Wilbur Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Wilbur Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Williams, California. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open — off-grid, solar-powered clothing-optional retreat on an 1,800-acre preserve 22 mi west of Williams; day use $65-72/person 10AM-5PM by advance reservation only (NO walk-ins), overnight guests soak 24/7.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Wilbur Hot Springs — Reservations & Rates (day-use price, policies).
- Cost: Reported $65 — 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 — reservation only
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: weekdays; weekends book out far ahead
- Clothing reality: Official: 'clothing optional bathing' per operator. Customary: most guests soak nude in the flumes/bathing area; clothing required in common indoor areas. Legal: private property.
- Kids: Minimum age 13.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: remote rustic property; bathing via stairs/ramps — contact front desk for mobility details
- Confirmed reservation REQUIRED for all visits — walk-ins never accepted; wait for email confirmation before driving out
- Day use is one flat price for 10AM-5PM — arrive near 10AM; everyone out by 5PM
- Day-use: $65.49 weekday / $72.15 weekend & holiday (incl. 11% land mgmt fee); some guides cite $69/$77
- Early arrival before 3PM check-in costs $10/hr/person
- 2-night minimum all indoor lodging; camping 1-night OK in summer, closed in winter
- No restaurant, no food sold — bring all food; community kitchen provided; stock up in Williams
- Cell service drops well before the property; no Wi-Fi — download directions
- Cancellation: >3 days free, <3 days 50%, no-show/same-day 100%; holidays 7-day window
- No pets
- Quiet-zone ethos — silence expected in bathing area
- Hazard: Remote dirt-road access (Bear Valley Rd) — cell signal lost before arrival
- Hazard: Extreme summer heat; site is off-grid
- Hazard: Winter: camping unavailable
About this spring
Historic geothermal resort (established 1865) operating as an off-grid, solar-powered retreat on ~1,800 acres including a nature preserve. Facilities include a 1915 lodge, cabins, camping, sauna, swimming pool and Japanese-style flume bathing fed by the scalding ~152°F springs; a small geyser erupts roughly hourly. Marketed as a quiet 'health sanctuary' — no cell service or Wi-Fi. Fee: Day use ~$65-72 (advance reservation required, no walk-ins); overnight lodging extra. Confirmed reservations required for all visits. No pets, no children under 13. Source water is scalding — use only the cooled bathing areas.
Wilbur Hot Springs, formerly known as Simmons Hot Springs, is a naturally occurring historic hot spring approximately 22 miles west of Williams, Colusa County, in northern California, United States. It is about two hours by car northeast of the San Francisco Bay Area, near the junction of State Routes 16 and 20. It was developed as a spa in the 19th century, and since its acquisition in the 1970s by therapist Richard Louis Miller, has been operated as a spa resort and personal retreat. The adjacent valley was added to the property as a nature reserve protected by covenant.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Wilbur Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
From Hwy 20 about 22 miles west of Williams (near the Hwy 16 junction), turn north onto Wilbur Springs Road and follow the dirt road ~5 miles to the resort.
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) | 152°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $65 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Wilbur Hot Springs — Reservations & Rates (day-use price, policies) |
Wilbur Hot Springs FAQ
Is Wilbur Hot Springs open right now?
Open — off-grid, solar-powered clothing-optional retreat on an 1,800-acre preserve 22 mi west of Williams; day use $65-72/person 10AM-5PM by advance reservation only (NO walk-ins), overnight guests soak 24/7. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Wilbur Hot Springs free?
Wilbur Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Williams. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Wilbur Hot Springs?
Wilbur Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 152°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Wilbur Hot Springs clothing optional?
Wilbur Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Wilbur Hot Springs?
Wilbur 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 Williams
Williams is an off-site highway base east of Wilbur. The resort is about 27 road miles away, including the final dirt-road approach; reserve spring access or an on-site stay with Wilbur separately.
Check overnight options with the operator
Check the road and access notes above before you book.
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Sources & references
- Wilbur Hot Springs — Reservations & Rates (day-use price, policies) — operator · 2026-09
- Wilbur Hot Springs — Wilbur Essentials / Plan Your Visit FAQ — operator · 2026-09
- Wilbur Hot Springs — homepage (clothing optional, solar-powered preserve) — operator · 2026-09
- CA Travel Times — Wilbur Hot Springs 2026 guide (cancellation detail, rates) — community · 2026
- hotsprings.co — Wilbur Hot Springs (min age 13 claim) — community · 2026
Official website: www.wilburhotsprings.com
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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