Kellog Hot Springs

Modoc County, California · Near Alturas
41.1260°N, 121.0280°W · 4,181 ft
172°F 4,181 ft Short Walk
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 172°F, the source water at Kellog Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Aerial view of the ground around Kellog Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Kellog 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.

Kellog Hot Springs is in Modoc County thirty-five miles from Alturas, off Susanville Road, and the water is far too hot to touch. No landowner is on file, and access status is missing as well. That is about everything the record holds, beyond climate figures and a temperature that rules out any soaking at the source.

Location

Five hundred feet or so from Susanville Road, a short walk. The elevation is a touch under forty-two hundred feet. Close to four feet of snow comes each winter, within a yearly precipitation total near twenty inches. No campground is listed anywhere near it, and thirty-five miles is a long way from the nearest town on file.

The calendar on file says winter. Keep clear of the water, which scalds. Owner unknown, access unknown, so you could be on private land without knowing it. Nothing on file about fees or chemistry. No photograph either.

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 Kellog Hot Springs.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
29 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
79 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 15% 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
33°
Jan
35°
Feb
40°
Mar
47°
Apr
55°
May
66°
Jun
75°
Jul
73°
Aug
65°
Sep
52°
Oct
40°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 19.5 in Annual Snow: 45.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 32°F · Water 172°F · +140° contrast
January Air 33°F · Water 172°F · +139° contrast
February Air 35°F · Water 172°F · +137° contrast
December offers 43°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
SSE 32.4 mph
Today 75° Low 40° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +97° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 39° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 15% precip
Spring is +102° warmer
Thursday 69° Low 40° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +103° warmer
Friday 78° Low 43° Sunny
Spring is +94° warmer
Saturday 80° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +92° warmer
Temperature
172°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 172°F (78°C)
Avg Air Temp 51°F
Above Ambient +121°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Susanville Road
Distance to Road 521 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Kellog Hot Springs?
Kellog Hot Springs has a water temperature of 172°F (78°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Kellog Hot Springs located?
Kellog Hot Springs is located in Modoc County, California at 4,181 feet elevation, near Alturas. Coordinates: 41.1260°N, 121.0280°W.
How do I get to Kellog Hot Springs?
Kellog Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Susanville Road (521 ft from the road).
Is it safe to soak at Kellog Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Kellog Hot Springs reaches 172°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.