# Hot Spot, California

Hot Spot in California. 191°F (88°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Siskiyou County.

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

## Can you soak at Hot Spot?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 191°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road. It's on US Forest Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 191°F (88°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 7,078 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.4 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Modoc National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Siskiyou County |
| Nearest town | Tulelake |
| Coordinates | 41.60700, -121.52300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MEDICINE LAKE RECREATION AREA, 3.5 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 191°F, the source water at Hot Spot 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 Hot Spot

The name is Hot Spot and the temperature backs it up. This is a scalding vent in the Modoc National Forest, Siskiyou County, twenty-some miles from Tulelake, high enough that it spends a good part of the year under snow. The land is Forest Service and public access is listed as Open. Nobody should be soaking here. The water comes out close to boiling.

The walk from the nearest road is under half a mile. Which road goes unrecorded. Elevation is a little over seven thousand feet, and the winters are serious: ten feet of snow in an ordinary year, with close to thirty inches of precipitation overall. Camping: Medicine Lake Recreation Area, three and a half miles off.

Midwinter, December through February, is what the record lists as the best time, which at this snow load makes a visit its own problem, and the record does not say how people reach it in that season. Keep well back from the water. It scalds instantly. No fee appears on file. No water chemistry exists for it.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Mount Shasta](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/mount-shasta), 38 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Little Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/little-hot-spring): 169°F source, Short Walk, near Burney, Shasta County
- [Pothole Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/pothole-spring): 78°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Oregon Hot Springs (Big Hot Spring), OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/oregon-hot-springs-big-hot-spring): 142°F source, Roadside, near Tulelake, Siskiyou County
- [Kelly Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/kelly-hot-spring): 198°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Hot Spring, Fumaroles, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-spring-fumaroles): 183°F source, Hike, near Mount Shasta, Siskiyou County
- [Bassett Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/bassett-hot-springs): 174°F source, Short Walk, near Burney, Shasta County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Spot?**
Hot Spot has a water temperature of 191°F (88°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hot Spot located?**
Hot Spot is located in Siskiyou County, California at 7,078 feet elevation, near Tulelake. Coordinates: 41.6070°N, 121.5230°W.

**How do I get to Hot Spot?**
Hot Spot has Short Walk road access (0.4 mi from the road).

**Is Hot Spot free to visit?**
Hot Spot has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Hot Spot?**
Yes, Medicine Lake Recreation Area is located nearby (3.5 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Hot Spot?**
No, not at the source. The water at Hot Spot reaches 191°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