Murrietta Hot Springs

Riverside County, California · Near Murrieta Hot Springs
33.5580°N, 117.1540°W · 1,180 ft
132°F 63°F air · Good soaking weather 1,180 ft Roadside Camping nearby (10.9 mi)

Murrieta Hot Springs, spelled Murrietta in this record, is a hot spring inside the town of the same name in Riverside County. The source temperature is well above what skin tolerates, in the 130s, so any soaking depends on cooling. Who owns it, and who may enter, the record leaves blank. Camino Princesa runs right past.

Location

Roadside in every sense, under thirty feet from Camino Princesa, on low ground at about twelve hundred feet. The climate is mild and dry, with no snow and around a foot of rain most years. No land unit shows on the record.

The record picks December through February. Hot enough to burn at the source; do not get in there. The chemistry on file is from the 1960s, alkaline and moderately mineralized, and may not describe the spring today. Wildomar campground is about eleven miles away. Access status is unrecorded.

History of Murrietta Hot Springs

The USGS inventories the spring as site 333333117092201, and the water chemistry on file comes from a sample taken there in December 1964.

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 Murrietta Hot Springs.

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

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
109 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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
53°
Jan
54°
Feb
58°
Mar
62°
Apr
64°
May
71°
Jun
76°
Jul
78°
Aug
75°
Sep
68°
Oct
59°
Nov
53°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.4 in Annual Snow: 0.1 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 53°F · Water 132°F · +79° contrast
December Air 53°F · Water 132°F · +79° contrast
February Air 54°F · Water 132°F · +78° contrast
January offers 25°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
63°F
Cloudy WSW 12.1 mph 91% Good soaking weather
Today 83° Low 59° Patchy Fog then Sunny
Spring is +49° warmer
Wednesday 82° Low 57° Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +50° warmer
Thursday 83° Low 58° Sunny
Spring is +49° warmer
Friday 86° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +46° warmer
Saturday 87° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +45° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1964-12-02

The water at Murrietta Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.1) with 700 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).

pH 9.1 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 8 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 243 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 17 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 342 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Wildomar Campground 10.9 mi away

11 sites available. Wildomar Campground is currently closed due to the Wildomar Fire until further notice.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
132°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 132°F (56°C)
Avg Air Temp 64°F
Above Ambient +68°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Camino Princesa
Distance to Road 27 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Murrietta Hot Springs?
Murrietta Hot Springs has a water temperature of 132°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Murrietta Hot Springs located?
Murrietta Hot Springs is located in Riverside County, California at 1,180 feet elevation, near Murrieta Hot Springs. Coordinates: 33.5580°N, 117.1540°W.
How do I get to Murrietta Hot Springs?
Murrietta Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Camino Princesa (27 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Murrietta Hot Springs?
Yes, Wildomar Campground is located nearby (10.9 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Murrietta Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.1 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 700 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Murrietta Hot Springs?
With care. At 132°F Murrietta Hot Springs 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: USGS NWIS