# Willett Hot Springs, California

Willett Hot Springs in California. 108°F (42°C). Hike · Public Land. Ventura County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/willett-hot-springs-1
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Willett Hot Springs?

The water leaves the ground at 108°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. Reaching it takes a hike. It's on US Forest Service land. 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 | 4,143 ft |
| Access | Hike · Public Land, 3.9 mi from the nearest road (Mutau OHV Road) |
| Land | Los Padres National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Ventura County |
| Nearest town | Fillmore |
| Coordinates | 34.58200, -119.04400 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MIDDLE LION CAMPGROUND, 7.3 mi |

## About Willett Hot Springs

Willett Hot Springs is a hot spring in the Sespe Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest, north of Ojai in Ventura County, with a man-made collection basin to hold the water. The temperature on file is 108, a proper soak. Reaching it is the work: the nearest road is nearly four miles away and the usual route is an eleven-mile hike from the Piedra Blanca trailhead. Forest Service land, open.

Mutau OHV Road, the nearest road on record, is a little under four miles off; this one is filed as a hike. The spring sits at around 4,100 feet in designated wilderness, where the climate is drier than you might guess, fourteen inches of rain and a foot of snow in an average year. Middle Lion Campground is about seven miles away.

Wikipedia places the spring in the Sespe Wilderness and notes the collection basin that someone built to gather the flow. The popular approach it describes is about 11 miles on foot starting at Piedra Blanca.

December through February are the listed months, cool enough for a long approach and a hot soak. Wilderness rules apply in the Sespe. Camp at Middle Lion or carry gear for the trail. No fee shows up on file, and the water is near the top of comfortable soaking range. This record has a photo.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Fillmore](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/fillmore), 3 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Willett Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/willett-hot-springs-2): Hike, near Fillmore, Ventura County
- [Sespe Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/sespe-hot-springs-1): 194°F source, Hike, near Fillmore, Ventura County
- [Sespe Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/sespe-hot-springs-2): Short Walk, near Fillmore, Ventura County
- [Wheeler Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/wheeler-springs): 102°F source, Roadside, near Meiners Oaks, Ventura County
- [Matilija Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/matilija-hot-springs-2): Roadside, near Meiners Oaks, Ventura County
- [Matilija Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/matilija-hot-springs-1): 109°F source, Roadside, near Meiners Oaks, Ventura County

## Questions

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

**Where is Willett Hot Springs located?**
Willett Hot Springs is located in Ventura County, California at 4,143 feet elevation, near Fillmore. Coordinates: 34.5820°N, 119.0440°W.

**How do I get to Willett Hot Springs?**
Willett Hot Springs has Hike road access, with the nearest road being Mutau OHV Road (3.9 mi from the road).

**Is Willett Hot Springs free to visit?**
Willett Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Willett Hot Springs?**
Yes, Middle Lion Campground is located nearby (7.3 miles away).

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willett_Hot_Springs