Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring

Glenn County, California · Near Willows
39.4300°N, 122.5380°W · 1,167 ft
75°F 1,167 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (6.8 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Sulphur Spring, Salt 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.

The record carries two names for this Glenn County spring, Sulphur Spring and Salt Spring. Nineteen miles from Willows, tepid water in the mid seventies. Nothing on record says whose land this is or if the public may visit.

Location
16 miles from Clearlake Oaks, CA

Three tenths of a mile from a nameless road. Around 1,150 feet. Twenty-two inches of precipitation and under a foot of snow in a year, with an average temperature in the low sixties. Mendocino National Forest, with its North Fork campground, is the closest public land the record names, about seven miles away.

December through February on file. North Fork is the campground to aim for. The water is tepid; no heat concern. No water sample is on file. Ownership and access are both blank on the record, so do some asking before you go.

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 Spring, Salt Spring.

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

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
103 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 51% 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
47°
Jan
49°
Feb
52°
Mar
59°
Apr
67°
May
78°
Jun
83°
Jul
82°
Aug
76°
Sep
65°
Oct
53°
Nov
46°
Dec
Annual Precip: 21.9 in Annual Snow: 9.1 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 46°F · Water 75°F · +29° contrast
January Air 47°F · Water 75°F · +28° contrast
February Air 49°F · Water 75°F · +26° contrast
December offers 37°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
SSW 0.0 mph
Today 88° Low 55° Sunny
Wednesday 78° Low 54° Sunny 9% precip
Thursday 79° Low 56° Sunny
Friday 88° Low 59° Sunny
Saturday 89° Low 59° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
North Fork Mendocino National Forest 6.8 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 are...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
75°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 75°F (24°C)
Avg Air Temp 63°F
Above Ambient +12°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.3 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring?
Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring has a water temperature of 75°F (24°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring located?
Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring is located in Glenn County, California at 1,167 feet elevation, near Willows. Coordinates: 39.4300°N, 122.5380°W.
How do I get to Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring?
Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Sulphur Spring, Salt Spring?
Yes, North Fork Mendocino National Forest is located nearby (6.8 miles away).