Ward Spring

Tulare County, California · Near East Porterville
36.1170°N, 118.7760°W · 2,006 ft
70°F 62°F air · Good soaking weather 2,006 ft Roadside Camping nearby (7.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Ward Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Ward 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.

Ward Spring, a tepid spring in Tulare County, sits about twelve miles from East Porterville, off Cow Mountain Road. The water is around seventy degrees, barely warm to the touch. Owner and access are not on record. There is no photo and no chemistry, so this is a point on a map with a temperature attached.

Location

Foothills around 2,000 feet, with a moderate snow load in winter, around 35 inches, and dry the rest of the year. Cow Mountain Road passes within about sixty feet. No land manager listed. North Tule Campground is seven miles away, the only camp tied to this record.

the record says winter, though the snow here can get in the way. Roadside off Cow Mountain Road. Camp at North Tule. No fee recorded, and nothing under owner or access. Barely warm water, so nobody is driving out here for a soak. With no chemistry and no photo on file, the temperature is the only thing the record can vouch for.

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 Ward Spring.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
423 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
69 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 5% 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
45°
Jan
46°
Feb
51°
Mar
56°
Apr
63°
May
73°
Jun
79°
Jul
78°
Aug
74°
Sep
63°
Oct
50°
Nov
43°
Dec
Annual Precip: 15.1 in Annual Snow: 34.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 43°F · Water 70°F · +27° contrast
January Air 45°F · Water 70°F · +25° contrast
February Air 46°F · Water 70°F · +24° contrast
December offers 36°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
62°F
NNE 19.4 mph 54% Good soaking weather
Today 85° Low 61° Sunny
Wednesday 82° Low 58° Sunny
Thursday 81° Low 59° Sunny
Friday 83° Low 61° Sunny
Saturday 86° Low 63° Sunny
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
North Tule Campground 7.2 mi away

This recreation area is part of Success Lake

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
70°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 70°F (21°C)
Avg Air Temp 60°F
Above Ambient +10°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Cow Mountain Road
Distance to Road 64 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Ward Spring?
Ward Spring has a water temperature of 70°F (21°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Ward Spring located?
Ward Spring is located in Tulare County, California at 2,006 feet elevation, near East Porterville. Coordinates: 36.1170°N, 118.7760°W.
How do I get to Ward Spring?
Ward Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Cow Mountain Road (64 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Ward Spring?
Yes, North Tule Campground is located nearby (7.2 miles away).