# Agua Caliente Spring, California

Agua Caliente Spring in California. 133°F (56°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Santa Barbara County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/agua-caliente-spring-2
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Agua Caliente Spring?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 133°F, hotter than any hot tub. It's a short walk from the road. It's on US Forest Service land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 133°F (56°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 2,372 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Los Padres National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Santa Barbara County |
| Nearest town | Toro Canyon |
| Coordinates | 34.53800, -119.56000 |
| Best months to soak | January, February, December (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | UPPER OSO CAMPGROUND, 11.1 mi |

## About Agua Caliente Spring

Agua Caliente Spring in Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County, runs hot enough to hurt with any real contact, well past bath temperature. Toro Canyon is the nearest town listed, about seven miles. Forest Service land, open access.

Roughly 2,400 feet up in the Los Padres, where rain totals about fifteen inches and snow is a trace. About a thousand feet on foot from a nameless road. National forest, no fee recorded. Upper Oso Campground is about eleven miles away, and the mean temperature for the year is around sixty.

Wikipedia files the site as Big Caliente Hot Springs, several thermal mineral springs together in the Los Padres National Forest.

Winter is the listed season. The water is the hazard here: at 133 it will burn, so test before touching and never get in without knowing the water has cooled. Short walk. Camping at Upper Oso, eleven miles. No chemistry on file. A photo exists, and Toro Canyon is the only town recorded nearby.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Carpinteria](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/carpinteria), 10 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Little Caliente Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/little-caliente-spring): 90°F source, Hike, near Montecito, Santa Barbara County
- [Montecito Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/montecito-hot-springs): 118°F source, Short Walk, near Montecito, Santa Barbara County
- [Boron Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/boron-spring): 72°F source, pH 8.5, Short Walk, near Toro Canyon, Santa Barbara County
- [Vickers Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/vickers-hot-springs): 124°F source, Roadside, near Meiners Oaks, Ventura County
- [Stingleys Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/stingleys-hot-springs): 123°F source, Short Walk, near Meiners Oaks, Ventura County
- [Matilija Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/matilija-hot-springs-2): Roadside, near Meiners Oaks, Ventura County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Agua Caliente Spring?**
Agua Caliente Spring has a water temperature of 133°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Agua Caliente Spring located?**
Agua Caliente Spring is located in Santa Barbara County, California at 2,372 feet elevation, near Toro Canyon. Coordinates: 34.5380°N, 119.5600°W.

**How do I get to Agua Caliente Spring?**
Agua Caliente Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Is Agua Caliente Spring free to visit?**
Agua Caliente Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Agua Caliente Spring?**
Yes, Upper Oso Campground is located nearby (11.1 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Agua Caliente Spring?**
With care. At 133°F Agua Caliente Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Caliente_Hot_Springs