# Mercey Hot Springs, California

Mercey Hot Springs in California. 119°F (48°C). Roadside. Merced County.

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

## Can you soak at Mercey Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 119°F, hotter than any hot tub. You can drive right up to it. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 119°F (48°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 1,212 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 206 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Merced County |
| Nearest town | South Dos Palos |
| Coordinates | 36.70300, -120.86000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | PINNACLES CAMPGROUND, 24.0 mi |

## About Mercey Hot Springs

Mercey Hot Springs is a historic resort in the Little Panoche Valley, out in the dry hills west of the San Joaquin floor and more than twenty miles from South Dos Palos. The water comes up hot, hot enough that you would want it cooled before sitting in it. The record lists Merced County for the spring; Wikipedia places the community in Fresno County.

Roadside, a couple hundred feet off an unnamed road. Low valley floor, around twelve hundred feet. Dry country too; a normal year brings about ten inches of rain, and snow hardly ever shows up. Nobody has recorded who owns the ground, though Wikipedia calls the place a resort, which makes it a commercial operation. Public access is not listed either.

Wikipedia lists Mercey Hot Springs, once spelled Mercy, as an unincorporated community and historical hot springs resort in the Little Panoche Valley, about 60 miles west-southwest of Fresno.

Winter, December into February, is the stretch the record marks as best. Cool-season visits are the comfortable ones for water this hot. The water exceeds 110 degrees at the source. Test before you get in. Camping is not close. Pinnacles Campground, the nearest on file, is about 24 miles off. The fee itself is not on record.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near South Dos Palos](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/south-dos-palos), 0 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-merced-county): 81°F source, Short Walk, near Los Banos, Merced County
- [Iridat Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/iridat-spring): 73°F source, Roadside, near Los Banos, Merced County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-fresno-county): 75°F source, Short Walk, near Firebaugh, Fresno County
- [Spring In Oneill Forebay, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/spring-in-oneill-forebay): 70°F source, Short Walk, near Gustine, Merced County
- [Sulphur Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/sulphur-springs-1): 73°F source, Roadside, near King City, Monterey County
- [Paraiso Springs (Sulphur Spring), CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/paraiso-springs-sulphur-spring): 98°F source, Roadside, near Soledad, Monterey County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Mercey Hot Springs?**
Mercey Hot Springs has a water temperature of 119°F (48°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Mercey Hot Springs located?**
Mercey Hot Springs is located in Merced County, California at 1,212 feet elevation, near South Dos Palos. Coordinates: 36.7030°N, 120.8600°W.

**How do I get to Mercey Hot Springs?**
Mercey Hot Springs has Roadside road access (206 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Mercey Hot Springs?**
Yes, Pinnacles Campground is located nearby (24.0 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Mercey Hot Springs?**
With care. At 119°F Mercey Hot Springs 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
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercey_Hot_Springs