# Growler Hot Spring, California

Growler Hot Spring in California. 203°F (95°C). Short Walk. Plumas County.

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

## Can you soak at Growler Hot Spring?

No. The water at Growler Hot Spring reaches 203°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 203°F (95°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 5,106 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 364 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Plumas County |
| Nearest town | Chester |
| Coordinates | 40.39300, -121.50700 |
| Best months to soak | December, February, January (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Hole-in-the-Ground Campground, 6.4 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Growler Hot Spring reaches 203°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

## About Growler Hot Spring

Growler Hot Spring runs close to boiling. It sits in Plumas County about sixteen miles from Chester, and the water is scalding, far past anything a person could sit in. The record carries no note on who owns the land or on public access, and no land unit is given. A photo exists.

The walk in is short, a few hundred feet off a road the record leaves unnamed. Elevation puts it shy of a mile up, and the climate numbers are wet: heavy snow most winters and plenty of rain the rest of the year. Without a land owner or unit in the row, you cannot tell from here if this is public ground.

Hole-in-the-Ground Campground is roughly six miles away. The months listed as best run December through February, which sits oddly beside the snowfall total, so check road conditions before trusting it. Water this hot will burn skin on contact. Keep dogs and children back from the source. Public access is unrecorded.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Chester](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/chester), 6 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Morgan Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/morgan-hot-spring): 205°F source, Short Walk, near Chester, Plumas County
- [Sulphur Works, Tophet Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/sulphur-works-tophet-hot-springs): 199°F source, pH 6.1, TDS 88 mg/L, Roadside, 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
- [Mill Creek Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/mill-creek-springs): 150°F source, pH 6.1, TDS 88 mg/L, Short Walk, near Shingletown, Shasta 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
- [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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Growler Hot Spring?**
Growler Hot Spring has a water temperature of 203°F (95°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Growler Hot Spring located?**
Growler Hot Spring is located in Plumas County, California at 5,106 feet elevation, near Chester. Coordinates: 40.3930°N, 121.5070°W.

**How do I get to Growler Hot Spring?**
Growler Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (364 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Growler Hot Spring?**
Yes, Hole In The Ground Campground is located nearby (6.4 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Growler Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Growler Hot Spring reaches 203°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