Unnamed Thermal Spring

Solano County, California · Near Benicia
38.1010°N, 122.1690°W · 218 ft
73°F 59°F air · Good soaking weather 218 ft Roadside Camping nearby (24.5 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 a couple of miles from Benicia in Solano County, a short distance off Lake Herman Road. Tepid, low seventies. You would feel the warmth with a hand in it and little beyond that. There is no owner, unit or access status in the record, and so close to Benicia that you will want to ask around before you go.

Location

Low ground at about 200 feet, mild, with modest rain and no snow. Lake Herman Road is a couple hundred feet off. No land manager listed. The only camp entry tied to this record is a sailing-vessel anchorage at Aquatic Park Cove, some twenty-five miles off, which is no use to anyone coming by car.

Winter is the listed best period; the climate is mild all year. Roadside from Lake Herman Road. No usable camping in our data. Tepid water, as noted. Access is unrecorded, so confirm before visiting. No fee is noted either, and no land agency has claimed the point.

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
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the south.
Highest ground nearby
179 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
116 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 68% 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
49°
Jan
51°
Feb
54°
Mar
58°
Apr
62°
May
67°
Jun
67°
Jul
68°
Aug
68°
Sep
64°
Oct
55°
Nov
49°
Dec
Annual Precip: 18.4 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 49°F · Water 73°F · +24° contrast
December Air 49°F · Water 73°F · +24° contrast
February Air 51°F · Water 73°F · +22° contrast
January offers 19°F more contrast than September
Current Conditions
59°F
WSW 33.0 mph 84% Good soaking weather
Today 76° Low 55° Sunny
Wednesday 70° Low 56° Mostly Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +3° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 56° Mostly Sunny
Friday 79° Low 56° Sunny
Saturday 76° Low 56° Mostly Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Aquatic Park Cove, Black Point Overnight Anchoring, Sailing Vessels Only (Auxiliary Engine Ok) 24.5 mi away

Overview Aquatic Park Cove is a vibrantly urban harbor that mimics a natural anchorage and is located on the Pacific shores of one of America's great West Coast cities. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park's Aquatic Park Cove is the small craft gateway to San Francisco. Vessels entering Aquatic Park Cove are instructed to contact the Park's permit officer on VHF marine radio channel 83A (157.175Mhz) using the call sign "Aquatic Park NPS" followed by transmission of the vessel'...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
73°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 73°F (23°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +14°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Lake Herman Road
Distance to Road 225 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at ?
has a water temperature of 73°F (23°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is located?
is located in Solano County, California at 218 feet elevation, near Benicia. Coordinates: 38.1010°N, 122.1690°W.
How do I get to ?
has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Lake Herman Road (225 ft from the road).
Can I camp near ?
Yes, Aquatic Park Cove, Black Point Overnight Anchoring, Sailing Vessels Only (Auxiliary Engine Ok) is located nearby (24.5 miles away).