Vichy Springs Resort
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Vichy Springs Resort is a resort hot spring listed near Ukiah, California. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open daily at this 1854 historic landmark resort 3 mi east of Ukiah: day use 9am-5pm gets you the carbonated 'champagne' mineral baths (~90F), 104F hot pool, seasonal Olympic pool and 700 acres of trails - $45/2hrs, $65/3hrs, $110 all-day, plus a $100 refundable deposit at check-in.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Town lodging for the Ukiah area.
Ukiah is about 3 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Vichy Springs official site - Day Use (2026 rates).
- Cost: Reported $45 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°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 - day-use fee at front desk
- Best time to go: weekday afternoons; 'rarely booked up for day use' per Feb 2025 press - easy spontaneous visit except holidays
- Clothing reality: Bathing suits REQUIRED in all facilities - explicit operator rule; no clothing-optional areas.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: developed historic resort; indoor bath rooms plus outdoor tubs - no published wheelchair details
- $100 deposit (cash or card) collected at check-in, adjusted to actual visit length
- During holiday periods day use is limited to 2-hour sessions only
- Olympic-size swimming pool is seasonal (closed in winter); mineral baths & hot pool year-round
- No pets anywhere on property including parking lot - $300 violation fee
- No online booking for day use - call (707) 462-9515; rarely sells out midweek but summer weekends fill
- Towel rental $3, suit rental $3, robe $13
- All-day day-use drops to $55 when booked with a spa service
- Hazard: Creek-side trails can be wet/slippery - bring shoes you don't mind wetting
- Hazard: Historic 1850s buildings - uneven surfaces
About this spring
Established 1854 — California's oldest continuously operating hot springs resort (Historical Landmark #980), featuring the only naturally warm carbonated 'Vichy' mineral baths in North America (14 tubs at ~90°F), a 104°F communal hot pool and a seasonal Olympic-size pool on 700 acres. Fee: Day use ~$45; included with overnight stays. The signature Champagne Baths are ~90°F — warm, not hot.
Vichy Springs rises on Sulphur Creek three miles east-northeast of Ukiah, where travertine and ancient travertine-onyx deposits mark vents estimated to be millions of years old. The Pomo used the waters for millennia; Frank Marble is credited as the first Euro-American to find them, and William Day built the first cottages — three of which still stand — by 1852-54. Colonel William Doolan operated the property from 1866 to 1896 as 'Doolan's Ukiah Vichy Springs,' named for the water's resemblance to France's Grand Grille springs: warm, alkaline, and naturally carbonated — the only such 'Vichy' baths in North America.
In its 19th-century heyday the resort accommodated up to 200 guests and drew presidents Grant and Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, Jack London, and Robert Louis Stevenson — a legacy recognized by California Historical Landmark No. 980. After decades of decline and a threatened clear-cut, Gilbert and Marjorie Ashoff acquired the 700-acre property in 1981, restored it through 1992, and it remains the oldest continuously operating hot springs resort in California.
Directions & trailhead access
2605 Vichy Springs Rd, Ukiah — ~2 hrs north of San Francisco via US-101.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 104°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $45 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Vichy Springs official site - Day Use (2026 rates) |
Vichy Springs Resort FAQ
Is Vichy Springs Resort open right now?
Open daily at this 1854 historic landmark resort 3 mi east of Ukiah: day use 9am-5pm gets you the carbonated 'champagne' mineral baths (~90F), 104F hot pool, seasonal Olympic pool and 700 acres of trails - $45/2hrs, $65/3hrs, $110 all-day, plus a $100 refundable deposit at check-in. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Vichy Springs Resort free?
Vichy Springs Resort is listed with reported fees near Ukiah. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Vichy Springs Resort?
Vichy Springs Resort has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 104°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Vichy Springs Resort clothing optional?
Vichy Springs Resort is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Vichy Springs Resort?
Vichy Springs Resort is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Ukiah
Town lodging for the Ukiah area. Orr and Vichy have separate admission and overnight arrangements.
Ukiah is about 3 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Vichy Springs official site - Day Use (2026 rates) — operator · 2026
- Vichy Springs official site - Policies — operator · 2026-09
- Piedmont Exedra - NorCal hot springs guide — news · 2025-02
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
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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