Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs

Also known as: Miracle Hot Springs
Kern County, California · Near Bodfish
35.5750°N, 118.5340°W · 2,414 ft
119°F 56°F air · Good soaking weather 2,414 ft Open Roadside US Forest Service Camping nearby (0.2 mi)

Two names sit on this one, Miracle Hot Springs and Hobo Hot Springs, though OpenStreetMap carries only Miracle. The water comes up right beside Kern Canyon Road in Sequoia National Forest, Bodfish a few miles off. Source temperature is hot, past the range anyone would call comfortable at the outlet. Forest Service ground, and access is open. Sandy Flat campground is practically next door.

Location

Roadside on Kern Canyon Road, the spring is a short step from the car. The land is national forest, the Sequoia, at a bit over two thousand feet in the canyon. Snow does fall in winter, a couple of feet most years, and the rest of the calendar is dry. Sandy Flat sits a couple hundred yards away, so the spring is inside what amounts to a campground neighborhood.

Open to the public on Forest Service land, with camping at Sandy Flat almost on top of the spring. The recommended stretch is December through February. The water comes out above 110 degrees, so find where it has cooled before sitting down. No fee is listed. The name pair, Miracle and Hobo, refers to the same place, so do not look for two springs.

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 Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs.

Aerial view of the ground around Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs
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
651 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from north to south, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
89 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 29% 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
48°
Jan
49°
Feb
54°
Mar
60°
Apr
66°
May
78°
Jun
84°
Jul
83°
Aug
77°
Sep
67°
Oct
55°
Nov
47°
Dec
Annual Precip: 14.2 in Annual Snow: 25.2 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 47°F · Water 119°F · +72° contrast
January Air 48°F · Water 119°F · +71° contrast
February Air 49°F · Water 119°F · +70° contrast
December offers 37°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
56°F
SSE 7.2 mph 47% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 83° Low 60° Sunny
Spring is +36° warmer
Wednesday 81° Low 60° Sunny
Spring is +38° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +41° warmer
Friday 81° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +38° warmer
Saturday 85° Low 61° Sunny
Spring is +34° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Sandy Flat 0.2 mi away

Overview Sandy Flat Campground is set back from the Lower Kern River at an altitude of 2,300 feet near the town of Lake Isabella. Campsites are a short walk from the river, offering countless recreational opportunities for visitors. Recreation Hiking, trout fishing, river wading and floating are popular pursuits. The Hobo Fishing Trail, a short walking trail, is nearby. Click here to learn more about the Lower Kern River, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
119°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 119°F (48°C)
Avg Air Temp 64°F
Above Ambient +55°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Kern Canyon Road
Distance to Road 182 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Sequoia National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs?
Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs has a water temperature of 119°F (48°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs located?
Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs is located in Kern County, California at 2,414 feet elevation, near Bodfish. Coordinates: 35.5750°N, 118.5340°W.
How do I get to Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs?
Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Kern Canyon Road (182 ft from the road).
Is Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs free to visit?
Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs?
Yes, Sandy Flat is located nearby (0.2 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs?
With care. At 119°F Miracle Hot Sprs, Hobo Hot Sprs 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.
Sources: OpenStreetMap