Fort Bidwell Hot Spring

Lake County, California · Near Lakeview
41.8600°N, 120.1580°W · 4,597 ft
113°F 41°F air · Good soaking weather 4,597 ft Unknown Roadside DESG Camping nearby (7.5 mi)

Tribal land. Fort Bidwell Hot Spring lies on the Fort Bidwell Reservation, and public access is unknown. The water is hot, above the comfortable soaking range. It sits a few steps from a road. Because this is reservation land, the tribe's rules govern any visit, and we have none of them written down. The nearest town listed for this spring is wrong, so trust the map instead.

Location

High ground with real winters, snow piling up to about seven feet over a season. Precipitation is moderate. The spring is roadside on the Fort Bidwell Reservation, and the land is held by the tribe. Lassen Creek Campground, seven or eight miles out, is the camping on file, the only camping our data has for this spring.

Ask the Fort Bidwell community first. This is tribal ground and no one has recorded who may visit. Winter is the named season, though seven feet of snow argues with that. Water runs well over 110, so check it with a hand before you trust it. Camp at Lassen Creek if you stay.

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 Fort Bidwell Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Fort Bidwell Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Fort Bidwell Hot Spring
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 northwest.
Highest ground nearby
121 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
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
109 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 59% 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
30°
Jan
31°
Feb
36°
Mar
43°
Apr
53°
May
63°
Jun
73°
Jul
72°
Aug
64°
Sep
51°
Oct
38°
Nov
29°
Dec
Annual Precip: 22.0 in Annual Snow: 82.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 29°F · Water 113°F · +84° contrast
January Air 30°F · Water 113°F · +83° contrast
February Air 31°F · Water 113°F · +82° contrast
December offers 44°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
41°F
N 0.0 mph 61% Good soaking weather
Today 78° Low 44° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Wednesday 72° Low 43° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 16% precip
Spring is +41° warmer
Thursday 73° Low 43° Chance Rain Showers 25% precip
Spring is +40° warmer
Friday 79° Low 45° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +34° warmer
Saturday 81° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +32° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Lassen Creek Campground 7.5 mi away

Lassen is a lovely little campground near the obsidian mines.  It is currently under discussion for decommissioning.This is open area camping as there are no designated camp-sites.  FRock fire rings are located throughout the area.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
113°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 113°F (45°C)
Avg Air Temp 49°F
Above Ambient +64°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Unknown
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 31 ft
Land
Ownership DESG
Agency DESG
Designation Tribal Land
Unit Fort Bidwell Reservation
Manager TRIB
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Fort Bidwell Hot Spring?
Fort Bidwell Hot Spring has a water temperature of 113°F (45°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Fort Bidwell Hot Spring located?
Fort Bidwell Hot Spring is located in Lake County, California at 4,597 feet elevation, near Lakeview. Coordinates: 41.8600°N, 120.1580°W.
How do I get to Fort Bidwell Hot Spring?
Fort Bidwell Hot Spring has Roadside road access (31 ft from the road).
Is Fort Bidwell Hot Spring free to visit?
Fort Bidwell Hot Spring has Unknown access. It is managed by DESG.
Can I camp near Fort Bidwell Hot Spring?
Yes, Lassen Creek Campground is located nearby (7.5 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Fort Bidwell Hot Spring?
With care. At 113°F Fort Bidwell Hot Spring 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.