Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs

Lake County, California · Near Clearlake
39.0320°N, 122.4320°W · 1,721 ft
112°F 63°F air · Good soaking weather 1,721 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (19.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

The record carries this one under two names, Blank Spring and Manzanita Mine Springs. It is a hot spring on BLM land in Lake County, under the Ukiah Field Office, about twelve miles from Clearlake. The water is hot, a touch above comfortable soaking temperature. Access is open. A USGS sample from 2015 puts the water slightly on the acid side of neutral.

Location
12 miles from Clearlake Oaks, CA

Roadside, a hundred fifty feet off a road nobody has named. Elevation here is a shade over seventeen hundred feet, in country that gets wet winters and only a dusting of snow most years. Public land, no special designation, and the Field Office in Ukiah is the office to call with questions.

Winter gets the nod for best months. Little Stony is the camping option on file, nineteen miles. Water this hot can be uncomfortable to enter and worth testing with a hand first. The chemistry reading is recent as these things go, from a 2015 sample. No charge is recorded.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
282 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
170 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 97% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
47°
Jan
49°
Feb
52°
Mar
58°
Apr
65°
May
75°
Jun
81°
Jul
80°
Aug
74°
Sep
65°
Oct
53°
Nov
47°
Dec
Annual Precip: 21.9 in Annual Snow: 4.8 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 47°F · Water 112°F · +65° contrast
December Air 47°F · Water 112°F · +65° contrast
February Air 49°F · Water 112°F · +63° contrast
January offers 34°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
63°F
SW 3.6 mph 51% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 89° Low 62° Sunny
Spring is +23° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 57° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +32° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Friday 89° Low 60° Sunny
Spring is +23° warmer
Saturday 89° Low 63° Sunny
Spring is +23° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 2015-11-16

The water at Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs is slightly acidic (pH 6.7).

pH 6.7 Slightly Acidic
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Little Stony 19.2 mi away

Overview This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site.Once on-site, you are able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.In order to utilize Scan & Pay on site, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote area...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
112°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 112°F (45°C)
Avg Air Temp 62°F
Above Ambient +50°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 152 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Ukiah Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs?
Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs has a water temperature of 112°F (45°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs located?
Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs is located in Lake County, California at 1,721 feet elevation, near Clearlake. Coordinates: 39.0320°N, 122.4320°W.
How do I get to Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs?
Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs has Roadside road access (152 ft from the road).
Is Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs free to visit?
Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs?
Yes, Little Stony is located nearby (19.2 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH. The pH is 6.7 (slightly acidic).
Is it safe to soak at Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs?
With care. At 112°F Blank Spring, Manzanita Mine Sprs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.
Sources: USGS NWIS