Harbin Springs

Lake County, California · Near Middletown
38.7850°N, 122.6550°W · 1,766 ft
120°F 63°F air · Good soaking weather 1,766 ft Roadside Camping nearby (19.1 mi)

Harbin Springs is the source behind Harbin Hot Springs, a hot springs center and workshop venue run by Heart Consciousness Church, a non-profit, in Lake County about three miles from Middletown. The water comes out hot, past comfortable soaking temperature at the source. The center burned in part in the 2015 Valley Fire. Public access to the spring itself is not on record.

Location

The spring is some 250 feet off a road the record leaves unnamed, at modest elevation in Lake County hill country with wet winters, around thirty-two inches a year, and hardly any snow. Warm Springs Rec Area, the closest camp on the list, is about nineteen miles away.

Midwinter is the listed season. The source runs hot; the center's pools are where people soak, and their hours and fees are not on file here. Check the center directly, including what has reopened since the fire. Public access to the source is unrecorded.

History of Harbin Springs

Named for Matthew Harbin, a pioneer who settled in Lake County. Earlier names on record include Harbin Hot Springs and Harbin's Springs. The facility, operated by Heart Consciousness Church, sits about two hours north of the San Francisco Bay Area and suffered partial destruction in the Valley Fire in September 2015.

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 Harbin Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Harbin Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Harbin 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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the west.
Highest ground nearby
340 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
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
178 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 98% 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
47°
Jan
48°
Feb
50°
Mar
56°
Apr
62°
May
71°
Jun
76°
Jul
76°
Aug
71°
Sep
64°
Oct
53°
Nov
47°
Dec
Annual Precip: 32.2 in Annual Snow: 2.6 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 47°F · Water 120°F · +73° contrast
December Air 47°F · Water 120°F · +73° contrast
February Air 48°F · Water 120°F · +72° contrast
January offers 29°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
63°F
SW 3.6 mph 51% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 87° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +33° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +41° warmer
Thursday 82° Low 49° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +38° warmer
Friday 89° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Saturday 89° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Warm Springs Rec Area 19.1 mi away

Overview Warm Springs Recreation Area is a day-use park located at Lake Sonoma, which is just a 45 minute drive north of Santa Rosa and a 2 hour trip from San Francisco. There is no overnight camping available at this facility World famous vineyards and a land rich in history surround the lake, where visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring the area's extensive trail network.Recreation The Woodland Ridge Nature Trail begins at the park and winds up the ridge, rewarding hikers with great...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
120°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 120°F (49°C)
Avg Air Temp 60°F
Above Ambient +60°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 248 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Harbin Springs?
Harbin Springs has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Harbin Springs located?
Harbin Springs is located in Lake County, California at 1,766 feet elevation, near Middletown. Coordinates: 38.7850°N, 122.6550°W.
How do I get to Harbin Springs?
Harbin Springs has Roadside road access (248 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Harbin Springs?
Yes, Warm Springs Rec Area is located nearby (19.1 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Harbin Springs?
With care. At 120°F Harbin 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