# Squaw Baths, California

Squaw Baths in California. 106°F (41°C). Roadside. Modoc County.

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

## Can you soak at Squaw Baths?

The water leaves the ground at 106°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. 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 | 106°F (41°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,494 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 156 ft from the nearest road (Surprise Valley Road) |
| County | Modoc County |
| Nearest town | Alturas |
| Coordinates | 41.21900, -120.06600 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Patterson Guard Station, 6.5 mi |

## About Squaw Baths

Squaw Baths sits in Modoc County in the far northeast corner of California, about thirty miles from Alturas. The water comes up bath-warm, the kind of heat you could sit in without flinching. Surprise Valley Road passes within a few dozen paces, so reaching it means a pull-over and a short stroll. Who owns the ground is missing from the record, and so is any note on public access, so treat the spot as unverified until you have asked around.

High desert at around 4,500 feet. Winters are cold and drop a decent amount of snow, sixty inches in an ordinary year, and precipitation is modest overall. The spring is a stone's throw from Surprise Valley Road. No land manager and no designation are attached to this point. Patterson Guard Station, the nearest listed campground, is roughly six and a half miles away.

Our data favors December through February, which is also when snow is on the ground here, so check the road before you drive out. Access is roadside. Camping is at Patterson Guard Station, six or so miles off. Nobody has recorded a fee or an owner, and access status is blank too. Confirm those before you count on soaking.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Alturas](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/alturas), 4 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-modoc-county-4): 109°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Hot Springs (Menlo Baths), CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-springs-menlo-baths): 135°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Bare Ranch Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/bare-ranch-spring): 90°F source, Roadside, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/unnamed-spring-modoc-county-9): Hot, Hike, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [West Valley Reservoir Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/west-valley-reservoir-hot-spring): 171°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County
- [Warm Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/warm-spring-modoc-county-1): 70°F source, Short Walk, near Alturas, Modoc County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Squaw Baths?**
Squaw Baths has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Squaw Baths located?**
Squaw Baths is located in Modoc County, California at 4,494 feet elevation, near Alturas. Coordinates: 41.2190°N, 120.0660°W.

**How do I get to Squaw Baths?**
Squaw Baths has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Surprise Valley Road (156 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Squaw Baths?**
Yes, Patterson Guard Station is located nearby (6.5 miles away).

## Sources

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