Elgin Mine

Lake County, California · Near Clearlake
39.0570°N, 122.4750°W
156°F 65°F air · Good soaking weather Short Walk Camping nearby (16.8 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 156°F, the source water at Elgin Mine 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.

Elgin Mine is a thermal site carrying the name of a mine in Lake County, eleven miles or so from Clearlake. Scalding water. Nothing on file names a landholder, and public entry is equally unrecorded. No elevation or chemistry is attached.

Location
10 miles from Clearlake Oaks, CA

Reaching the point means roughly five hundred feet on foot from an unnamed road. This is Clear Lake hill country with moderate rain, close to two feet a year, and light snow in a normal winter. Little Stony is the nearest listed campground, around seventeen miles away.

Water there is well past the point where touching it is safe. Should you locate it, look and nothing more. Winter is what shows up as the best stretch. No owner is named, and nobody has said if the public may enter, so check with the county or a local land office before assuming anything. Fees and chemistry are equally unrecorded.

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 Elgin Mine.

Aerial view of the ground around Elgin Mine LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Elgin Mine
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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
195 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
148 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 93% 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
44°
Jan
46°
Feb
48°
Mar
55°
Apr
62°
May
72°
Jun
78°
Jul
77°
Aug
71°
Sep
62°
Oct
50°
Nov
44°
Dec
Annual Precip: 21.9 in Annual Snow: 4.8 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 44°F · Water 156°F · +112° contrast
December Air 44°F · Water 156°F · +112° contrast
February Air 46°F · Water 156°F · +110° contrast
January offers 33°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
65°F
W 10.8 mph 36% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 82° Low 64° Sunny
Spring is +74° warmer
Wednesday 74° Low 58° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +82° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +82° warmer
Friday 83° Low 62° Sunny
Spring is +73° warmer
Saturday 83° Low 65° Sunny
Spring is +73° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Little Stony 16.8 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
156°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 156°F (69°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +97°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Elgin Mine?
Elgin Mine has a water temperature of 156°F (69°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Elgin Mine located?
Elgin Mine is located in Lake County, California, near Clearlake. Coordinates: 39.0570°N, 122.4750°W.
How do I get to Elgin Mine?
Elgin Mine has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Elgin Mine?
Yes, Little Stony is located nearby (16.8 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Elgin Mine?
No, not at the source. The water at Elgin Mine reaches 156°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.