Unnamed Thermal Spring

Riverside County, California · Near Anza
33.5400°N, 116.7420°W · 3,600 ft
Warm 52°F air · Good soaking weather 3,600 ft Unknown Roadside DESG Camping nearby (11.0 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around the spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around the 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.

An unnamed thermal point on the Cahuilla Reservation in Riverside County, about three miles from Anza. It is tribal land, and public access is recorded as unknown, which should settle the question of dropping by uninvited. The record gives no temperature, only a warm tag, so there is no basis here for calling it a soak. The USGS sampled the water in the 1980s.

Location

The spring is roadside, about a hundred feet from a nameless road, at around thirty-six hundred feet. The land designation on file is tribal land, the Cahuilla Reservation. Winters bring a little snow, seven inches on average, and the year's precipitation is around sixteen inches, with a mean temperature in the low sixties.

The record lists no best months. Oak Grove Campground is about eleven miles off. The water chemistry shown is from an old sample and reads strongly alkaline with low dissolved solids and some iron. Because this is reservation land with no access status, contact the tribe before visiting. Assume nothing.

History of This Spring

The USGS holds a monitoring site here and sampled the water in March 1986. The ground is part of the Cahuilla Reservation.

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 this spring.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
48 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
78 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 13% 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
53°
Mar
58°
Apr
61°
May
72°
Jun
77°
Jul
78°
Aug
73°
Sep
64°
Oct
55°
Nov
47°
Dec
Annual Precip: 15.6 in Annual Snow: 7.0 in
Current Conditions
52°F
NNW 7.2 mph 49% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 83° Low 53° Sunny
Wednesday 80° Low 49° Sunny
Thursday 81° Low 49° Sunny
Friday 84° Low 50° Sunny
Saturday 87° Low 52° Sunny
Water Chemistry Sampled 1986-03-11

The water at This spring is alkaline (pH 9.7) with 224 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 9.7 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 1 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 5 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 69 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 28 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 17 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 6 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Oak Grove Campground 11.0 mi away

Overview Located on the Cleveland National Forest, Oak Grove Campground is nestled in a valley of large oak groves and manzanita.Recreation Oak Grove Trail is a short walk of 1.5 miles and is located across Rt. 79, behind the Ranger Station. Oak Grove Trail is the oldest established trail on the Palomar Ranger District. Although a steep trail, it offers great views of the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio Mountains and the Oak Grove Valley as you gain elevation. The trail connects with the Oak Gr...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
Warm
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 61°F
Access
Unknown
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 105 ft
Land
Ownership DESG
Agency DESG
Designation Tribal Land
Unit Cahuilla Reservation
Manager TRIB
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at ?
is classified as warm. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is located?
is located in Riverside County, California at 3,600 feet elevation, near Anza. Coordinates: 33.5400°N, 116.7420°W.
How do I get to ?
has Roadside road access (105 ft from the road).
Is free to visit?
has Unknown access. It is managed by DESG.
Can I camp near ?
Yes, Oak Grove Campground is located nearby (11.0 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at ?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 9.7 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 224 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS