Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) is a resort hot spring listed near Sierraville, California. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open as Sierra Hot Springs — closed Mondays & Tuesdays, and EVERY visit requires an advance reservation with prepayment (no drop-ins; people get turned away at the gate): day use Thu–Sun 10:30am–5:30pm at $35/$40 adult, evening soak Wed–Sun 4–11pm at $35/$40, plus a required membership ($5/30-day or $20/yr — Harbin memberships honored); clothing-optional, no cell signal, kids allowed under a conduct code.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 6 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Sierra Hot Springs — homepage (closed Mon–Tue; day/evening pass windows; no drop-ins).
- Cost: Reported $35 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 105°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — membership + prepaid pass covers entry
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Thursday/Friday day-use for lower $35 rate and thinnest crowds; book ~a week ahead for weekends, 1–2 days midweek; evening soak passes are the quietest adult experience
- Clothing reality: Official: clothing-optional resort. Customary: nude use at pools/pool areas, clothed in lodge/public indoor areas per community reviews. Legal private nonprofit retreat.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Rustic historic property — Temple Dome is indoor; other pools reached by outdoor paths; no published ADA details — call 530-994-3773
- Advance reservations + prepayment required for ALL visits — no drop-ins; unreserved visitors turned away at gate
- Closed Mondays and Tuesdays (deep-clean days); reservation office open daily 9:30am–5pm PT at 530-994-3773
- Membership required for at least one person per party — $5/30-day, $20/yr, $300 lifetime; does NOT include facility use; Harbin memberships honored
- Day-use fee identical regardless of arrival time — arrive at opening for value
- Evening soak is adult-priced (child rate not listed for evening passes)
- No pets anywhere including inside vehicles; service animals only (no ESAs)
- No cell signal in Sierraville; Wi-Fi extremely limited — download directions/property map beforehand
- No phones/electronics or loud talk in soaking areas; quiet-zone etiquette
- No hookups; no open fires/candles/incense/smoking/cook stoves in campground
- Most rooms 2-night minimum (3-night weekend min on Lodge doubles); single nights only Lodge 7/8/9 or by phone
- Full prepayment at booking; 48-hr cancellation
- Shoes not allowed in soaking zones; bring own towels/robe/sandals
- Hazard: Hot pool runs 105–110°F — hydrate and limit sessions
- Hazard: No connectivity — emergencies handled on landline
- Hazard: Winter snow possible on Lemon Canyon/Campbell Hot Springs Rd; meadow camping can close Nov–Apr
- Hazard: Wildfire season AQI — check before driving
About this spring
Historic springs at the south edge of Sierra Valley, developed as Campbell Hot Springs Resort in 1874 — now operated as Sierra Hot Springs, a nonprofit clothing-optional retreat affiliated with Harbin. Pools range 85-110°F (Hot Pool 105-110°F, Temple Dome ~98-100°F, Phoenix Baths 85-90°F) plus cold plunges and sauna. Used by Washoe and Maidu peoples long before settlement. Fee: Nonprofit retreat — day use ~$35-40 plus a small required membership; day passes and overnight by reservation only. Reservations required — no walk-ins. Quiet-zone etiquette; no electronics at pools. Clothing-optional.
Set at the extreme southern end of Sierra Valley, these springs were shared by Indigenous peoples — Washoe elders recall the site as communal rather than belonging to any one tribe — long before settlement. Corel and Ordelle Howk established the Howk Ranch here in 1852 or 1853 and began hosting miners seeking treatment; Sierra County sheriff Jack Campbell bought the ranch and created the Campbell Hot Springs Resort in 1874, transforming it into a fashionable watering place before selling it for $17,000 and re-entering politics — he was shot dead on a hotel porch in 1882. The resort hosted dances and holiday parties for decades and became a New Age commune in the 1970s–80s, when Leonard Orr's 'rebirthing' rituals drew visitors. Since 1991 the nonprofit New Age Church of Being — which also operates Harbin Hot Springs — has run it as Sierra Hot Springs Resort and Retreat Center, renovating in the 1990s with a geodesic Temple Dome and a newly drilled well feeding the main pool. Four principal pools run 85–110°F; clothing-optional; reservations required.
Directions & trailhead access
From Hwy 49 in Sierraville, Lemon Canyon Rd then Campbell Hot Springs Rd ~0.8 mi to 521 Campbell Hot Springs Rd.
California geothermal context
California spans several geothermal provinces: the volcanic Cascades and Modoc Plateau in the northeast, Sierra Nevada granite seeps along the eastern front, Mojave and Colorado Desert springs in the south, and the famously mineral-rich Big Sur coast. Fire season (roughly June–November) closes access to many backcountry springs without warning — always check for current fire restrictions.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across California. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $35 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Sierra Hot Springs — homepage (closed Mon–Tue; day/evening pass windows; no drop-ins) |
Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) FAQ
Is Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) open right now?
Open as Sierra Hot Springs — closed Mondays & Tuesdays, and EVERY visit requires an advance reservation with prepayment (no drop-ins; people get turned away at the gate): day use Thu–Sun 10:30am–5:30pm at $35/$40 adult, evening soak Wed–Sun 4–11pm at $35/$40, plus a required membership ($5/30-day or $20/yr — Harbin memberships honored); clothing-optional, no cell signal, kids allowed under a conduct code. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) free?
Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) is listed with reported fees near Sierraville. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs)?
Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) has a reported soak temperature of 105°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) clothing optional?
Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs)?
Sierra Hot Springs (historic Campbell Hot Springs) is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Overnight options and spring admission
Book rooms, cabins or soaking times directly with the operator.
Check overnight options with the operatorSources & references
- Sierra Hot Springs — homepage (closed Mon–Tue; day/evening pass windows; no drop-ins) — operator · 2026-09
- Sierra Hot Springs — Rates & Reservations (membership, pass/room/camping rates, rules) — operator · 2026-09
- CA Travel Times — Sierra Hot Springs guide (gate turn-aways observed, weak cell service) — community · 2026
- Lodging Lookup / Google reviews — recent guest reports (Feb 2026) — community · 2026-02
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_Hot_Springs,_California
- plumassun.org/2025/05/09/plumas-past-taking-the-waters
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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