Warm Spring
Warm Spring emerges at 75°F on the high plateau of northeastern California, rising 24.1 degrees above the 50.9°F annual average. This modest thermal resource appears in remote sagebrush terrain far from population centers or developed infrastructure.
The spring sits at 4,404 feet elevation in the Basin and Range province, where juniper woodlands and sagebrush steppe dominate the landscape. A half-mile walk from County Road 151 takes you through typical high desert terrain where vistas open across broad valleys hemmed by fault-block mountains.
Access is straightforward via a short walk from County Road 151 in the Modoc National Forest vicinity. Patterson Guard Station, 28.4 km distant, provides the nearest developed recreation amenity for those combining spring exploration with backcountry camping or hiking.
This spring represents another manifestation of the Basin and Range's deep geothermal system, where regional faulting allows groundwater to circulate to depths where crustal heat warms the water. The Modoc plateau's volcanic history and ongoing extension create the thermal conditions.
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Overview *Altitude is 7,080 feet above sea level* Set on the edge of a meadow surrounded by Aspen, Fir and Pine trees, Patterson Guard Station has stood since 1921. It served the Modoc National Forest as a fully staffed fire office and guard station until 1981. Just a few footsteps from the Summit Trail and one-quarter mile from the wilderness boundary, Patterson Guard Station can be your basecamp for trips into the South Warner Wilderness or the perfect place to disconnect and relax. The...
Warm Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear.
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