Skaggs Springs

Sonoma County, California · Near Cloverdale
38.6910°N, 123.0240°W · 424 ft
135°F 70°F air · Good soaking weather 424 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (1.7 mi)

Skaggs Springs, in Sonoma County about seven miles from Cloverdale, has water on record hot enough to scald, a hair short of the line where we would call it too hot to touch. The nearest camping is the boat-in sites on Lake Sonoma, under two miles away. No owner or access status is recorded.

Location

Low ground, elevation in the low hundreds of feet, six tenths of a mile out from the road, unnamed in the file. Rain is heavy in winter, close to three feet, and there is no snow. The boat-in campsites on Lake Sonoma are the closest on record, under two miles. No land unit is listed.

The wet winter months are the ones rated best. This water can burn, so dip a finger before anything else. Access went unrecorded, which makes ownership a question to settle before you walk in. Boat-in camping on Lake Sonoma is the nearest option listed. No fee recorded.

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 Skaggs Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Skaggs Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Skaggs 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
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
374 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
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
165 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 96% 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
48°
Jan
50°
Feb
51°
Mar
57°
Apr
62°
May
71°
Jun
74°
Jul
74°
Aug
70°
Sep
64°
Oct
54°
Nov
48°
Dec
Annual Precip: 33.3 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 48°F · Water 135°F · +87° contrast
December Air 48°F · Water 135°F · +87° contrast
February Air 50°F · Water 135°F · +85° contrast
January offers 26°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
70°F
ESE 3.6 mph 36% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 87° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +48° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +56° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 53° Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Spring is +54° warmer
Friday 87° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +48° warmer
Saturday 86° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +49° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Boat In Sites (Lake Sonoma) 1.7 mi away

Overview Lake Sonoma's Boat-In Sites are scattered around beautiful Lake Sonoma, only a 45-minute drive north of Santa Rosa and a two-hour drive from San Francisco. BOAT-IN CAMPGROUNDS ARE ACCESSIBLE BY WATER OR HIKING ONLY, THERE IS NO VEHICLE ACCESS TO ANY BOAT-IN CAMPGROUNDWorld 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 lake provides great boating and swimming opportun...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
135°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 135°F (56°C)
Avg Air Temp 60°F
Above Ambient +75°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.6 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Skaggs Springs?
Skaggs Springs has a water temperature of 135°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Skaggs Springs located?
Skaggs Springs is located in Sonoma County, California at 424 feet elevation, near Cloverdale. Coordinates: 38.6910°N, 123.0240°W.
How do I get to Skaggs Springs?
Skaggs Springs has Short Walk road access (0.6 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Skaggs Springs?
Yes, Boat In Sites (Lake Sonoma) is located nearby (1.7 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Skaggs Springs?
With care. At 135°F Skaggs 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.