Mill Creek Springs
On the Shasta County side of Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mill Creek Springs puts out water that will scald, about seventeen miles from Shingletown. Access is open on the record. A 1981 USGS sample shows it slightly acidic and low in minerals. It has a photo. Everything here falls under park regulations.
The walk from the nearest road is about seven tenths of a mile; the row leaves the road nameless. Elevation is nearly eight thousand feet. Cold, with an average temperature well below comfortable and a very snowy winter. Land owner is the Park Service. Manzanita Lake Group Campground is about five miles off.
Winter wins the month ranking, which at this snowfall means the record is probably not about access; the park's own season information will be the better guide. Do not touch the water. Manzanita Lake Group Campground is where the record puts camping. No fee recorded. Chemistry dates to 1981.
Part of Lassen Volcanic National Park's thermal ground. The USGS water sample is from June 1981.
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 Mill Creek Springs.
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 north.
- Highest ground nearby
- 345 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the north
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.
That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 38% 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.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
The water at Mill Creek Springs is slightly acidic (pH 6.1) with 88 mg/L total dissolved solids.
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Overview Manzanita Lake Group Campground is located at the west end of Loop B in Manzanita Lake Campground, the largest campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is within walking distance of scenic Manzanita Lake, a popular fishing and family destination, and offers impressive views of Lassen Peak, the largest volcano in the park at 10,457 feet.Recreation Manzanita Lake is popular with fly fishermen who enjoy the catch-and-release policy. Non-motorized boating is also permitted and kay...
Mill Creek Springs sits at 7,884 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 32% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Mill Creek Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot, so bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Springs Near Mill Creek Springs
More Springs Around 150°F
Slightly Acidic Springs (pH ~6.1)
Hike 6 waterfalls near Mill Creek Springs
Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Mill Creek Springs, California.