Gilman Hot Springs

Riverside County, California · Near San Jacinto
33.8350°N, 116.9880°W · 1,508 ft
117°F 97°F air 1,508 ft Roadside Camping nearby (13.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Gilman Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Gilman 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.

About half a dozen hot springs make up Gilman Hot Springs, near San Jacinto in Riverside County, two or three miles from town and a short way in from Gilman Springs Road. Hot water, past the comfortable range. The system has gone by San Jacinto Hot Springs and Relief Springs as well. Neither ownership nor public access is recorded, so whether you can use it is an open question.

Location

Inland Empire valley floor at about 1,500 feet. Dry and warm. Winter rain and almost no snow. The springs rise from granitic alluvium that made a marsh, per Wikipedia, near Potrero Creek and the San Jacinto River. The road is close. Boulder Basin campground is thirteen miles out. No owner and no land designation appear in the record.

Go between December and February, says the record. The stop is roadside. Camping means Boulder Basin, thirteen miles. Burn risk is real above 110, so check before touching. Both the owner and the access status are missing from the record. Find out before you go.

History of Gilman Hot Springs

Wikipedia lists the names San Jacinto Hot Springs and the Relief Springs for this system and says it was named for the Mexican land grant Rancho San Jacinto Viejo. About half a dozen springs emerge from a granitic alluvium formation near State Route 79.

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 Gilman Hot Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
464 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
93 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 37% 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
52°
Jan
53°
Feb
57°
Mar
62°
Apr
65°
May
74°
Jun
80°
Jul
81°
Aug
78°
Sep
69°
Oct
59°
Nov
51°
Dec
Annual Precip: 14.8 in Annual Snow: 1.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 51°F · Water 117°F · +66° contrast
January Air 52°F · Water 117°F · +65° contrast
February Air 53°F · Water 117°F · +64° contrast
December offers 30°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
97°F
32%
Tuesday 87° Low 59° Patchy Fog then Sunny
Spring is +30° warmer
Wednesday 85° Low 57° Patchy Fog then Sunny
Spring is +32° warmer
Thursday 86° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Friday 90° Low 58° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Saturday 92° Low 60° Sunny
Spring is +25° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Boulder Basin 13.4 mi away

Overview Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. A four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended with a minimum ground clearance of 6 inches. Drive at your own risk. The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input. Please visit the https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf for more information and to submit comments regarding this proposal.Boulder Basin Campground offers solitude and primitive camp...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
117°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 117°F (47°C)
Avg Air Temp 65°F
Above Ambient +52°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Gilman Springs Road
Distance to Road 298 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Gilman Hot Springs?
Gilman Hot Springs has a water temperature of 117°F (47°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Gilman Hot Springs located?
Gilman Hot Springs is located in Riverside County, California at 1,508 feet elevation, near San Jacinto. Coordinates: 33.8350°N, 116.9880°W.
How do I get to Gilman Hot Springs?
Gilman Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Gilman Springs Road (298 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Gilman Hot Springs?
Yes, Boulder Basin is located nearby (13.4 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Gilman Hot Springs?
With care. At 117°F Gilman Hot Springs 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: Wikipedia