Muir Springs

Mendocino County, California · Near Willits
39.4290°N, 123.3080°W · 1,440 ft
68°F 1,440 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (14.9 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Muir Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Muir 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.

Muir Springs is a barely warm spring outside Willits in Mendocino County, a few minutes from town by the numbers on file. The water temperature is in the high sixties, cooler than skin, so soaking is out. Neither an owner nor a land unit is recorded, and access status is blank too. It is on the list as a thermal point and little more.

Location

Canyon Road passes within a couple hundred yards. The spring sits in low coastal-range hills around fourteen hundred feet, in a climate that is wet by California standards, over forty inches of rain plus some snow most winters.

Best months land on December through February, which is also when most of the rain falls here. Pomo Day Use Area is the closest camping listed, around fifteen miles out. Worth finding out who owns the ground. The water runs too cool for soaking anyway.

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 Muir Springs.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
125 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
139 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 88% 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
46°
Jan
46°
Feb
48°
Mar
53°
Apr
58°
May
66°
Jun
72°
Jul
72°
Aug
68°
Sep
60°
Oct
51°
Nov
45°
Dec
Annual Precip: 43.0 in Annual Snow: 14.5 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 45°F · Water 68°F · +23° contrast
January Air 46°F · Water 68°F · +22° contrast
February Air 46°F · Water 68°F · +22° contrast
December offers 27°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
N 0.0 mph
Today 83° Low 44° Sunny
Wednesday 75° Low 46° Patchy Fog then Sunny 4% precip
Thursday 80° Low 48° Areas Of Fog then Sunny
Friday 84° Low 49° Patchy Fog then Sunny
Saturday 83° Low 49° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Pomo Day Use Area 14.9 mi away

Overview Pomo Day-Use Area is situated on Lake Mendocino in California's Mendocino Range, where the redwood forests meet California wine country. The lake is formed by the Coyote Dam on the Russian River. A wide variety of recreational opportunities are available, including boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.Recreation The 1,822-acre lake provides abundant boating, swimming and water skiing opportunities. There is a designated swim beach in the Pomo Recreat...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
68°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 68°F (20°C)
Avg Air Temp 57°F
Above Ambient +11°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Canyon Road
Distance to Road 514 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Muir Springs?
Muir Springs has a water temperature of 68°F (20°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Muir Springs located?
Muir Springs is located in Mendocino County, California at 1,440 feet elevation, near Willits. Coordinates: 39.4290°N, 123.3080°W.
How do I get to Muir Springs?
Muir Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Canyon Road (514 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Muir Springs?
Yes, Pomo Day Use Area is located nearby (14.9 miles away).