Surprise Valley Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Surprise Valley Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Cedarville, California. No soak temperature is on record. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Adults-only (21+) overnight retreat on Hwy 299 east of Cedarville in remote Surprise Valley — 19 rooms each with a PRIVATE artesian mineral-water tub (15 outdoor, 4 indoor, ~102-105F) plus full kitchen; NO day-use access, no shared pools, 2-night minimum, full payment at booking.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 7 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Surprise Valley Hot Springs — Rates & Policies (official).
- Cost: Reported $117 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: No soak temperature on record — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Clothing policy unknown — verify locally; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — room reservation only (online request form or 530-279-2040).
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Any season — outdoor tubs are atmospheric in winter snow; book well ahead for weekends/holidays.
- Clothing reality: Private in-room/patio tubs only — clothing is a non-issue (whatever you want inside your own room/tub area).
- Kids: Adults only.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Single-level motel-style rooms; outdoor tubs via patio doors but no published lifts/roll-in — call ahead for mobility needs.
- Strictly 21+ — no minors at all
- NO day use and no public pool — must book a room to soak
- 2-night minimum on ALL reservations; full amount collected at time of booking
- Cancellation: 7-day policy (14-day for holidays/special events), flat $25 fee on all cancellations; no-shows non-refundable
- No internet/WiFi and TVs are DVD-only (no satellite) — deliberately unplugged
- Pets: dogs only (NO CATS), $35/day up to 2 pets (3-night max charge), standard/deluxe rooms only
- Max 2 people per room except 2BR suites #19/#20/#23 (4 max)
- +4% Modoc County bed tax; rates rise for holidays/special events
- Phone reservations only 9am-noon and 1-3pm (530-279-2040); online requests are 'pending' until confirmed
- Remote — Alturas (~30 mi west) is the nearest real grocery/gas stop; limited cell/data
- Hazard: No on-site internet; patchy cell service in Surprise Valley
- Hazard: Winter storms can affect Hwy 299 passes
About this spring
Remote high-desert hot springs hotel 5 mi east of Cedarville on CA-299 in Surprise Valley — rooms and suites feature private outdoor hot mineral tubs; a quiet unplugged getaway between the Warners and the Hays Canyon Range. Fee: Overnight rooms ~$117-167/night incl. private outdoor hot tub; 2-night minimum; no day use. Extremely remote; limited connectivity. 21+ only; NO day use — overnight stays only, 2-night minimum
Five miles east of Cedarville — past the causeway crossing Surprise Valley's dry lake bed — this small overnight-only lodge sits on the high-desert valley floor between the Warner Mountains and Nevada's Hays Canyon Range. Most rooms have private outdoor soaking tubs (a few suites have indoor tubs), all fed by artesian mineral water with guest-adjustable temperatures; even the tap water is drawn from a 100-foot artesian well, and ponds on the property hold largemouth bass for catch-and-release fishing.
The water is a calcium-sulfate type — sodium around 256 ppm, silica around 102 ppm, calcium about 16 ppm — and notably odorless, since its sulfur is bound in sulfate rather than released as hydrogen sulfide gas. House rules are strict: guests must be 21 or older, there is no day use, and the property has no internet, though Verizon cell service works. Standard and deluxe rooms accept dogs for a nightly fee.
Directions & trailhead access
67254 CA-299 East — 5 mi east of Cedarville, cross the dry-lake causeway.
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 | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $117 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Unknown — verify locally |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Surprise Valley Hot Springs — Rates & Policies (official) |
Surprise Valley Hot Springs FAQ
Is Surprise Valley Hot Springs open right now?
Adults-only (21+) overnight retreat on Hwy 299 east of Cedarville in remote Surprise Valley — 19 rooms each with a PRIVATE artesian mineral-water tub (15 outdoor, 4 indoor, ~102-105F) plus full kitchen; NO day-use access, no shared pools, 2-night minimum, full payment at booking. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Surprise Valley Hot Springs free?
Surprise Valley Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Cedarville. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Surprise Valley Hot Springs?
No soak temperature is on record for Surprise Valley Hot Springs. Always test water temperature before entering.
Is Surprise Valley Hot Springs clothing optional?
Directory records do not confirm the clothing policy at Surprise Valley Hot Springs — verify current rules before visiting.
How do you access Surprise Valley Hot Springs?
Surprise Valley Hot Springs is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Cedarville
Cedarville is about 5 miles west of Surprise Valley Hot Springs via CA-299. Reserve the resort’s rooms and soaking terms directly; these are separate town stays.
Check overnight options with the operator
Check the road and access notes above before you book.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Surprise Valley Hot Springs — Rates & Policies (official) — operator · 2026-09
- Surprise Valley Hot Springs — homepage (official) — operator · 2026-09
- AvailabilityOnline booking engine — Surprise Valley Hot Springs reservation terms — operator · 2026-02
- HotSprings.co — Surprise Valley Hot Springs overview — community · 2026
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.availabilityonline.com/availtable.asp?un=svhotsprings
- surprisevalleyhotsprings.com/water
- surprisevalleyhotsprings.com/faqs
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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