# Thorn Spring, West Virginia

Thorn Spring in West Virginia. 72°F (22°C). Roadside · Public Land. Pendleton County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/west-virginia/thorn-spring
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Thorn Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 72°F, about as warm as a heated pool. 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 | 72°F (22°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Total dissolved solids | 118 mg/L |
| Elevation | 1,800 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 48 ft from the nearest road |
| Land | Thorn Spring Park, UNK |
| County | Pendleton County |
| Nearest town | Franklin |
| Coordinates | 38.60500, -79.35300 |
| Best months to soak | January, February, December (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | SPRUCE KNOB LAKE, 12.8 mi |

## About Thorn Spring

A tepid spring in a small park outside Franklin, in Pendleton County, West Virginia. Thorn Spring Park belongs to a nonprofit and is listed as open to the public, which makes this one of the easier thermal points in the state to stand beside. The water is room temperature. Think of it as a roadside curiosity a few minutes from town.

The spring sits about fifty feet off the road at 1,800 feet, in hills where winters bring two and a half feet of snow and the rest of the year stays damp. You park and you are there. The record tags the ground as a local park.

Open year round as far as the record shows, and winter is when the climate numbers line up best. Camping means a drive: Spruce Knob Lake is the nearest listed, nearly thirteen miles out. The water chemistry on file comes from a sample taken in 1935, long enough ago that the mineral figures are historical. No heat to speak of, so no safety concerns there.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1935-05-18 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Total dissolved solids | 118 mg/L |
| Calcium | 38 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 3.6 mg/L |
| Sodium | 1 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 5.8 mg/L |
| Chloride | 0.6 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Marlinton](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/west-virginia/marlinton), 45 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in West Virginia](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/west-virginia)
- [Bragg Spring, VA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/virginia/bragg-spring): 75°F source, Roadside, near Monterey, Highland County
- [Bolar Spring, VA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/virginia/bolar-spring): 73°F source, Roadside, near Warm Springs, Bath County
- [Warm Springs, VA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/virginia/warm-springs-bath-county): 95°F source, Roadside, near Warm Springs, Bath County
- [Minnehaha Springs, WV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/west-virginia/minnehaha-springs): 70°F source, pH 7.4, TDS 167 mg/L, Roadside, near Marlinton, Pocahontas County
- [Rockbridge Baths, VA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/virginia/rockbridge-baths): 72°F source, Short Walk, near East Lexington, Rockbridge County
- [Hot Springs, VA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/virginia/hot-springs-bath-county): 106°F source, Roadside, near Warm Springs, Bath County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Thorn Spring?**
Thorn Spring has a water temperature of 72°F (22°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Thorn Spring located?**
Thorn Spring is located in Pendleton County, West Virginia at 1,800 feet elevation, near Franklin. Coordinates: 38.6050°N, 79.3530°W.

**How do I get to Thorn Spring?**
Thorn Spring has Roadside road access (48 ft from the road).

**Is Thorn Spring free to visit?**
Thorn Spring has Open access. It is managed by NGO.

**Can I camp near Thorn Spring?**
Yes, Spruce Knob Lake is located nearby (12.8 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Thorn Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. Total dissolved solids measure 118 mg/L.

## Sources

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