc County1,084 mBurney1
Morgan Hot SpringLassen VolcanicTehama County1,523 mChester2
Wendel Hot SpringsLassen County1,223 mJanesville2
Hilltop Hot SpringsMono County2,092 mMammoth Lakes2

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph hot springs

Steam is most visible on cold mornings; backlight from a low sun makes rising steam glow.

  • Keep to boardwalks and marked paths — crusts around thermal features can be thin and the water dangerously hot.
  • A polarizer brings out the colors of mineral terraces and microbial mats.
  • Respect bathers' privacy: ask before including people at soaking pools.
  • Wind direction determines where steam drifts; shoot from the upwind side to see the pool.
  • Condensation forms quickly on lenses; let gear acclimate and carry a cloth.

Season: Winter gives the most dramatic steam; some primitive springs are only accessible in summer.