Near Santa Barbara, in the mountains at a height of over 3,000 feet, lies an isolated hot spring location in Southern California. The water in the springs is among the warmest in California and the whole nation, with a temperature of 194 degrees Fahrenheit (90 degrees Celsius). There are only two ways to get to Sespe: on foot or by horseback (mountain bikes are not allowed). The shortest path is an eight-mile, somewhat challenging climb up and down a logging road. The Sespe Hot Springs are a part of the Los Padres National Forest, which is two hours north of Los Angeles and situated close to Ojai.

The water from the hot springs produces a creek that becomes colder as you travel further away from the sources. The hot springs entrances are all located in a large valley. You may swim in a variety of natural pools and sections where the water is heated to your preferred level. The ideal season to travel is spring because winters can be snowy and summers can reach temperatures of over 100 degrees. Although there are no amenities, you can trek, camp, and backpack in the region. Even though the nights might be chilly, the earth is warm due to the geothermal activity in the region, making it cozy for sleeping. Horses may travel on a single 10-mile path to the springs, and a number of nearby outfitters provide camping and drop-off/pickup services for walkers and riders.

• Address: Los Padres Forest, California
• Google rating: 4.8/5
• Opening hour: N/A
  
• Website: alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sespe-river-trail-to-sespe-hot-springs
  

The historic Vichy Springs Resort, which first opened in the middle of the 19th century, mixes a rural inn boutique hotel with a Northern California hot springs resort. The opulent lodgings (rooms or private cottages) allow you to stay over or just come for the day. One of the three original cottages, constructed in 1852, would be of interest to history aficionados. About two hours from San Francisco lies Ukiah, where Vichy Springs is located.

The hot springs in this area are special since they are the only naturally heated, carbonated mineral baths in the Vichy style to be found in North America. Since the time of the Ancient Romans, the French city of Vichy has been known for its carbonated mineral baths. There are four outdoor and ten indoor mineral baths in Vichy Springs. Both a sizable, spring-fed, and spring-heated pool as well as a non-heated (seasonal), olympic-sized pool are available. Even a natural cold plunge pool (swimming hole) beneath a waterfall is available at the resort; it is accessible after a 10-minute stroll through the woods. On the 700-acre private reserve, kilometers of hiking routes may be found. The hotel has a sizable spa with a variety of massage and cosmetic procedures.

• Address: 2605 Vichy Springs Rd, Ukiah, CA 95482
• Google rating: 4.5/5
• Opening hour: 9:00 a.m. - 21:00 p.m.
• Website: vichysprings.com
  

One valley over from California's Napa Valley, Sonoma is a stunning city that is still mostly an agricultural area. Only one hour from San Francisco, this opulent spa resort in the Bay Area stands out for having its own own historic thermal mineral spring at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn's Willow Spring Spa.

1,100 feet (335 meters) below the surface of the ground is where the hot spring begins. The expansive, lavish spa and the five-star resort are located on top of the spring. For thousands of years, the local native American tribes utilised the springs, which now supply water to all five pools and the resort's hot tubs.

The Fairmont's Willow Spring Spa welcomes day visitors, and entry is free if you take advantage of the majority of their massage or cosmetic services (there is a minimum spend required). The spa is renowned for its European bathing practice, which was motivated by experiences people had in historic bathhouses across the world. An exfoliating shower, a warm therapeutic bath, a hot pool with Jacuzzi jets, a giant shower, a trip to the herbal steam room, some time in the classic dry sauna, and finally a relaxation room are all included in this aquatic excursion. Additionally, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offers a Watsu pool where floating massages may be received. Since the small pool is at body temperature, the masseuse can treat your spine, joints, and muscles while you float, which is impossible while you're lying on a massage table.

• Address: 100 Boyes Blvd, Sonoma, CA 95476
• Google rating: 4.5/5
• Opening hour: 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• Website: fairmont.com/sonoma

The Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, one of the best hot springs, is located off Highway 101 near Avila Beach, a community in Central California that is about 15 minutes from San Luis Obispo. In addition to a three-bedroom casita, there are 72 rooms and suites. Each of the suites has an own hot tub on a private patio or balcony. The 100-acre estate where the boutique luxury resort is located has plenty of green space and hiking paths.

