Hunt Hot Spring

Siskiyou County, California · Near McCloud
41.0360°N, 121.9260°W · 1,712 ft
136°F 60°F air · Good soaking weather 1,712 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (14.0 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Hunt Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Hunt Hot Spring
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.

Hunt Hot Spring in Siskiyou County, nineteen miles or so from McCloud, is hot, hotter than a bath anyone would choose, in a wet corner of the state. It is at low elevation for the region. Ownership of the land is unrecorded, and public access was never assessed. The road is close.

Location
29 miles from Mount Shasta, CA

A bit over a hundred yards separates it from the closest road, unnamed on file. Elevation is only seventeen hundred feet, yet the climate is wet by California standards, fifty-odd inches of precipitation yearly and nearly seven feet of snow. Camp 4 Group Campground, fourteen miles away, is what the record shows for camping.

The file rates winter highest for a visit, which is also the wettest and snowiest stretch. The water will burn with sustained contact. Let it cool or mix before any thought of soaking. Ownership is unknown, so assume nothing about permission. No fee is listed. Chemistry and photo are missing too.

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 Hunt Hot Spring.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
219 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
114 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 65% 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
42°
Jan
44°
Feb
47°
Mar
54°
Apr
63°
May
73°
Jun
81°
Jul
80°
Aug
72°
Sep
60°
Oct
49°
Nov
41°
Dec
Annual Precip: 56.2 in Annual Snow: 81.4 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 41°F · Water 136°F · +95° contrast
January Air 42°F · Water 136°F · +94° contrast
February Air 44°F · Water 136°F · +92° contrast
December offers 40°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
60°F
NNW 3.6 mph Good soaking weather
Tuesday 84° Low 49° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +52° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 49° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 20% precip
Spring is +56° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 47° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +58° warmer
Friday 88° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +48° warmer
Saturday 91° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +45° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Camp 4 Group Campground 14.0 mi away

Overview This group site is nestled in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest on the Upper McCloud River, popular for its three stunning waterfalls.Camp 4 is typically open from mid-spring through mid-fall, offering primitive accommodations near a variety of recreational activities and magnificent scenery.Note: This is not Camp 4 in Yosemite National Park. Learn more about the Camp 4 daily lottery in Yosemite National Park. Recreation During the late spring, summer and early fall, the McCloud Riv...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
136°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 136°F (58°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +77°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 340 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hunt Hot Spring?
Hunt Hot Spring has a water temperature of 136°F (58°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Hunt Hot Spring located?
Hunt Hot Spring is located in Siskiyou County, California at 1,712 feet elevation, near McCloud. Coordinates: 41.0360°N, 121.9260°W.
How do I get to Hunt Hot Spring?
Hunt Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (340 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Hunt Hot Spring?
Yes, Camp 4 Group Campground is located nearby (14.0 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Hunt Hot Spring?
With care. At 136°F Hunt Hot Spring 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.