Unnamed Thermal Spring

San Luis Obispo County, California · Near Paso Robles
35.6490°N, 120.6870°W · 675 ft
108°F 52°F air · Good soaking weather 675 ft Roadside Camping nearby (15.6 mi)

San Luis Obispo County has this unnamed thermal point about five miles from Paso Robles. The water runs soaking warm on the hotter side, and it sits within sixty-some feet of a road. Nothing on file names an owner, and access is unlisted. Warm water this close to Paso Robles with no access record is the kind of spot worth a phone call before a drive.

Location
2 miles from El Paso de Robles, CA

Low, dry country under 700 feet, with no snow and light winter rain. Sixty-odd feet from the closest road; whatever road that is, the record does not name it. Ownership is a blank and there is no unit or designation. Cerro Alto Campground, about sixteen miles away, is the closest camp listed.

Midwinter, per the record. Roadside. Camping at Cerro Alto is a drive of about sixteen miles. The water is close to bath-hot, so check it before you get in. Access and ownership are unknown; find out who controls it. No fee recorded.

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.

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.

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

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 67% 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
50°
Jan
52°
Feb
55°
Mar
60°
Apr
64°
May
71°
Jun
73°
Jul
74°
Aug
72°
Sep
66°
Oct
56°
Nov
49°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.8 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 49°F · Water 108°F · +59° contrast
January Air 50°F · Water 108°F · +58° contrast
February Air 52°F · Water 108°F · +57° contrast
December offers 25°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
52°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 71% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 81° Low 53° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Wednesday 81° Low 51° Mostly Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Thursday 83° Low 51° Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Spring is +25° warmer
Friday 89° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +19° warmer
Saturday 93° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +15° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Cerro Alto Campground 15.6 mi away

Overview Cerro Alto Campground is a well-known hiking and mountain biking paradise. It is located a short distance from the sandy beaches of Morro Bay, where visitors enjoy surfing, fishing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and more. While the campground offers a serene, relaxed environment, both Morro Bay and the nearby town of Atascadero offer numerous dining opportunities, shopping, museums and other activities. Wine Tasting in the Tempelton, Paso Robles Area is also a very popular experi...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
108°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 108°F (42°C)
Avg Air Temp 62°F
Above Ambient +46°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 63 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at ?
has a water temperature of 108°F (42°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is located?
is located in San Luis Obispo County, California at 675 feet elevation, near Paso Robles. Coordinates: 35.6490°N, 120.6870°W.
How do I get to ?
has Roadside road access (63 ft from the road).
Can I camp near ?
Yes, Cerro Alto Campground is located nearby (15.6 miles away).