Spring

Plumas County, California · Near Quincy
40.0190°N, 121.0360°W · 2,792 ft
99°F 43°F air · Good soaking weather 2,792 ft Roadside Camping nearby (2.0 mi)
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.

Seven or so miles from Quincy, off the Feather River Highway in Plumas County, an unnamed spring comes up at soaking temperature, right around body heat. It sits a stone's throw from the highway. Who holds the ground around it is not recorded, and no access status is on file.

Location

The Feather River Highway passes within a couple hundred feet. Call it roadside. Under three thousand feet but wet: forty inches of precipitation annually and winters that stack over nine feet of snow. Averaged across the year, the temperature is mid fifties.

January, December and February top the record for a visit, snow and all. Hallsted campground is about two miles off. At ninety-nine degrees the water is comfortable with no burn risk. There is no landowner named and no access note, so a private-property check is worth doing before you get in.

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.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
600 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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
133 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 83% 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
37°
Jan
39°
Feb
44°
Mar
51°
Apr
59°
May
70°
Jun
78°
Jul
77°
Aug
69°
Sep
57°
Oct
43°
Nov
37°
Dec
Annual Precip: 40.1 in Annual Snow: 112.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 37°F · Water 99°F · +62° contrast
December Air 37°F · Water 99°F · +62° contrast
February Air 39°F · Water 99°F · +60° contrast
January offers 41°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
43°F
W 0.0 mph 71% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 87° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +12° warmer
Wednesday 81° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +18° warmer
Thursday 83° Low 47° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +16° warmer
Friday 90° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +9° warmer
Saturday 94° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +5° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Hallsted 2.0 mi away

Overview Hallsted campground is conveniently situated in the Feather River Canyon, just off the main road in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. At an elevation of 2,300 feet, it offers a cool getaway from the summer heat, as well as a variety of outdoor activities The route on the nearby Feather River National Scenic Byway traverses a steeply carved river gorge that encapsulates the historic railroad system from Oroville to Quincy and impressive powerhouses built to provide hydroelectric...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
99°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 99°F (37°C)
Avg Air Temp 55°F
Above Ambient +44°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Feather River Highway
Distance to Road 216 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Spring?
Spring has a water temperature of 99°F (37°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Spring located?
Spring is located in Plumas County, California at 2,792 feet elevation, near Quincy. Coordinates: 40.0190°N, 121.0360°W.
How do I get to Spring?
Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Feather River Highway (216 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Spring?
Yes, Hallsted is located nearby (2.0 miles away).
Sources: Wikipedia