# Hot Spring, California

Hot Spring in California. 204°F (96°C). Short Walk. Lassen County.

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

## Can you soak at Hot Spring?

No. The water at Hot Spring reaches 204°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 204°F (96°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,041 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Lassen County |
| Nearest town | Janesville |
| Coordinates | 40.36400, -120.24300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BLACK MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT, 17.6 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Hot Spring reaches 204°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 Hot Spring

An unnamed hot spring in Lassen County, about fourteen miles from Janesville, running hotter than boiling water at sea level according to the record. Nobody soaks in water this hot. The land has no owner of record and no public access status, so what you have is a scalding source on ground of unknown ownership.

A few hundred yards of walking, starting from a road that carries no name in the record. Four thousand feet, on the dry eastern side of California. Winters are moderate. Snow stays under three feet and precipitation runs around fifteen inches. The nearest camping listed, Black Mountain Lookout, is nearly eighteen miles out.

The record favors December through February. Stay back from the water. At this temperature skin scalds at a touch. Ownership is blank on file, so treat access as unconfirmed. A photo exists. No chemistry or flow data was ever taken here as far as the record shows.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Susanville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/susanville), 20 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Wendel Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/wendel-hot-springs): 205°F source, Short Walk, near Janesville, Lassen County
- [Amedee Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/amedee-hot-springs): 203°F source, Roadside, near Janesville, Lassen County
- [Sellicks Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/sellicks-springs): 72°F source, Short Walk, near Johnstonville, Lassen County
- [High Rock Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/high-rock-spring): 86°F source, Short Walk, near Janesville, Lassen County
- [Tipton Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/tipton-springs): 70°F source, Short Walk, near Johnstonville, Lassen County
- [Fish Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/fish-springs-2): 73°F source, Roadside, near Cold Springs, Washoe County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Spring?**
Hot Spring has a water temperature of 204°F (96°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hot Spring located?**
Hot Spring is located in Lassen County, California at 4,041 feet elevation, near Janesville. Coordinates: 40.3640°N, 120.2430°W.

**How do I get to Hot Spring?**
Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Hot Spring?**
Yes, Black Mountain Lookout is located nearby (17.6 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Hot Spring reaches 204°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