Hot Spring
Hot Spring near Janesville produces 204°F water, among the hottest in northeastern California, with a temperature differential of 150°F above the ambient air in this sagebrush and juniper landscape.
The spring sits at 4,041 feet elevation, requiring a 910-foot walk across high desert terrain. The landscape is defined by the transition zone between pine forest and sagebrush steppe, with sparse vegetation, dramatic seasonal temperature swings, and clear night skies typical of the interior plateau.
This extreme-temperature spring emerges from crustal depth in the geothermal corridor that extends from the Modoc Plateau through to California's volcanism. Its heat reflects the region's position above elevated thermal gradients and possible proximity to buried magma systems.
Approach via roads near Janesville and Highway 395. The extreme water temperature (204°F) demands extreme caution—thermal burns occur within seconds. Approach only downstream of the main vent where cooling has occurred. Access is seasonal; winter snowpack may block roads.
Is Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Viewing dramatic geothermal features
- Overnight camping trips
Not ideal for
- Swimming or soaking
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