Calistoga Hot Springs

Napa County, California · Near Calistoga
38.5800°N, 122.5750°W · 353 ft
172°F 48°F air · Good soaking weather 353 ft Roadside Camping nearby (18.5 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 172°F, the source water at Calistoga Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Calistoga Hot Springs is the geothermal spring system in the town of Calistoga, Napa County, and the basis of a commercial resort; the town's map pin sits under half a mile away. Scalding at the source. Whether the public can get to the source itself is not on file; what is on file is a resort built over it.

Location

Roadside in every sense, about twenty feet from the closest road, in the Napa Valley at around three hundred fifty feet. Winters are wet and snow-free, and the yearly average is mild. No land unit or public agency is attached; this is town ground and resort ground, and the nearest campground the record can find is eighteen miles away.

The season listed is midwinter. The nearest campground on file is Oak Shores Day Use Area, eighteen miles out. The resort controls the hot water, so expect to pay a resort rate; no fee figure is recorded here. Source temperature is scalding. Do not go looking for an open pool outside the resort on the strength of this page.

History of Calistoga Hot Springs

Wikipedia names the resort Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, formerly Calistoga Hot Sulfur Springs, and says it has run continuously as a hot spring resort since the early 1900s.

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 Calistoga Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Calistoga Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Calistoga Hot Springs
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.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the north.
Highest ground nearby
77 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
191 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 3 times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 99% 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
50°
Jan
52°
Feb
54°
Mar
59°
Apr
64°
May
72°
Jun
74°
Jul
74°
Aug
72°
Sep
66°
Oct
56°
Nov
50°
Dec
Annual Precip: 26.9 in Annual Snow: 0.2 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 50°F · Water 172°F · +123° contrast
January Air 50°F · Water 172°F · +122° contrast
February Air 52°F · Water 172°F · +120° contrast
December offers 25°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
48°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 93% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 86° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +86° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 51° Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Spring is +94° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 50° Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny
Spring is +91° warmer
Friday 86° Low 52° Areas Of Fog then Sunny
Spring is +86° warmer
Saturday 85° Low 53° Sunny
Spring is +87° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Oak Shores Day Use Area (Ca) 18.5 mi away

Overview Nestled between Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs east of Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa provides ample public recreation opportunities. Popular activities on and around the large, yet uncrowded lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, biking and picnicking. The Dufer Point Visitor Center offers year-round interpretive events and exhibits highlighting natural and cultural resources. Lake Berrye...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
172°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 172°F (78°C)
Avg Air Temp 62°F
Above Ambient +110°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 21 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Calistoga Hot Springs?
Calistoga Hot Springs has a water temperature of 172°F (78°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Calistoga Hot Springs located?
Calistoga Hot Springs is located in Napa County, California at 353 feet elevation, near Calistoga. Coordinates: 38.5800°N, 122.5750°W.
How do I get to Calistoga Hot Springs?
Calistoga Hot Springs has Roadside road access (21 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Calistoga Hot Springs?
Yes, Oak Shores Day Use Area (Ca) is located nearby (18.5 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Calistoga Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Calistoga Hot Springs reaches 172°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.
Sources: Wikipedia