Rocky Point Springs

Marin County, California · Near Bolinas
37.8800°N, 122.6270°W · -5 ft
90°F -5 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (4.6 mi)

Rocky Point Springs is a warm seep at sea level in Marin County, about five miles from Bolinas. The temperature logged is a shade under body heat. Who owns the ground and whether you may visit are both unrecorded. Three hundred odd yards separate it from the nearest road, which is not named.

Location

The elevation reads a few feet below sea level, so this is shoreline. Neither road name nor approach is described. Winters are wet and mild. Summers dry. Snow never figures. Haypress Campground, under five miles off, is the camping in the file. No land is on record, so nobody has said who owns the ground.

Midwinter is the time given. Warm water on a cold morning is pleasant enough and that is about the size of it. Nobody logged the access, so check before you go. Haypress, a bit under five miles out, is the only camping anyone has listed. Nothing was charged as far as the record shows, and the road goes unnamed, so bring a map.

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 Rocky Point Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Rocky Point Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Rocky Point 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
307 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
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
51°
Jan
52°
Feb
53°
Mar
55°
Apr
57°
May
61°
Jun
62°
Jul
63°
Aug
63°
Sep
62°
Oct
56°
Nov
51°
Dec
Annual Precip: 24.4 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 51°F · Water 90°F · +39° contrast
December Air 51°F · Water 90°F · +39° contrast
February Air 52°F · Water 90°F · +38° contrast
January offers 12°F more contrast than September
Current Conditions
NW 14.4 mph
Tuesday 60° Low 56° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +30° warmer
Wednesday 59° Low 56° Partly Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +31° warmer
Thursday 62° Low 58° Patchy Fog 1% precip
Spring is +28° warmer
Friday 63° Low 57° Patchy Fog
Spring is +27° warmer
Saturday 62° Low 57° Partly Sunny
Spring is +28° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Haypress Campground 4.6 mi away

Overview Haypress Campground is nestled within the coastal scrub of Tennessee Valley, near Mill Valley. The hike to this campground is 1 mile from the Tennessee Valley Trail head parking lot, which means car or RV camping is not allowed. Typical Haypress campers enjoy hiking to Tennessee Cove, where they can admire the dramatic geology and colorful sand of this unique beach.  Recreation Tennessee Valley and the Marin Headlands are noted for great hiking, and trails are often populated with hi...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
90°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 90°F (32°C)
Avg Air Temp 57°F
Above Ambient +33°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Rocky Point Springs?
Rocky Point Springs has a water temperature of 90°F (32°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Rocky Point Springs located?
Rocky Point Springs is located in Marin County, California at -5 feet elevation, near Bolinas. Coordinates: 37.8800°N, 122.6270°W.
How do I get to Rocky Point Springs?
Rocky Point Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Rocky Point Springs?
Yes, Haypress Campground is located nearby (4.6 miles away).