Howard Springs

Lake County, California · Near Cobb
38.8580°N, 122.6710°W · 2,131 ft
113°F 61°F air · Good soaking weather 2,131 ft Roadside Camping nearby (20.1 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Howard Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Howard 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.

Howard Springs lies in Lake County about three miles from Cobb, close to the road, with water at the hot end of soaking range. Nobody is listed as landowner and access status is blank on record. The record holds a temperature, a road distance, a climate profile and a campground. It says nothing about pools or condition.

Location

Under two hundred feet from an unnamed road, so effectively roadside. Low elevation, a little over two thousand feet, in a part of California that sees a wet winter, around thirty inches of rain, and almost no snow. The only campground on record, Warm Springs Rec Area, is twenty miles away, so camping is a separate trip.

Midwinter is the season on record. Linger and this water will burn you, so test it with a hand first. Access is unknown: no owner and no status on record. Cobb is close enough to ask around. The record has no photo and no chemistry. Fee unknown.

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 Howard Springs.

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

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
150 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 94% 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
49°
Mar
55°
Apr
61°
May
71°
Jun
77°
Jul
76°
Aug
71°
Sep
63°
Oct
52°
Nov
45°
Dec
Annual Precip: 30.0 in Annual Snow: 5.1 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 45°F · Water 113°F · +68° contrast
January Air 46°F · Water 113°F · +67° contrast
February Air 47°F · Water 113°F · +66° contrast
December offers 32°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
61°F
NNE 0.0 mph 53% Good soaking weather
Today 86° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 57° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Thursday 80° Low 61° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +33° warmer
Friday 86° Low 65° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Saturday 87° Low 64° Sunny
Spring is +26° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Warm Springs Rec Area 20.1 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
113°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 113°F (45°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +54°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 195 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Howard Springs?
Howard Springs has a water temperature of 113°F (45°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Howard Springs located?
Howard Springs is located in Lake County, California at 2,131 feet elevation, near Cobb. Coordinates: 38.8580°N, 122.6710°W.
How do I get to Howard Springs?
Howard Springs has Roadside road access (195 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Howard Springs?
Yes, Warm Springs Rec Area is located nearby (20.1 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Howard Springs?
With care. At 113°F Howard 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.