# Kelly Hot Spring, California

Kelly Hot Spring in California. 198°F (92°C). Short Walk. Modoc County.

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

## Can you soak at Kelly Hot Spring?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 198°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 198°F (92°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,334 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 340 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Modoc County |
| Nearest town | Alturas |
| Coordinates | 41.45000, -120.83400 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 198°F, the source water at Kelly Hot Spring 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 Kelly Hot Spring

Kelly Hot Spring, fifteen miles from Alturas in Modoc County, is a near-boiling source a short walk off a nameless road. Nobody is recorded as owner, and no access status was entered. The temperature alone settles the soaking question.

From the road it is a few hundred feet. The elevation is around forty-three hundred feet in the dry northeast, where a winter piles up about four feet of snow and total precipitation stays under twenty inches. No campground appears in the record for this one.

Winter is the season on file. Treat the water as a hazard; at this heat it scalds the instant it touches skin. Whose land this is has never been recorded, and neither has permission to visit. No fee is listed and no water sample was taken. There is no photograph. The temperature is the only measurement anyone took here.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Alturas](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/alturas), 46 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/spring-modoc-county-1): 81°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Essex Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/essex-springs): 91°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-modoc-county-3): 81°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-modoc-county-1): 81°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-modoc-county-2): 72°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Warm Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/warm-spring-modoc-county-2): 75°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Kelly Hot Spring?**
Kelly Hot Spring has a water temperature of 198°F (92°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Kelly Hot Spring located?**
Kelly Hot Spring is located in Modoc County, California at 4,334 feet elevation, near Alturas. Coordinates: 41.4500°N, 120.8340°W.

**How do I get to Kelly Hot Spring?**
Kelly Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (340 ft from the road).

**Is it safe to soak at Kelly Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Kelly Hot Spring reaches 198°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