Orrs Springs

Mendocino County, California · Near Redwood Valley
39.2270°N, 123.3620°W
104°F 54°F air · Good soaking weather Short Walk Camping nearby (9.6 mi)

Orrs Springs is a group of hot springs in the hills of Mendocino County, reached by Orr Springs Road out of Ukiah. Redwood Valley is the closest town in our records, about nine miles away. The water comes out at a temperature most people would call a good soak. A resort once stood here. The current file does not say who owns the ground or whether visitors are allowed in.

Location

The springs lie a few hundred feet from Orr Springs Road. This is wet country by California standards, with somewhere near three feet of rain annually and a little snow most winters. Wikipedia puts the elevation at about a thousand feet. The surrounding land is not described in our data beyond the county, and the approach is whatever Orr Springs Road happens to be.

The file favors the three winter months, when the rain is heaviest. For camping, the record points to Chekaka Recreation Area on Lake Mendocino, about ten miles off. The file does not record access or ownership, and it says nothing about a fee. A place with a resort in its past may well have a gate. Find out before you go.

History of Orrs Springs

Wikipedia describes Orrs Springs as a set of springs around which a resort and a stagecoach station grew, and notes that the place was once called Orr's Hot Sulphur Springs and, more briefly, Orrs. It sits about fifteen miles almost due north of Boonville, though the usual approach is from Ukiah along Orr Springs Road.

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 Orrs Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Orrs Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Orrs 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 south.
Highest ground nearby
448 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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
115 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 67% 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
45°
Jan
46°
Feb
48°
Mar
52°
Apr
57°
May
64°
Jun
68°
Jul
68°
Aug
65°
Sep
59°
Oct
50°
Nov
44°
Dec
Annual Precip: 36.4 in Annual Snow: 5.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 44°F · Water 104°F · +60° contrast
January Air 45°F · Water 104°F · +59° contrast
February Air 46°F · Water 104°F · +58° contrast
December offers 24°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
54°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 77% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 77° Low 53° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Wednesday 69° Low 53° Mostly Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +35° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +29° warmer
Friday 78° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +26° warmer
Saturday 76° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +28° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino 9.6 mi away

Overview Chekaka Recreation Area is situated on Lake Mendocino in California's Mendocino Range, where redwood forests meet wine country. There is one reservable picnic pad in the Overlook Day-Use Area. Chekaka Campground has been permanently closed. The lake is formed by the Coyote Dam on the Russian River. A wide variety of recreational opportunities is available, including boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. Recreation The 1,822-acre lake provides abundan...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
104°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 104°F (40°C)
Avg Air Temp 56°F
Above Ambient +48°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Orr Springs Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Orrs Springs?
Orrs Springs has a water temperature of 104°F (40°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Orrs Springs located?
Orrs Springs is located in Mendocino County, California, near Redwood Valley. Coordinates: 39.2270°N, 123.3620°W.
How do I get to Orrs Springs?
Orrs Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Orr Springs Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Orrs Springs?
Yes, Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino is located nearby (9.6 miles away).
Sources: Wikipedia