Soda Spring In Cache Formation

Lake County, California · Near Clearlake
38.9500°N, 122.5720°W · 1,545 ft
72°F 63°F air · Good soaking weather 1,545 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (23.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Soda Spring In Cache Formation LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Soda Spring In Cache Formation
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.

Soda Spring In Cache Formation is a tepid spring on ground managed by the BLM's Ukiah Field Office, a few miles from Clearlake in Lake County, with open access. Barely warm water, well short of anything you would sit in. Reaching it means walking a bit under a mile from an unnamed road. No fee is recorded.

Location

Lake County hills at around fifteen hundred feet, wet in winter, a light snow most years. Public land with no fee recorded. The name ties it to the Cache Formation, and that is the only hint on file about the ground it comes out of. No designation beyond public land is recorded.

The best time on record is the winter. Little Stony is the campground listed, and at over twenty miles it is no quick hop. BLM land, open, no fee. The temperature is too low for a burn risk; if anything you will find it cool.

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 Soda Spring In Cache Formation.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
302 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
137 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 87% 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
48°
Feb
50°
Mar
57°
Apr
63°
May
73°
Jun
79°
Jul
78°
Aug
73°
Sep
64°
Oct
52°
Nov
45°
Dec
Annual Precip: 21.8 in Annual Snow: 4.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 45°F · Water 72°F · +27° contrast
January Air 46°F · Water 72°F · +26° contrast
February Air 48°F · Water 72°F · +24° contrast
December offers 34°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
63°F
SW 3.6 mph 51% Good soaking weather
Today 89° Low 53° Sunny
Wednesday 81° Low 51° Sunny 4% precip
Thursday 83° Low 54° Sunny
Friday 90° Low 56° Sunny
Saturday 91° Low 56° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Little Stony 23.2 mi away

Overview This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site.Once on-site, you are able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.In order to utilize Scan & Pay on site, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote area...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
72°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 72°F (22°C)
Avg Air Temp 61°F
Above Ambient +11°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.7 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Ukiah Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Soda Spring In Cache Formation?
Soda Spring In Cache Formation has a water temperature of 72°F (22°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Soda Spring In Cache Formation located?
Soda Spring In Cache Formation is located in Lake County, California at 1,545 feet elevation, near Clearlake. Coordinates: 38.9500°N, 122.5720°W.
How do I get to Soda Spring In Cache Formation?
Soda Spring In Cache Formation has Short Walk road access (0.7 mi from the road).
Is Soda Spring In Cache Formation free to visit?
Soda Spring In Cache Formation has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Soda Spring In Cache Formation?
Yes, Little Stony is located nearby (23.2 miles away).