# Big Soda Spring, California

Big Soda Spring in California. 90°F (32°C). Roadside. Lake County.

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

## Can you soak at Big Soda Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 90°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. You can drive right up to it. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 90°F (32°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 1,321 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 241 ft from the nearest road (Willow Road) |
| County | Lake County |
| Nearest town | Soda Bay |
| Coordinates | 39.00600, -122.78700 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Letts Lake Campground, 20.9 mi |

## About Big Soda Spring

Big Soda Spring sits at Soda Bay in Lake County, warm water half a mile from the community and a short distance off Willow Road. The water comes in right at the bottom of soaking-warm, ninety degrees, pleasant on a cool day. The Wikipedia article that the record links to describes Big Caliente Hot Springs in the Los Padres National Forest, a different spring entirely. Ownership and access are blank.

Willow Road passes within a couple hundred feet. Elevation is low, around thirteen hundred feet, and the climate is mild and fairly wet, twenty-six inches of rain and very little snow. Letts Lake Campground, twenty-one miles out, is a long way for the nearest campground. Nothing in the record describes the land owner or unit.

The rating points at winter, and snow will seldom be in the way. Letts Lake is a drive, as noted. Access has not been recorded, so the half mile from Soda Bay may cross private ground; confirm first. Sitting in water this warm carries no burn risk.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Kelseyville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/kelseyville), 6 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Horseshoe Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/horseshoe-spring-1): 108°F source, Short Walk, near Soda Bay, Lake County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-lake-county-1): 95°F source, Short Walk, near Soda Bay, Lake County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-lake-county-2): Warm, Short Walk, near Soda Bay, Lake County
- [Hildebrande Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hildebrande-spring): 77°F source, Roadside, near Soda Bay, Lake County
- [Riviera Beach Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/riviera-beach-spring): 93°F source, Short Walk, near Clearlake Oaks, Lake County
- [Carlsbad Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/carlsbad-spring): 76°F source, Roadside, near Kelseyville, Lake County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Big Soda Spring?**
Big Soda Spring has a water temperature of 90°F (32°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Big Soda Spring located?**
Big Soda Spring is located in Lake County, California at 1,321 feet elevation, near Soda Bay. Coordinates: 39.0060°N, 122.7870°W.

**How do I get to Big Soda Spring?**
Big Soda Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Willow Road (241 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Big Soda Spring?**
Yes, Letts Lake Campground is located nearby (20.9 miles away).

## 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