# Unnamed thermal spring, California

Unnamed thermal spring in California. 108°F (42°C). Roadside. Washoe County.

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

## Can you soak at this spring?

The water leaves the ground at 108°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 | 108°F (42°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 4,315 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 255 ft from the nearest road (Route 395) |
| County | Washoe County |
| Nearest town | Cold Springs |
| Coordinates | 39.98000, -120.06400 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, CA), 7.9 mi |

## About Unnamed thermal spring

This unnamed thermal point is filed under Washoe County in the California records, and it is hot. The recorded temperature is 108, warm enough that most people would call it a bath. The nearest town the record can attach to it is Cold Springs, almost a hundred miles away, which tells you how empty this stretch of country is. Access status and land owner are both unrecorded.

Route 395 runs within a few hundred feet, so reaching the spring is a matter of pulling over and walking a bit. The country is high desert at over four thousand feet, and winter is real here, with fifty-odd inches of snow most winters. Rain adds up to maybe seventeen inches. Summers are dry and warm. No land unit or designation is attached, so who manages the ground is an open question.

The listed months are the dead of winter, December through February, when steam off the water earns its keep, but that is also when the snow comes, so watch the highway forecast. Big Cove campground in Plumas National Forest is the closest camping on file, around eight miles away. No fee is recorded. Since nobody has written down if the public is welcome, look for signs before you leave the shoulder.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Susanville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/susanville), 42 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Zamboni Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/zamboni-hot-springs): Hot, pH 7.6, TDS 187 mg/L, Roadside, near Cold Springs, Washoe County
- [Fish Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/fish-springs-2): 73°F source, Roadside, near Cold Springs, Washoe County
- [High Rock Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/high-rock-spring): 86°F source, Short Walk, near Janesville, Lassen County
- [Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/spring-washoe-county): 73°F source, Short Walk, near Spanish Springs, Washoe County
- [Marble Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/marble-hot-springs): Roadside, near Portola, Plumas County
- [The Needle Rocks Hot Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/the-needle-rocks-hot-springs): 208°F source, pH 8.1, TDS 4,095 mg/L, Short Walk, near Spanish Springs, Washoe County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at ?**
 has a water temperature of 108°F (42°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is  located?**
 is located in Washoe County, California at 4,315 feet elevation, near Cold Springs. Coordinates: 39.9800°N, 120.0640°W.

**How do I get to ?**
 has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Route 395 (255 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near ?**
Yes, Big Cove (Plumas National Forest, Ca) is located nearby (7.9 miles away).

## Sources

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