# Harbin Springs, California

Harbin Springs in California. 120°F (49°C). Roadside. Lake County.

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

## Can you soak at Harbin Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 120°F, hotter than any hot tub. 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 | 120°F (49°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 1,766 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 248 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Lake County |
| Nearest town | Middletown |
| Coordinates | 38.78500, -122.65500 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | WARM SPRINGS REC AREA, 19.1 mi |

## About Harbin Springs

Harbin Springs is the source behind Harbin Hot Springs, a hot springs center and workshop venue run by Heart Consciousness Church, a non-profit, in Lake County about three miles from Middletown. The water comes out hot, past comfortable soaking temperature at the source. The center burned in part in the 2015 Valley Fire. Public access to the spring itself is not on record.

The spring is some 250 feet off a road the record leaves unnamed, at modest elevation in Lake County hill country with wet winters, around thirty-two inches a year, and hardly any snow. Warm Springs Rec Area, the closest camp on the list, is about nineteen miles away.

Named for Matthew Harbin, a pioneer who settled in Lake County. Earlier names on record include Harbin Hot Springs and Harbin's Springs. The facility, operated by Heart Consciousness Church, sits about two hours north of the San Francisco Bay Area and suffered partial destruction in the Valley Fire in September 2015.

Midwinter is the listed season. The source runs hot; the center's pools are where people soak, and their hours and fees are not on file here. Check the center directly, including what has reopened since the fire. Public access to the source is unrecorded.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Cobb](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/cobb), 3 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Anderson Springs, California, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/anderson-springs-california): Roadside, near Cobb, Lake County
- [Anderson Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/anderson-springs-1): 108°F source, Roadside, near Cobb, Lake County
- [Castle Rock Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/castle-rock-springs): 163°F source, Roadside, near Cobb, Lake County
- [Spiers Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/spiers-springs): 79°F source, Roadside, near Cobb, Lake County
- [Bad Creek Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/bad-creek-spring): 81°F source, Short Walk, near Cobb, Lake County
- [Pine Cone Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/pine-cone-spring): 78°F source, Roadside, near Cobb, Lake County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Harbin Springs?**
Harbin Springs has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Harbin Springs located?**
Harbin Springs is located in Lake County, California at 1,766 feet elevation, near Middletown. Coordinates: 38.7850°N, 122.6550°W.

**How do I get to Harbin Springs?**
Harbin Springs has Roadside road access (248 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Harbin Springs?**
Yes, Warm Springs Rec Area is located nearby (19.1 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Harbin Springs?**
With care. At 120°F Harbin Springs 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/Harbin_Hot_Springs