Wheeler Springs

Ventura County, California · Near Meiners Oaks
34.5070°N, 119.2910°W · 1,660 ft
102°F 58°F air · Good soaking weather 1,660 ft Roadside Camping nearby (1.1 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Wheeler Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Wheeler 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.

Wheeler Springs sits under four miles from Meiners Oaks in Ventura County, and the reading attached to it is 102 degrees. That is bath temperature, the range most people want in a soak. Ownership and access are unrecorded, so the question of sitting in it is a separate one. Wheeler Gorge campground is about a mile away.

Location

Roadside, a couple hundred feet off pavement the record leaves unnamed, at modest elevation. Climate is mild: fifteen inches of rain, a trace of snow in a cold year, and the mean sits in the mid sixties. Wheeler Gorge campground is close enough that the spring and the camp could be one trip.

The listed season is December through February. Camp at Wheeler Gorge and cover the mile over. No fee is listed. The water sits well inside comfortable soaking range, so no scalding concern. With no owner and no access status on record, watch for posted signs.

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 Wheeler Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the south.
Highest ground nearby
695 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
72 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 7% 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
53°
Jan
53°
Feb
56°
Mar
61°
Apr
65°
May
73°
Jun
77°
Jul
78°
Aug
75°
Sep
67°
Oct
59°
Nov
52°
Dec
Annual Precip: 14.5 in Annual Snow: 3.2 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 52°F · Water 102°F · +50° contrast
January Air 53°F · Water 102°F · +49° contrast
February Air 53°F · Water 102°F · +49° contrast
December offers 26°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
58°F
NE 0.8 mph 92% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 77° Low 56° Mostly Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +25° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 54° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +23° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +24° warmer
Friday 81° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +21° warmer
Saturday 83° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +19° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Wheeler Gorge 1.1 mi away

Overview Wheeler Gorge Campground is a great place for families to explore the Los Padres National Forest all year long. Informative tours of the area are led by forest rangers at the nearby visitor center. The campground provides scenic views of a nearby stream, as well as vast mountain vistas.Recreation The Wheeler Gorge Nature Trail begins at the upper end of the campground. It is a relatively short loop that leads through thick vegetation along the creek banks and to a hillside view of th...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
102°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 102°F (39°C)
Avg Air Temp 64°F
Above Ambient +38°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 212 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Wheeler Springs?
Wheeler Springs has a water temperature of 102°F (39°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Wheeler Springs located?
Wheeler Springs is located in Ventura County, California at 1,660 feet elevation, near Meiners Oaks. Coordinates: 34.5070°N, 119.2910°W.
How do I get to Wheeler Springs?
Wheeler Springs has Roadside road access (212 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Wheeler Springs?
Yes, Wheeler Gorge is located nearby (1.1 miles away).