Gaviota Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Gaviota Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Gaviota, California. Reported soak temperature: 99°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free primitive sulfur spring inside Gaviota State Park ~33 mi west of Santa Barbara; 0.5-mi uphill hike (400 ft gain) from trailhead at end of Gaviota Park Boundary Rd; two small pools ~95-115F; $2 self-pay parking, gated lot closes at sunset — day use only.
Checked December 2025 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via California State Parks — Gaviota State Park official page (natural sulfur hot springs in park).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 99°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; 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 — pay $2 day-use parking at self-service box (or valid state park pass).
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings; weekends draw crowds to the small pools.
- Clothing reality: Official: clothing required — CA State Parks prohibits nudity and a posted sign says so. Customary: nude soaking is long-standing and typical; rangers reportedly do not actively enforce unless complaints are made. Legal: technically enforceable — clothing-optional in practice, not in law.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — steep fire road then narrow, sometimes overgrown single-track; no wheelchair access.
- $2 self-pay parking at trailhead — bring exact change; rangers patrol the lot frequently
- Parking gate closes at sunset; all soaking must end before dark
- Main pool only fits ~6 people; weekends get crowded
- No facilities at the spring; unmaintained pools have algae/moss and a strong sulfur smell
- Poison oak along the final single-track spur to the pools
- Mountain lions have been reported in the area
- Hazard: Poison oak on final spur trail
- Hazard: Mountain lion sightings reported
- Hazard: Gate locked at sunset — plan exit time carefully
About this spring
Two small sulfur pools (a WPA-era rock basin and a natural-bottom pool) in a shaded canyon in Gaviota State Park ~33 mi west of Santa Barbara — water emerges around 99°F; the milky-blue upper pool is warmer. Fee: Free; $2 trailhead parking. More warm than hot; poison oak on the final single-track; parking gate closes at sunset.
Gaviota Hot Springs is a geothermal feature in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The two pools are accessible from the Gaviota Peak trail in Gaviota State Park. Gaviota Hot Springs is sometimes called Las Cruces Hot Springs or Sulphur Springs. The hot springs lie within the Hot Springs Creek watershed, near the junction of U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Gaviota Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Trailhead at the end of Gaviota Park Boundary Rd off US-101; hike ~0.5 mi up the fire road then right onto single-track.
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 primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
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 | 99°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 99°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | California State Parks — Gaviota State Park official page (natural sulfur hot springs in park) |
Gaviota Hot Springs FAQ
Is Gaviota Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive sulfur spring inside Gaviota State Park ~33 mi west of Santa Barbara; 0.5-mi uphill hike (400 ft gain) from trailhead at end of Gaviota Park Boundary Rd; two small pools ~95-115F; $2 self-pay parking, gated lot closes at sunset — day use only. (Status verified against an official source, last checked December 2025.)
Is Gaviota Hot Springs free?
Gaviota Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Santa Barbara County, California. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Gaviota Hot Springs?
Gaviota Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 99°F and a historical source temperature of 99°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Gaviota Hot Springs clothing optional?
Gaviota Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Gaviota Hot Springs?
Gaviota Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- California State Parks — Gaviota State Park official page (natural sulfur hot springs in park) — official · 2026
- Hikespeak — Gaviota Hot Springs trail status (open, updated 2025-12-06) — community · 2025-12
- AllTrails — Gaviota Hot Springs and Trespass Trail (no dogs allowed) — community · 2025-04
- Nudist Compass — Gaviota Hot Springs (customary nude use, $2 fee, ranger enforcement pattern) — community · 2024
- Hot Springs Guides — Gaviota State Park Hot Springs (pool temps, parking logistics) — community · 2025
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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