# Pothole Spring, California

Pothole Spring in California. 78°F (26°C). Short Walk. Modoc County.

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

## Can you soak at Pothole Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 78°F, about as warm as a heated pool. 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 | 78°F (26°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,855 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.7 mi from the nearest road (Clear Lake Reservoir Road) |
| County | Modoc County |
| Nearest town | Alturas |
| Coordinates | 41.82800, -120.91700 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |

## About Pothole Spring

Thirty miles from Alturas in Modoc County, Pothole Spring is a tepid spring reached by a walk of under a mile from Clear Lake Reservoir Road. The water is warm to the touch and no more. The record is silent on ownership and on access, and no campground is listed within reach. At nearly five thousand feet this is high, cold country.

High plateau country, cold for much of the year. Winters bring better than four feet of snow. The approach is most of a mile on foot from Clear Lake Reservoir Road. No land unit is recorded and no designation. Rain is moderate, and a good share of the year's moisture arrives as snow.

Best months on file fall in the dead of winter, which sits oddly against four feet of snow a year; check road conditions on Clear Lake Reservoir Road before you commit. No fee is listed, and neither is an owner or an access status. Camping is not on file nearby. Alturas, thirty miles off, is the nearest town.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Alturas](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/alturas), 65 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Warm Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/warm-spring-siskiyou-county-1): Warm, Short Walk, near Tulelake, Siskiyou County
- [Warm Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/warm-spring-siskiyou-county-2): 92°F source, Short Walk, near Tulelake, Siskiyou County
- [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
- [Wilkersons Hot Spring, OR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/oregon/wilkersons-hot-spring): 76°F source, Short Walk, near Tulelake, Siskiyou County
- [Kelly Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/kelly-hot-spring): 198°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Pothole Spring?**
Pothole Spring has a water temperature of 78°F (26°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Pothole Spring located?**
Pothole Spring is located in Modoc County, California at 4,855 feet elevation, near Alturas. Coordinates: 41.8280°N, 120.9170°W.

**How do I get to Pothole Spring?**
Pothole Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Clear Lake Reservoir Road (0.7 mi from the road).

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals