Bolar Spring

Bath County, Virginia · Near Warm Springs
38.2180°N, 79.6730°W · 2,268 ft
73°F 57°F air · Good soaking weather 2,268 ft Roadside Camping nearby (17.8 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Bolar Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Bolar 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.

Bolar Spring is in Bath County, Virginia, thirteen or so miles from the village of Warm Springs. Tepid water, low seventies, cooler than you would want for a bath. The record is thin: a USGS site identifier, a temperature, and not much else. No owner, no access status, no chemistry. This page pulls more search traffic than most in the batch, for what that is worth.

Location

Big Valley Road runs within about seventy feet of the source. Drive-up, in other words. Elevation is a bit under twenty-three hundred feet in some of the wettest country in this set, nearly fifty inches of rain and snow combined, with the snow portion a little under three feet. Land unit and designation are blank and there is no photo on file.

The three winter months are the ones the record rates best. Roadside. Pocahontas Campground is about eighteen miles away and is the camping on file. Ownership is not recorded, and Bath County roadsides are often private, so ask before you step off the pavement. No chemistry, so smell and taste are unknowns.

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 Bolar Spring.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
328 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
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
74 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 9% 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
29°
Jan
33°
Feb
40°
Mar
50°
Apr
60°
May
66°
Jun
71°
Jul
68°
Aug
64°
Sep
53°
Oct
41°
Nov
36°
Dec
Annual Precip: 48.7 in Annual Snow: 32.4 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 29°F · Water 73°F · +44° contrast
February Air 33°F · Water 73°F · +40° contrast
December Air 36°F · Water 73°F · +37° contrast
January offers 42°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
57°F
SE 25.0 mph 74% Good soaking weather
Today 77° Low 54° Mostly Sunny
Wednesday 85° Low 61° Patchy Fog then Sunny 2% precip
Thursday 85° Low 63° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 44% precip
Friday 83° Low 61° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 66% precip
Saturday 76° Low 61° Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers 34% precip
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Pocahontas Campground 17.8 mi away

With a convenient location just off State Route 92 this campground is great for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Two Lick Trailhead is located within the campground and providing easy and accessible access. Also each campsite is furnished with a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern ring.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
73°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 73°F (23°C)
Avg Air Temp 51°F
Above Ambient +22°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Big Valley Road
Distance to Road 73 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Bolar Spring?
Bolar Spring has a water temperature of 73°F (23°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Bolar Spring located?
Bolar Spring is located in Bath County, Virginia at 2,268 feet elevation, near Warm Springs. Coordinates: 38.2180°N, 79.6730°W.
How do I get to Bolar Spring?
Bolar Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Big Valley Road (73 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Bolar Spring?
Yes, Pocahontas Campground is located nearby (17.8 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS