# Drakesbad, California

Drakesbad in California. 151°F (66°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Plumas County.

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

## Can you soak at Drakesbad?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 151°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road. It's on National Park Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 151°F (66°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 6.7 (Slightly Acidic) |
| Total dissolved solids | 49 mg/L |
| Elevation | 5,710 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road (Chester-Warner Valley Road) |
| Land | Lassen Volcanic National Park, National Park Service |
| County | Plumas County |
| Nearest town | Chester |
| Coordinates | 40.44400, -121.40900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Warner Valley Campground, 0.7 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 151°F, the source water at Drakesbad is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Drakesbad

Drakesbad is a thermal area in the Warner Valley corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park, in Plumas County about thirteen miles from Chester. The source water comes out scalding, so the interest is in the ground itself and the park around it. Access is open. Warner Valley Campground is less than a mile away, which makes this an easy place to base from.

High mountain valley at the end of Chester-Warner Valley Road, with the spring roughly a thousand feet from the road. Snow is the defining fact. Seventeen feet of it in an average winter, and the overall precipitation is heavy too. Warner Valley Campground is close, and the whole valley is National Park Service ground.

The record names midwinter as the best time, which is hard to square with seventeen feet of snow. Plan around the snowfall figure. This is national park land with open access. Camp at Warner Valley. The spring water is scalding, so do not touch the source. The chemistry reading is from 1981.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1981-09-09 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.7 |
| Total dissolved solids | 49 mg/L |
| Calcium | 6.4 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 2.3 mg/L |
| Sodium | 1.8 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 0.4 mg/L |
| Chloride | 3.2 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Chester](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/chester), 1 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Hot Springs Valley, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-springs-valley): 83°F source, pH 6.7, TDS 49 mg/L, Short Walk, near Chester, Plumas County
- [Boiling Springs Lake, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/boiling-springs-lake): 190°F source, Short Walk, near Chester, Plumas County
- [Devils Kitchen, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/devils-kitchen-2): 203°F source, pH 6.7, TDS 49 mg/L, Hike, near Chester, Plumas County
- [Terminal Geyser, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/terminal-geyser): 205°F source, Short Walk, near Chester, Plumas County
- [Bumpass Hell, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/bumpass-hell): 199°F source, pH 6.9, TDS 42 mg/L, Short Walk, near Chester, Plumas County
- [Growler Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/growler-hot-spring): 203°F source, Short Walk, near Chester, Plumas County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Drakesbad?**
Drakesbad has a water temperature of 151°F (66°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Drakesbad located?**
Drakesbad is located in Plumas County, California at 5,710 feet elevation, near Chester. Coordinates: 40.4440°N, 121.4090°W.

**How do I get to Drakesbad?**
Drakesbad has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Chester-Warner Valley Road (0.2 mi from the road).

**Is Drakesbad free to visit?**
Drakesbad has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.

**Can I camp near Drakesbad?**
Yes, Warner Valley Campground is located nearby (0.7 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Drakesbad?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 6.7 (slightly acidic). Total dissolved solids measure 49 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Drakesbad?**
No, not at the source. The water at Drakesbad reaches 151°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals