Ward Spring
Ward Spring flows at 70 degrees in Tulare County's southern Sierra Nevada foothills, producing water only 9.9 degrees above ambient temperature in oak woodland habitat near Cow Mountain Road.
The spring emerges at 2,006 feet elevation where oak and chaparral create the landscape mosaic between valley and mountain environments. A quick roadside stop reveals a modest thermal feature in chaparral scrubland where the thermal water supports riparian vegetation.
The spring is accessible from the roadside at Cow Mountain Road. The modest 70-degree temperature and low mineral content make this a quiet destination for those exploring Sierra Nevada thermal features. Late spring and fall offer the most pleasant visiting conditions in this variable mountain climate.
The spring sits in terrain where groundwater heating occurs through circulation in fault systems common throughout the Sierra Nevada. Historical use by local communities established its modest place in the region's thermal spring inventory, though minimal development preserves its natural character.
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