San Juan Hot Springs

Orange County, California · Near Coto De Caza
33.5890°N, 117.5110°W · 988 ft
120°F 61°F air · Good soaking weather 988 ft Open Short Walk CNTY Camping nearby (5.5 mi)

San Juan Hot Springs lies inside Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park, a county park in Orange County, a few miles from Coto De Caza. It runs hot, above what most people sit in straight from the source. Access is listed as open. County ownership means the county's rules apply, and the walk in is short, around three or four hundred yards.

Location

Low hills, under a thousand feet. The nearest road is unnamed and less than a quarter mile away. What rain there is comes in winter, and snow is unknown here. The land is a county wilderness park, so the ground is public. Falcon Group, about five and a half miles, is the camping on record.

The record lists the winter months, though nothing about the climate closes the area at other times. Check the water with a hand first. At this heat it can burn. Falcon Group is the camping, around five and a half miles. No fee is in the file; the county park may have its own.

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 San Juan Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around San Juan Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around San Juan 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 south.
Highest ground nearby
95 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
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
55°
Jan
56°
Feb
59°
Mar
62°
Apr
64°
May
70°
Jun
75°
Jul
77°
Aug
75°
Sep
70°
Oct
62°
Nov
55°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.3 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 55°F · Water 120°F · +65° contrast
December Air 55°F · Water 120°F · +65° contrast
February Air 56°F · Water 120°F · +64° contrast
January offers 22°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
61°F
NE 14.8 mph 98% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 81° Low 59° Patchy Fog then Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +39° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 58° Mostly Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +41° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 57° Patchy Fog then Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Friday 83° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +37° warmer
Saturday 84° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +36° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Falcon Group 5.5 mi away

Overview Falcon Group Campground has three individual group campsites just off the scenic Ortega Highway in Southern California, which connects San Juan Capistrano and Temecula Valley Highway. The pleasant climate, scenery, trail system and convenient location, make this a popular destination for groups from Los Angeles and San Diego. Hiking is especially popular among campers. Recreation Hikers of any level can find trails that challenge and accommodate their recreational goals around the...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
120°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 120°F (49°C)
Avg Air Temp 65°F
Above Ambient +55°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Land
Ownership Local
Agency CNTY
Designation LCA
Unit Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
Manager CNTY
Protection 2 - Permanent protection, some use allowed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at San Juan Hot Springs?
San Juan Hot Springs has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is San Juan Hot Springs located?
San Juan Hot Springs is located in Orange County, California at 988 feet elevation, near Coto De Caza. Coordinates: 33.5890°N, 117.5110°W.
How do I get to San Juan Hot Springs?
San Juan Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Is San Juan Hot Springs free to visit?
San Juan Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by CNTY.
Can I camp near San Juan Hot Springs?
Yes, Falcon Group is located nearby (5.5 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at San Juan Hot Springs?
With care. At 120°F San Juan 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.