Sulphur Springs

Siskiyou County, California · Near Happy Camp
41.6590°N, 123.3190°W · 2,141 ft
84°F 53°F air · Good soaking weather 2,141 ft Open Roadside US Forest Service Camping nearby (9.5 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Sulphur Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Sulphur Springs
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.

Sulphur Springs in Siskiyou County is a warm seep on Klamath National Forest land, open to the public, eleven miles out of Happy Camp. The water is lukewarm, below body temperature, so a dip will feel like a cool bath. It lies a couple hundred feet from Elk Creek Road.

Location

Mid-elevation forest around 2,100 feet, with heavy winter rain and a serious snow load, something like 78 inches a year. Elk Creek Road passes within a short walk. The Forest Service manages the land and lists it as open. Curly Jack Campground is the nearest camp, around nine and a half miles off.

December through February come up as the best months, an odd pairing with the snow here, so check that Elk Creek Road is passable first. Roadside access. Camp at Curly Jack if you want to stay over. No fee is recorded. The water is on the cool side for soaking, so set expectations.

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 Springs.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
521 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
105 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 54% 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
40°
Jan
41°
Feb
44°
Mar
50°
Apr
57°
May
65°
Jun
74°
Jul
74°
Aug
67°
Sep
56°
Oct
45°
Nov
39°
Dec
Annual Precip: 43.2 in Annual Snow: 77.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 39°F · Water 84°F · +45° contrast
January Air 40°F · Water 84°F · +44° contrast
February Air 41°F · Water 84°F · +43° contrast
December offers 35°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
53°F
NNE 3.6 mph 88% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 80° Low 53° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +4° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 50° Sunny 11% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 53° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +6° warmer
Friday 83° Low 55° Sunny
Spring is +1° warmer
Saturday 85° Low 56° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Curly Jack Campground 9.5 mi away

Overview Curly Jack Campground is situated along the Klamath Wild and Scenic River near the town of Happy Camp. Visitors enjoy whitewater boating and fishing on the river, and exploring local hiking trails.Recreation Fishing, birding, hiking and whitewater boating are popular options, as is scenic driving along the State of Jefferson Scenic Byway. Visitors can access a Class III section of the Klamath River from the campground. The campsite is a put-in and take-out point for whitewater rafti...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
84°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 84°F (29°C)
Avg Air Temp 55°F
Above Ambient +30°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Elk Creek Road
Distance to Road 196 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Klamath National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Sulphur Springs?
Sulphur Springs has a water temperature of 84°F (29°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Sulphur Springs located?
Sulphur Springs is located in Siskiyou County, California at 2,141 feet elevation, near Happy Camp. Coordinates: 41.6590°N, 123.3190°W.
How do I get to Sulphur Springs?
Sulphur Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Elk Creek Road (196 ft from the road).
Is Sulphur Springs free to visit?
Sulphur Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Sulphur Springs?
Yes, Curly Jack Campground is located nearby (9.5 miles away).