Wendel Hot Springs

Lassen County, California · Near Janesville
40.3550°N, 120.2570°W · 4,014 ft
205°F 41°F air · Good soaking weather 4,014 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (16.9 mi)
Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking

Wendel Hot Springs reaches 205°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

Aerial view of the ground around Wendel Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Wendel Hot Springs
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.

Wendel Hot Springs is a scalding spring in Lassen County, about thirteen miles from Janesville. The water comes out near boiling. This is a thermal source to look at, and nothing in the record suggests anywhere to soak. Public access is not entered and the land owner is blank, so who controls the ground is an open question.

Location

Antola Road is the nearest road, a few hundred feet off, so getting to the spring itself is a short walk across whatever lies between. Elevation is about four thousand feet. Winters are cold enough for a couple of feet of snow over the season and rainfall is moderate. Nothing in the file names a land unit or designation.

The record gives December through February as its season. Short walk in from Antola Road. Black Mountain Lookout is the only campground in the file, about seventeen miles away. The main thing is the heat. The water will scald on contact. Keep children and dogs back from the source and do not assume any outflow is cooler until you have tested it. Land ownership is not recorded, so check that you are allowed on the property.

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 Wendel Hot Springs.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
24 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
81 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 16% 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
35°
Jan
37°
Feb
42°
Mar
50°
Apr
59°
May
70°
Jun
78°
Jul
77°
Aug
69°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
34°
Dec
Annual Precip: 15.4 in Annual Snow: 32.5 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 34°F · Water 205°F · +171° contrast
January Air 35°F · Water 205°F · +170° contrast
February Air 37°F · Water 205°F · +168° contrast
December offers 44°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
41°F
SSE 10.8 mph 50% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 83° Low 47° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +122° warmer
Wednesday 77° Low 49° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +128° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 48° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +130° warmer
Friday 80° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +125° warmer
Saturday 82° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +123° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Black Mountain Lookout 16.9 mi away

Overview Black Mountain Lookout remained closed for the 2020 season and is expected to remain closed into 2021. Closure is due to COVID related demands in maintaining a safe environment for our customers and our staff. Black Mountain Lookout is located on the eastern edge of the Beckwourth Ranger District, 10 miles from Highway 395, near Milford, California. The lookout was constructed in 1934 and is a great example of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) architecture. The C-3-type lookout is si...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
205°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 205°F (96°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +151°F
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Antola Road
Distance to Road 520 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Wendel Hot Springs?
Wendel Hot Springs has a water temperature of 205°F (96°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Wendel Hot Springs located?
Wendel Hot Springs is located in Lassen County, California at 4,014 feet elevation, near Janesville. Coordinates: 40.3550°N, 120.2570°W.
How do I get to Wendel Hot Springs?
Wendel Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Antola Road (520 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Wendel Hot Springs?
Yes, Black Mountain Lookout is located nearby (16.9 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Wendel Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Wendel Hot Springs reaches 205°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.