# Slates Hot Springs, California

Slates Hot Springs in California. 122°F (50°C). Short Walk. Monterey County.

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

## Can you soak at Slates Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 122°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 | 122°F (50°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.1 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Monterey County |
| Nearest town | Carmel Valley Village |
| Coordinates | 36.12300, -121.64000 |
| Best months to soak | February, December, January (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | ESCONDIDO CAMPGROUND, 8.3 mi |

## About Slates Hot Springs

Slates Hot Springs sits on the Big Sur coast of Monterey County, at sea level, with Carmel Valley Village the nearest town on record at about 25 miles. The water is hot, past the point where you could sit in it as it comes out. The road is a couple hundred yards back. Who owns it, and if you may enter, are unrecorded.

The coast, right at the water. Wet winters with a good deal of rain and no snow. No name is given for the nearest road, and nothing is recorded about who owns the land or what unit it falls under. Wikipedia places the site eight miles north-northwest of Lopez Point. Escondido Campground lies eight miles or so away.

Thomas B. Slate filed a land patent for the site and the ground around it on September 9, 1882. The springs have gone by several names since, Big Sur Hot Springs among them, plus Slate's Springs and Slate's Hot Sulphur Springs.

February tops the list of good months, with December and January behind it. Escondido Campground is about eight miles off. The source can scald on contact, so test before you touch. Access and ownership are unrecorded here, and given that the land was patented to a private owner in the 1880s you should confirm you are welcome before you walk in.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Soledad](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/soledad), 21 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Dolans Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/dolans-hot-spring): 98°F source, Short Walk, near Greenfield, Monterey County
- [Sykes Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/sykes-hot-spring): Warm, Hike, near Carmel Valley Village, Monterey County
- [Tassajara Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/tassajara-hot-springs): 144°F source, Short Walk, near Soledad, Monterey County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-monterey-county): 114°F source, Short Walk, near Carmel Valley Village, 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
- [Sulphur Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/sulphur-hot-spring): 100°F source, Roadside, near Seaside, Monterey County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Slates Hot Springs?**
Slates Hot Springs has a water temperature of 122°F (50°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Slates Hot Springs located?**
Slates Hot Springs is located in Monterey County, California at 4 feet elevation, near Carmel Valley Village. Coordinates: 36.1230°N, 121.6400°W.

**How do I get to Slates Hot Springs?**
Slates Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Slates Hot Springs?**
Yes, Escondido Campground is located nearby (8.3 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Slates Hot Springs?**
With care. At 122°F Slates 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/Slates_Hot_Springs