Highland Springs

Lake County, California · Near Kelseyville
38.9360°N, 122.9070°W · 1,485 ft
84°F 63°F air · Good soaking weather 1,485 ft Open Roadside CNTY Camping nearby (15.8 mi)

Highland Springs sits inside Highland Springs Recreation Area, a Lake County park about five miles from Kelseyville, and the water is warm, nothing like hot. The county owns it and access is open. The recreation area is the land unit on file, flagged as a local recreation site.

Location

Well under a tenth-mile from a nameless road inside the county recreation area, at modest elevation. Rain runs near thirty inches a year; snow is a rarity, a few inches. The listed campground is Warm Springs Rec Area, sixteen miles or so.

Open county land, winter months listed as best. Check the recreation area's hours. The record shows no fee for the spring. The temperature sits below what most people call a hot soak, so think of it as warm water to wade in, if wading is allowed. Chemistry is not on file, and neither is a sample date for the temperature.

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 Highland Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Highland Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Highland 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
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
142 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
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
116 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 68% 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
55°
Apr
61°
May
70°
Jun
75°
Jul
75°
Aug
71°
Sep
63°
Oct
52°
Nov
46°
Dec
Annual Precip: 29.0 in Annual Snow: 3.1 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 46°F · Water 84°F · +38° contrast
January Air 47°F · Water 84°F · +37° contrast
February Air 48°F · Water 84°F · +36° contrast
December offers 29°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
63°F
SW 3.6 mph 51% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 85° Low 59° Sunny
Wednesday 77° Low 55° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Thursday 79° Low 55° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Friday 85° Low 59° Sunny
Saturday 86° Low 61° Sunny
Where to Stay

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Camping
Warm Springs Rec Area 15.8 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
84°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 84°F (29°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +25°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 238 ft
Land
Ownership Local
Agency CNTY
Designation LREC
Unit Highland Springs Recreation Area
Manager CNTY
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Highland Springs?
Highland Springs has a water temperature of 84°F (29°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Highland Springs located?
Highland Springs is located in Lake County, California at 1,485 feet elevation, near Kelseyville. Coordinates: 38.9360°N, 122.9070°W.
How do I get to Highland Springs?
Highland Springs has Roadside road access (238 ft from the road).
Is Highland Springs free to visit?
Highland Springs has Open access. It is managed by CNTY.
Can I camp near Highland Springs?
Yes, Warm Springs Rec Area is located nearby (15.8 miles away).