Reservations may be made for the resort's selection of outdoor hot tubs that are heated by mineral springs. The private baths must be rented in advance online on an hourly basis. The earliest reservation time is 9:30am, and the latest is 10:45pm. The Oasis Waterfall Lagoon, a sizable pool-like spa with a waterfall, may be reserved by groups of up to 20 people (and at least four). Day (non-hotel) visitors who book tubs can request food to be delivered to their tub from the resort's restaurant.

Sycamore provides 24 outdoor hot tubs with mineral water that is naturally heated that are positioned all over a verdant hillside. The resort features a huge spa with a variety of body, beauty, and skin treatments, as well as other wellness activities like yoga and pilates.

The Gardens of Avila restaurant, a well-known Central Coast dining spot, is located at The Sycamore and serves fresh, regional cuisine, part of which comes from the resort's one-acre chef's garden. Drive to adjacent Hearst Castle, William Randolph Hearst's enormous mountainside mansion for a luxurious getaway.

• Address: 1215 Avila Beach Dr, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
• Google rating: 4.4/5
• Opening hour: daily
• Website: sycamoresprings.com

A 700-acre resort with a focus on spirituality, wellness, and healing is called the Sierra Hot Springs Resort & Retreat Center. It is around four hours from San Francisco and 90 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Accommodations include a sizable lodge structure with rooms and suites as well as a number of camping spaces (no day-use guests or drop-ins are permitted). Another option is the historic The Globe Hotel in Sierraville, which is just a short drive away (under the same ownership). There are additional options for tent, vehicle, and RV camping, but none of them have any form of hookups.

The mineral pools are accessible every hour of the day. The Temple Dome is a large geodesic dome that houses two cold plunges and a hot pool with a sand floor. A sizable heated pool, a sizable sundeck, and a dry sauna are all outside. The heated meditation pool outside has a sand floor and artificial rock landscaping. The resort is not a clothing-optional establishment in the European sense, but the pools are.

Numerous well-known speakers and practitioners of spirituality and healing provide sessions and lectures at the resort, and there is usually a full schedule of workshops. Due to the property's proximity to the Tahoe National Forest, there are several opportunities for riding and hiking. The resort offers some fantastic skiing in the winter.

• Address: 521 Campbell Hot Springs Rd, Sierraville, CA 96126
• Google rating: 4.4/5
• Opening hour: Thursdays – Sundays, 10:30am – 5:30pm
• Website: sierrahotsprings.org

A historic, off-the-grid, solar-powered mineral hot springs resort in Northern California, Wilbur Hot Springs was established in the late 19th century. It is located in the town of Williams, which is about two and a half hours from San Francisco and about 90 minutes by vehicle from Sacramento. In Japanese-style onsen buildings, some of which are clothing-optional, the hot springs are enjoyed. A spring-fed and spring-heated swimming pool as well as a dry sauna are also present. Even a geyser is located there (for viewing, not for bathing).

In addition to the hot springs, which are open both day and night, there are yoga courses, holistic activities, guest chefs, and other food-related events. There are several massage and therapeutic options available. There are no cell phones permitted in the resort's public areas, making it a digital-free zone.

You bathe in flumes as the mineral-rich water rushes around you at one of three heat levels from the hot springs, which are naturally heated. A spring-fed pool, an outdoor flume, and a dry sauna are all available. Jump into the chilly plunge, which is a converted historic bathtub, after using the hot sauna and all the hot springs.

Beyond the water, Wilbur Hot Springs, one of the best hot springs in California, is a place of natural refuge and a hub for enlightenment. They provide several self-development programs in addition to yoga and healing. The region is also a part of a 1,800-acre natural park, so you may go trekking (or mountain biking) there to purify your spirit.

• Address: Wilbur Hot Springs, 3375 Wilbur Springs Rd, Williams, CA 95987
• Google rating: 4.3/5
• Opening hour: 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily
• Website: wilburhotsprings.com

The hot springs city of Calistoga is located in Northern California. Since the first hotel opened in 1862, it has been a well-known hot springs resort close to San Francisco. It is located in the renowned Napa Valley, a few hours north of San Francisco. It catered to San Francisco's affluent people of the time, many of whom had become wealthy during the previous California Gold Rush. Calistoga water is a well-known brand of sparkling drinking water that has been around for more than a century.

Mud baths are also quite well-liked here, and there are many of hot springs all around the city. In these "baths," you submerge yourself in muddy, hot, volcanic soil that is rich in minerals. You may pick from a variety of housing alternatives, including five-star luxury resorts and tiny motels, some of which have their own hot springs. Many of the hot springs in Calistoga are day-use only and do not offer overnight lodging.

