The Geysers

Lake County, California · Near Cobb
38.8020°N, 122.8100°W · 1,565 ft
214°F 70°F air · Good soaking weather 1,565 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (11.7 mi)
Geyser: Not a Soaking Spring

The Geysers is a geyser, not a traditional hot spring. These geothermal features can be extremely dangerous. Boiling water, toxic gases, and unstable ground are common hazards. Do not attempt to soak.

The Geysers, in Lake County five miles from Cobb, is a boiling thermal feature, 214 degrees in the record, above the boiling point of water at sea level. Nobody soaks in this. It is a thing to see from a distance, if you can get to it at all: no landowner appears on record, and nothing says the public may enter.

Location

Big Geysers Road passes within a tenth of a mile. Elevation a bit over fifteen hundred feet. Precipitation totals thirty-four inches annually; snow barely registers, a couple of inches. Sixty degrees is the average across the year.

January, December, February lead the record. For camping, the record lists Warm Springs Rec Area a dozen miles away. The water is boiling and will cause severe burns on contact. Stay well back. The temperature alone rules out any soaking use of the source itself. Access is unknown; the road name on file does not imply a right to walk 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 The Geysers.

Aerial view of the ground around The Geysers LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around The Geysers
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 northeast.
Highest ground nearby
455 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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
186 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 3 times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 99% 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
48°
Jan
49°
Feb
50°
Mar
56°
Apr
61°
May
71°
Jun
75°
Jul
75°
Aug
71°
Sep
64°
Oct
53°
Nov
47°
Dec
Annual Precip: 34.4 in Annual Snow: 2.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 48°F · Water 214°F · +167° contrast
December Air 47°F · Water 214°F · +167° contrast
February Air 49°F · Water 214°F · +165° contrast
January offers 28°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
70°F
ESE 3.6 mph 36% Good soaking weather
Today 83° Low 56° Sunny
Spring is +131° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 55° Sunny
Spring is +139° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 59° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +136° warmer
Friday 84° Low 63° Sunny
Spring is +130° warmer
Saturday 84° Low 62° Sunny
Spring is +130° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Warm Springs Rec Area 11.7 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
214°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 214°F (101°C)
Avg Air Temp 60°F
Above Ambient +154°F
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Big Geysers Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at The Geysers?
The Geysers has a water temperature of 214°F (101°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is The Geysers located?
The Geysers is located in Lake County, California at 1,565 feet elevation, near Cobb. Coordinates: 38.8020°N, 122.8100°W.
How do I get to The Geysers?
The Geysers has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Big Geysers Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near The Geysers?
Yes, Warm Springs Rec Area is located nearby (11.7 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at The Geysers?
No, not at the source. The water at The Geysers reaches 214°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.