Surprise Valley area visit

[zachcore]

So, last weekend we took a trip to Northeastern California. We had read about the various hot springs that are in the Surprise Valley area and thought we'd check them out. (No, we didn't go to Surprise Valley hot springs).

We headed to Leonard's and Glen and Chicken hot springs to check them out. We arrived to find that both sides of the road were fenced in. We saw the water flow under the road, but, there wasn't any noticeable structures or pools from where we were at on the road. We saw a shelter on the north side where there was a white truck. This structure looked like a shed or some sort.
So, we basically saw nothing.

We then headed out to Eagleville, CA to see if we could at least see Wild Mint. There is a huge 'NO TRESPASSING" sign near the springs and near the abandoned ranch that sits behind it. It's clear from the road that this isn't soakable. We headed down the road to Eagleville hot springs. It seems that there is no longer a red wood tub to soak in. There is no longer any wood from the original platform. All that's left is a warning sign and the hot pond that the hot water flows into. I tried wading in and it was way too hot. We didn't stop anywhere to ask what happened to the tub, but, i'm assuming it was vandalism?

We were pretty bummed we didn't get to experience a soak there. It's in an absolute beautiful area. There was so much life around the springs. Does anyone know what happened to Eagleville hot springs?

[fetch]

No trespassing signs at Eagleville? Those are new in the last year - since the report on Eagleville I posted regarding my Jan '09 visit. Not soakable? Was the tub gone altogether? Or was it just empty? It is - well, *was* - left empty and visitors would have to fill it. Not that it matters if it's now posted no trespassing...

The redwood tub at Wild Mint has been gone for well over a year now. IIRC it sprung unrepairable leaks so it was replaced by a circular stock tank which rusted out in short order (less than a year). Is that gone? It was upside down off to the side, as you can see in the photos included in the report I posted on Wild Mint for Jan '09 as well.

[Desertjohn]

When I was there in July of '09 there was a new "Rubbermaid" stock tank at Eagleville (aka Squaw Baths) as the galvenized tub that repalced the redwood tub had a million pin holes in it. Wild Mint, which is about 1/2 mile down the road from Eagleville toward the NV border, has concrete tubs. That property was bought by a gun club a few years ago and has been iffy at best for a soak since. It is visable from the road, so I really never liked soaking there. Eagleville isn't seen from the road unless you pull over in the "wide spot" and look down on it. I always liked the 2 person redwood tub, but it rotted out along with the deck that was around it a few years ago. The water always has that silky feel to it and I really liked soaking there.
Desertjohn

[ChronicWanderer]

The rubbermaid tub is now gone from the Squaw Baths, it couldn't stand up to the abuse it got... all that is left is the hot natural pool, which is an okay soak, but nothing like when the redwood tub was the premiere soak spot in the Valley.

Since Seyfourth had the clawfoot and the swimming pool liner area destroyed, it too is now unsoakable. (was always too hot for my taste anyway). Leonard is fenced in, and the headwaters of it are now for sale as the owner that messed it up now has it for sale, for about $140,000 for 40 acres with a couple ugly shacks on it. (the owner transferred to colorado midway through his "project" that turned a watering hole for the wild horses into a Beverly Hillbillies operation)

[Casa Blanca Hot Spring]

Hi CW,

Leonard is fenced in, and the headwaters of it are now for sale as the owner that messed it up now has it for sale, for about $140,000 for 40 acres with a couple ugly shacks on it. (the owner transferred to colorado midway through his "project" that turned a watering hole for the wild horses into a Beverly Hillbillies operation)

Does that mean no one can soak there and the wild horses have lost their watering hole? Thanks.

Naturally Nude,
Camilla & Bill

[ChronicWanderer]

there aren't any no trespassing signs, so i am not sure about the soaking... never was that great anyway. the little shepherd's hut that was there got torn down, and the area is fenced. The horses could probably get water where the stream crosses the road, but the old place they used now has a couple containers/shacks/junk by it, which would keep them away now anyway.

[Eric]

Eagleville (Squaw Baths), August 16, 2010




On a summer afternoon those main pools which receive the source flow directly were too dang hot, about 110-111 degrees. There are some smaller overflow pools below these main pools; it looked like with some work with a shovel these could have been dug out to make a decent soak (I didn't do that as I was just pausing here briefly during a long drive).

[Jeff Allen]

110-111, hot soak!

Thanks for the photos Eric!!!

[Desertjohn]

I was there again in July on my way up to Oregon and the water was 105 where the source pipe flows into the pool. I like to stop and soak for 1/2 hour or so after 8 hours on the road. Nice and relaxing. This time I was just going to Cedarville Pass and camping at the free camp spot there. The main campground was closed with a gate to shut you out, but there are a few other spots with fire pits and outhouses outside the gate so that's where I called home for the night.
When I was soaking in the Spring a thunderstorm rolled by and I got a few raindrops. Most of the storm was on the Nevada side, but it was pretty cool watching it from a soak.
John

[ChronicWanderer]

They are trying to slow the use of the campground you were using, it will eventually be closed. But the good news is, there is another one just over the top of the pass, Stough Campground, that has great camp spots, fireplaces, outhouses, and a really neat pond that is a great cooling off spot on a hot day. On the cedarville side of the pass, it is about a mile down from the crest, then north a mile. It is marked well. It is also a spectacular nordic ski place in the winter, too... no snowmobiles are allowed and the trail follows the high elevation crest of the Warners.

With Burning Man just around the corner, things will get busy around here again next week... the hot springs get over-run but a good time is generally had by all....