Fast food franchises are not allowed in the city, so it still has a small-town vibe. It's a great vacation location. Even Calistoga has its own geyser that erupts around every 40 minutes and is known as Little Old Faithful or Old Faithful of California. It is one of just three regularly erupting natural geysers in the entire planet

• Address: Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, 1006 Washington St, Calistoga, CA 94515
  
• Google rating: 4.2/5
  
• Opening hour: daily
  
• Website: visitcalistoga.com
  

Did you know that the densely populated center of Los Angeles is home to a natural hot spring from Southern California? In Koreatown, halfway between Downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, are the Beverly Hot Springs. The spring's alkaline water reaches 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and is high in sodium bicarbonate, which was discovered during oil drilling in the early 20th century (35-41 degrees Celsius). The water contains a variety of minerals and chemicals, but one of them—sodium bicarbonate—is also included in antacids, which is why it has long been used for its therapeutic benefits.

Drive to adjacent Hearst Castle, William Randolph Hearst's enormous mountainside mansion for a luxurious getaway. The day spa opened in the 1980s and was constructed on top of the spring. There include a dry sauna, eucalyptus-infused steam room, cold plunge pool, and natural hot springs pool. Beverly Hot Springs provides a variety of spa and massage services in addition to its waters. Choose the heated bamboo sticks that are used in the bamboo fusion massage, which will help you relax.

Weekday day visitors can visit the spa. You must reserve a service (massage or facial) in order to enter on the weekends. The springs, pools, steam room, and sauna each offer a separate space for men and women. In some regions, nudity is not required.

• Address: 308 N Oxford Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
• Google rating: 4.1/5
• Opening hour: 10:00 a.m. and 20:00 p.m. daily
• Website: beverlyhotsprings.com

This beachside hideaway may be more renowned for The Esalen Institute and its New Age philosophy and self-help experiences, but it also has some fantastic, cliffside, oceanside hot spring spas if you're looking for hot springs in Big Sur. Only visitors to the Esalen retreat may use the baths. Prior to recent health concerns, the resort also used to provide massage services to the general public, but they are now exclusively available to guests. The baths were previously accessible to the public every night from 1am to 3am.

The retreat's lodge is down the hill from the baths, which are spread out across many floors. The spacious bath and outdoor massage deck are also on the first floor. On the lower floor, there are a number of spacious indoor and outdoor bathrooms as well as several private, antique clawfoot tubs for one-on-one usage. Additionally, there are bathrooms, showers, and dressing areas. There is proof that the nearby Native Americans employed the mineral-rich hot springs for their therapeutic benefits over 6,000 years ago, much as they do now.

• Address: 55000 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
• Google rating: 3.9/5
• Opening hour: 8:30 a.m. - 17:00 p.m.
  
• Website: esalen.org
  

This resort town in Southern California's desert oasis is about two hours' drive east of Los Angeles and is close to Palm Springs. In Desert Hot Springs, there are more than 20 hot springs resorts (the largest collection of warm springs in the US). Most are happy to host both daytime and overnight visitors. Given that Desert Hot Springs is only a 20-minute drive from the city center, traveling for a spa day there might be enjoyable.

There are several affordable and even midrange resorts, but just one offers luxury. In the foothills, with a view of the city, is the Two Bunch Palms resort. The chic, environmentally friendly resort's own hot springs, which are rich in minerals, are utilized to fill a variety of tubs, pools, and spas. Additionally, a full-service spa and public clay mud baths are available. Only resort guests have access to the treatments and the springs.

The Desert Hot Springs natural hot springs are distinctive in that they have no odor (some in other places can be a bit stinky due to sulfur content). Additionally, they stand out since the region is home to both natural hot and cold springs.

The neighboring Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a sizable outdoor area with miles of hiking and mountain bike paths, making it ideal for outdoor sports. Another neighboring area that is special is the Mission Creek Preserve, which is situated in a region where the Mojave and Sonoran deserts meet. This park accepts leashed dogs and has an accessible walk that runs alongside a river. Joshua Tree National Park may be reached from DHS in around 30 minutes.

• Address: 11999 Palm Drive Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
  
• Google rating: 3.9/5
  
• Opening hour: Monday-Thursday: 7:00am - 6:00pm; Friday-Sunday: Closed
  
• Website: cityofdhs.org