# Hot Springs (Menlo Baths), California

Hot Springs (Menlo Baths) in California. 135°F (57°C). Short Walk. Modoc County.

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

## Can you soak at Hot Springs (Menlo Baths)?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 135°F, hotter than any hot tub. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 135°F (57°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,510 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.2 mi from the nearest road (Surprise Valley Road) |
| County | Modoc County |
| Nearest town | Alturas |
| Coordinates | 41.26600, -120.08000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Patterson Guard Station, 7.3 mi |

## About Hot Springs (Menlo Baths)

Hot Springs, carrying Menlo Baths as a second name, lies in Modoc County off Surprise Valley Road, close to thirty miles from Alturas. It comes out hotter than anyone would sit in undiluted. That second name suggests people bathed here at some point, though nothing describes a pool or any facility, and no owner is named.

From Surprise Valley Road it is roughly a thousand feet on foot. Elevation is around four and a half thousand feet in high, dry country. Winter snow is moderate. Whose land this is does not appear in the record, and neither does a land unit, so you are on your own for figuring out what ground you are standing on.

Patterson Guard Station is listed for camping, about seven miles away. The three winter months top the best-months data. Hot enough to scald if you get in without testing, so test before you touch. Public access is unrecorded, so treat it as unverified until you have seen the place or asked locally.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Alturas](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/alturas), 7 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Squaw Baths, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/squaw-baths): 106°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-modoc-county-4): 109°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Bare Ranch Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/bare-ranch-spring): 90°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/unnamed-spring-modoc-county-9): Hot, Hike, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [West Valley Reservoir Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/west-valley-reservoir-hot-spring): 171°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Warm Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/warm-spring-modoc-county-1): 70°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Springs (Menlo Baths)?**
Hot Springs (Menlo Baths) has a water temperature of 135°F (57°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hot Springs (Menlo Baths) located?**
Hot Springs (Menlo Baths) is located in Modoc County, California at 4,510 feet elevation, near Alturas. Coordinates: 41.2660°N, 120.0800°W.

**How do I get to Hot Springs (Menlo Baths)?**
Hot Springs (Menlo Baths) has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Surprise Valley Road (0.2 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Hot Springs (Menlo Baths)?**
Yes, Patterson Guard Station is located nearby (7.3 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Hot Springs (Menlo Baths)?**
With care. At 135°F Hot Springs (Menlo Baths) 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