Hot Springs

Bath County, Virginia · Near Warm Springs
37.9970°N, 79.8300°W · 2,298 ft
106°F 57°F air · Good soaking weather 2,298 ft Roadside Camping nearby (7.5 mi)

The springs at Hot Springs, Virginia, feed the Omni Homestead Resort in Bath County, a little over four miles from Warm Springs. The water comes out soaking warm. Wikipedia calls these the largest hot springs in the Commonwealth. This is a commercial resort setting; the record does not list a landowner or a public access status, so expect resort rules.

Location

Homestead Drive runs past within a hundred feet or so. Roadside, in the middle of the Allegheny Mountains, at a modest mountain elevation. Rain falls heavily through the year and winter brings a couple of feet of snow. Bolar Mountain Recreation Area is the nearest campground on file, about seven and a half miles off.

Winter rates best on the record, and the resort runs a ski hill, so that fits. No fee is listed, but a luxury resort will have its own pricing. The water is warm enough for a long soak without being hot enough to hurt. Confirm access through the resort, since nothing on file says who owns the springs.

History of Hot Springs

Wikipedia describes the Omni Homestead as a luxury resort in the Allegheny Mountains known for championship golf courses that have hosted several national tournaments. It also runs an alpine ski area founded in 1959, the oldest in Virginia. The springs around it are the largest in the Commonwealth.

Then & Now

The front lawn and columned entrance of the Homestead, rebuilt in brick after a fire in 1901. The tall central tower that fills the view today went up in 1929.

Hot Springs in c. 1910 Hot Springs in 2016
c. 1910 2016

Drag to compare.

c. 1910: Detroit Publishing Co., New York Public Library, public domain. 2016: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 Hot Springs.

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

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
225 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
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
71 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 6% 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
30°
Jan
34°
Feb
40°
Mar
51°
Apr
60°
May
67°
Jun
72°
Jul
69°
Aug
64°
Sep
54°
Oct
41°
Nov
36°
Dec
Annual Precip: 44.8 in Annual Snow: 24.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 30°F · Water 106°F · +76° contrast
February Air 34°F · Water 106°F · +72° contrast
December Air 36°F · Water 106°F · +70° contrast
January offers 42°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
57°F
SE 25.0 mph 74% Good soaking weather
Today 75° Low 56° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +31° warmer
Wednesday 82° Low 61° Sunny
Spring is +24° warmer
Thursday 83° Low 64° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 33% precip
Spring is +23° warmer
Friday 82° Low 63° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 64% precip
Spring is +24° warmer
Saturday 74° Low 63° Chance Rain Showers 31% precip
Spring is +32° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Bolar Mountain Recreation Area 7.5 mi away

Overview Bolar Mountain Recreation Area is a great destination for visitors looking for a fun getaway on Lake Moomaw. The area provides plenty of outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, camping and hiking. There is little to no cell service, so be ready to disconnect! Recreation Boating, canoeing, water skiing and relaxing on the beach are popular activities at the lake. Anglers fish for brown and rainbow trout, bass and crappie. A boat ramp is located at the Bolar Flat Marina, which...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
106°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 106°F (41°C)
Avg Air Temp 52°F
Above Ambient +54°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Homestead Drive
Distance to Road 108 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hot Springs?
Hot Springs has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Hot Springs located?
Hot Springs is located in Bath County, Virginia at 2,298 feet elevation, near Warm Springs. Coordinates: 37.9970°N, 79.8300°W.
How do I get to Hot Springs?
Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Homestead Drive (108 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Hot Springs?
Yes, Bolar Mountain Recreation Area is located nearby (7.5 miles away).
Sources: Wikipedia