Sulphur Creek

Lake County, California · Near Cobb
38.7880°N, 122.7770°W · 2,039 ft
120°F 67°F air · Good soaking weather 2,039 ft Roadside Camping nearby (12.9 mi)

Sulphur Creek is a hot source in Lake County, four and a half miles from Cobb, with water at 120 degrees, the kind of heat that burns skin on contact. It is close to a road. The land has no recorded owner and no access status, so the record cannot tell you if you may approach it.

Location

Nearly three hundred feet from an unnamed roadway, which the record classes as roadside. About two thousand feet up. Wet, thirty-four inches falling in a year, though snow almost never sticks, two inches in a typical winter. The annual mean is in the upper fifties. Cobb, the nearest town, is under five miles off, so this is not deep backcountry.

The best months on file are the winter ones. Warm Springs Rec Area is the nearest camp, nearly thirteen miles. Do not step into the source; it will scald. With no owner listed, assume nothing about access.

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 Sulphur Creek.

Aerial view of the ground around Sulphur Creek LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Sulphur Creek
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 east.
Highest ground nearby
436 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
170 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 97% 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
47°
Feb
49°
Mar
54°
Apr
60°
May
69°
Jun
74°
Jul
73°
Aug
69°
Sep
62°
Oct
52°
Nov
45°
Dec
Annual Precip: 34.4 in Annual Snow: 2.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 45°F · Water 120°F · +75° contrast
January Air 46°F · Water 120°F · +74° contrast
February Air 47°F · Water 120°F · +73° contrast
December offers 29°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
67°F
NNW 3.6 mph 40% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 80° Low 62° Sunny
Spring is +40° warmer
Wednesday 72° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +48° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 55° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +45° warmer
Friday 81° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Saturday 81° Low 63° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Warm Springs Rec Area 12.9 mi away

Overview Warm Springs Recreation Area is a day-use park located at Lake Sonoma, which is just a 45 minute drive north of Santa Rosa and a 2 hour trip from San Francisco. There is no overnight camping available at this facility World 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 Woodland Ridge Nature Trail begins at the park and winds up the ridge, rewarding hikers with great...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
120°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 120°F (49°C)
Avg Air Temp 58°F
Above Ambient +62°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 295 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Sulphur Creek?
Sulphur Creek has a water temperature of 120°F (49°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Sulphur Creek located?
Sulphur Creek is located in Lake County, California at 2,039 feet elevation, near Cobb. Coordinates: 38.7880°N, 122.7770°W.
How do I get to Sulphur Creek?
Sulphur Creek has Roadside road access (295 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Sulphur Creek?
Yes, Warm Springs Rec Area is located nearby (12.9 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Sulphur Creek?
With care. At 120°F Sulphur Creek 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.