Mark West Springs

Sonoma County, California · Near Larkfield-Wikiup
38.5500°N, 122.7200°W · 440 ft
88°F 48°F air · Good soaking weather 440 ft Roadside Camping nearby (18.6 mi)

Mark West Springs in Sonoma County lies about three miles from Larkfield-Wikiup, right beside a road the record leaves unnamed. The water is warm, a few degrees below body heat. There is a photo. Ownership is not filled in and access status is blank too, so the record cannot say if stopping is allowed.

Location

Seventy-odd feet from the road. Low elevation, a few hundred feet, with a fair amount of rain and no snow on record. the record gives no land unit. The closest camping listed is the boat-in sites at Lake Sonoma, about nineteen miles away, which is a long way for a roadside spot.

December through February score highest on file, and without snow there is no seasonal barrier. The water cannot burn; it is on the cool side for a soak. Land status is the thing to sort out first, since nothing here grants public entry. No chemistry is on record.

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 Mark West Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Mark West Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Mark West 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 southwest.
Highest ground nearby
235 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
143 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 91% 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
49°
Jan
51°
Feb
52°
Mar
58°
Apr
62°
May
70°
Jun
71°
Jul
71°
Aug
70°
Sep
64°
Oct
55°
Nov
49°
Dec
Annual Precip: 29.3 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 49°F · Water 88°F · +39° contrast
December Air 49°F · Water 88°F · +39° contrast
February Air 51°F · Water 88°F · +37° contrast
January offers 22°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
48°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 93% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 82° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +6° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 50° Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Spring is +13° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 50° Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Spring is +10° warmer
Friday 81° Low 52° Areas Of Fog then Sunny
Spring is +7° warmer
Saturday 80° Low 52° Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Spring is +8° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Boat In Sites (Lake Sonoma) 18.6 mi away

Overview Lake Sonoma's Boat-In Sites are scattered around beautiful Lake Sonoma, only a 45-minute drive north of Santa Rosa and a two-hour drive from San Francisco. BOAT-IN CAMPGROUNDS ARE ACCESSIBLE BY WATER OR HIKING ONLY, THERE IS NO VEHICLE ACCESS TO ANY BOAT-IN CAMPGROUNDWorld 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 lake provides great boating and swimming opportun...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
88°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 88°F (31°C)
Avg Air Temp 60°F
Above Ambient +28°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 76 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Mark West Springs?
Mark West Springs has a water temperature of 88°F (31°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Mark West Springs located?
Mark West Springs is located in Sonoma County, California at 440 feet elevation, near Larkfield-Wikiup. Coordinates: 38.5500°N, 122.7200°W.
How do I get to Mark West Springs?
Mark West Springs has Roadside road access (76 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Mark West Springs?
Yes, Boat In Sites (Lake Sonoma) is located nearby (18.6 miles away).