# Lake City Hot Springs, California

Lake City Hot Springs in California. 207°F (97°C). Short Walk. Modoc County.

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

## Can you soak at Lake City Hot Springs?

No. The water at Lake City Hot Springs reaches 207°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 207°F (97°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,480 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.3 mi from the nearest road (County Road 13) |
| County | Modoc County |
| Nearest town | Alturas |
| Coordinates | 41.67000, -120.20600 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Lassen Creek Campground, 11.7 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Lake City Hot Springs reaches 207°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 Lake City Hot Springs

Lake City Hot Springs in Modoc County comes out of the ground a few degrees shy of boiling. Alturas is the nearest city, about 22 miles away, and County Road 13 is the nearest road. Nobody has recorded an owner or an access status. It is a source to look at from a distance and nothing to bathe in as it emerges.

About a third of a mile separates County Road 13 from the spring. The elevation is around 4,500 feet, open country, dry through the year, with middling snow in winter. Lassen Creek Campground is nearly twelve miles off. Land unit is unrecorded, and nothing says who holds title, so the county road is the only thing you can count on being public.

Winter leads the month ranking here. The water will scald on contact at the source. Lassen Creek Campground is where the record puts camping. With no owner on file, check for signs or fences before leaving the county road, and give the source a wide berth.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Alturas](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/alturas), 36 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Seyferth Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/seyferth-hot-springs): 185°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Leonards Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/leonards-hot-springs): 144°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Hot Springs (Surprise Valley), CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-springs-surprise-valley): 208°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Fort Bidwell Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/fort-bidwell-hot-spring): 113°F source, Roadside, near Lakeview, Lake County
- [Twin (Vya) Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/twin-vya-spring): 71°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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Lake City Hot Springs?**
Lake City Hot Springs has a water temperature of 207°F (97°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Lake City Hot Springs located?**
Lake City Hot Springs is located in Modoc County, California at 4,480 feet elevation, near Alturas. Coordinates: 41.6700°N, 120.2060°W.

**How do I get to Lake City Hot Springs?**
Lake City Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being County Road 13 (0.3 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Lake City Hot Springs?**
Yes, Lassen Creek Campground is located nearby (11.7 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Lake City Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Lake City Hot Springs reaches 207°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