Spring

Orange County, California · Near San Juan Capistrano
33.5140°N, 117.6040°W · 783 ft
95°F 64°F air · Good soaking weather 783 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (12.8 mi)

An unnamed thermal point recorded only as Spring, in Orange County about three miles from San Juan Capistrano. Soaking warm is the reading, a few degrees shy of body temperature. The record carries no owner and says nothing about access, so this is a dot on the map until someone confirms what is there.

Location

Low hills under eight hundred feet, a short walk, a few hundred yards off an unnamed road. Winters are mild with a little rain. Summers dry. Snow does not happen. No land unit and owner is on record, which leaves the question of public ground wide open. San Juan Capistrano is the nearest town.

The record calls winter the best time. The water is at a comfortable soaking temperature, assuming there is anywhere to sit, and the record does not say there is. Access is undocumented; treat it as private. Falcon Group, thirteen miles off, is the only camping in the record. No fee appears.

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 Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around 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.

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

A slice through the ground from north to south, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
71 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 6% 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
54°
Jan
55°
Feb
57°
Mar
60°
Apr
61°
May
65°
Jun
69°
Jul
71°
Aug
70°
Sep
67°
Oct
60°
Nov
54°
Dec
Annual Precip: 11.6 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 54°F · Water 95°F · +41° contrast
December Air 54°F · Water 95°F · +41° contrast
February Air 55°F · Water 95°F · +40° contrast
January offers 16°F more contrast than September
Current Conditions
64°F
SE 7.2 mph 85% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 76° Low 61° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +19° warmer
Wednesday 74° Low 60° Mostly Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +21° warmer
Thursday 76° Low 59° Patchy Fog then Sunny
Spring is +19° warmer
Friday 78° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +17° warmer
Saturday 79° Low 61° Sunny
Spring is +16° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Falcon Group 12.8 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
95°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 95°F (35°C)
Avg Air Temp 62°F
Above Ambient +33°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Spring?
Spring has a water temperature of 95°F (35°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Spring located?
Spring is located in Orange County, California at 783 feet elevation, near San Juan Capistrano. Coordinates: 33.5140°N, 117.6040°W.
How do I get to Spring?
Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Spring?
Yes, Falcon Group is located nearby (12.8 miles away).
Sources: Wikipedia