Fouts Springs

Lake County, California · Near Lucerne
39.3480°N, 122.6680°W
79°F Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (0.9 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Fouts Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Fouts 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.

Open to the public and a short walk off Champagne Road, Fouts Springs is a warm spring in Mendocino National Forest. Lucerne is the closest town on record, about twenty miles out. The water is warm, a good deal short of a hot soak. Mill Creek campground is under a mile off, so staying the night is simple.

Location
14 miles from Clearlake Oaks, CA

National forest land; our data does not list an elevation. The spring is about a tenth of a mile from Champagne Road. Rain is decent, with a bit over a foot of snow in winter. Mill Creek campground in Mendocino National Forest is the nearest, on the same Forest Service ground.

The listed season is winter, and a bit of snow falls then. Access is open, Forest Service land, a very short walk. Camp at Mill Creek. No fee is recorded. The temperature on record is warm, well under bath heat, so do not drive out expecting a hot soak.

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 Fouts Springs.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
209 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

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

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

Heat Below
166 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 96% 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
46°
Jan
47°
Feb
50°
Mar
57°
Apr
64°
May
75°
Jun
81°
Jul
80°
Aug
74°
Sep
63°
Oct
52°
Nov
45°
Dec
Annual Precip: 26.5 in Annual Snow: 13.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 45°F · Water 79°F · +34° contrast
January Air 46°F · Water 79°F · +33° contrast
February Air 47°F · Water 79°F · +32° contrast
December offers 36°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
W 0.0 mph
Tuesday 82° Low 62° Sunny then Haze
Wednesday 73° Low 57° Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain 16% precip
Spring is +6° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +4° warmer
Friday 83° Low 59° Sunny
Saturday 84° Low 63° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Mill Creek Mendocino National Forest 0.9 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 are...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
79°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 79°F (26°C)
Avg Air Temp 61°F
Above Ambient +18°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Champagne Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Mendocino National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Fouts Springs?
Fouts Springs has a water temperature of 79°F (26°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Fouts Springs located?
Fouts Springs is located in Lake County, California, near Lucerne. Coordinates: 39.3480°N, 122.6680°W.
How do I get to Fouts Springs?
Fouts Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Champagne Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Fouts Springs free to visit?
Fouts Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Fouts Springs?
Yes, Mill Creek Mendocino National Forest is located nearby (0.9 miles away).