Pine Cone Spring

Lake County, California · Near Cobb
38.8500°N, 122.6930°W · 2,137 ft
78°F 62°F air · Good soaking weather 2,137 ft Roadside Camping nearby (18.8 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Pine Cone Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Pine Cone Spring
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.

Pine Cone Spring runs warm near Cobb in Lake County, about two miles from town. The water is tepid, on the cool side of warm. It sits close to a road, under two hundred feet, though the road goes unnamed in the record. Nothing on file says who owns the ground, and public access is not recorded either, so the spring's status is unsettled.

Location

Hill country at a couple thousand feet. This part of Lake County gets a proper wet winter, around thirty inches of rain in an average year, with a little snow mixed in. You stop on an unnamed road and you are there. The land unit is missing and so is the access status.

The record favors midwinter, which is also the wet season here. The closest camping on file is Warm Springs Rec Area, nearly nineteen miles away. Since no access status or owner is recorded, ask before you walk in. The water is too cool to need a temperature warning.

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 Pine Cone Spring.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the south.
Highest ground nearby
323 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
147 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 92% 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
47°
Feb
49°
Mar
55°
Apr
61°
May
71°
Jun
77°
Jul
76°
Aug
71°
Sep
63°
Oct
52°
Nov
46°
Dec
Annual Precip: 30.0 in Annual Snow: 5.1 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 46°F · Water 78°F · +32° contrast
December Air 46°F · Water 78°F · +32° contrast
February Air 47°F · Water 78°F · +31° contrast
January offers 31°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
62°F
WSW 10.8 mph 51% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 81° Low 63° Sunny
Wednesday 73° Low 57° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 57° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +3° warmer
Friday 82° Low 61° Sunny
Saturday 82° Low 65° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Warm Springs Rec Area 18.8 mi away

Overview Warm Springs Recreation Area is a day-use park located at Lake Sonoma, which is just a 45 minute drive north of Santa Rosa and a 2 hour trip from San Francisco. There is no overnight camping available at this facility World famous vineyards and a land rich in history surround the lake, where visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring the area's extensive trail network.Recreation The Woodland Ridge Nature Trail begins at the park and winds up the ridge, rewarding hikers with great...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
78°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 78°F (26°C)
Avg Air Temp 60°F
Above Ambient +18°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 198 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Pine Cone Spring?
Pine Cone Spring has a water temperature of 78°F (26°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Pine Cone Spring located?
Pine Cone Spring is located in Lake County, California at 2,137 feet elevation, near Cobb. Coordinates: 38.8500°N, 122.6930°W.
How do I get to Pine Cone Spring?
Pine Cone Spring has Roadside road access (198 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Pine Cone Spring?
Yes, Warm Springs Rec Area is located nearby (18.8 miles away).