The Spa at Séc-he (Palm Springs Hot Mineral Spring)

What to expect

Palm Springs takes its name from a real hot spring, and it is still flowing in the middle of downtown. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians calls it Séc-he, a Cahuilla word for the sound of boiling water. The tribe owns the land and the spring, and since April 4, 2023, the water has supplied The Spa at Séc-he, a large day spa on the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza at the corner of Indian Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way. If you searched for “Palm Springs hot springs” and want to soak in water from the city’s namesake spring, this is the place.

Do not expect a natural pool in the rocks. This is a polished, modern spa of about 73,000 square feet, and the spring water is used mainly in private rooms. The ritual is called Taking of the Waters: you get your own room with a tub of mineral water at about 105°F41°C for a 15-minute soak. There are 22 of these private baths. Clothing is optional in your room, and the spa suggests rinsing with clean water afterward.

Outside the private baths, a day pass covers the rest of the spa. That includes a zero-edge mineral pool kept at a mild 90°F32°C or so, a large freshwater pool with a rock waterfall and grotto, and a co-ed whirlpool. Indoors there are men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam rooms, saunas and showers, two salt caves, lounges and a fitness center. A poolside bar and an indoor café sell food and drinks.

The spring and its history

According to the tribe, the water is heated to nearly 180°F82°C in a chamber about 8,000 feet underground, then rises roughly 1.5 miles to the surface, cooling to about 105°F41°C and picking up calcium, magnesium and sodium on the way. It flows at about 26 gallons per minute. Tribal ancestors used the spring for drinking, irrigation, bathing and ceremony long before any resort town existed.

A bathhouse on the spring was the first tourist attraction in what became Palm Springs, from the late 1880s. Several bathhouses followed, each replacing the last, and in the 1950s the tribe leased the land for a spa hotel that ran for about 60 years. The current spa is roughly the fifth bathhouse on this site. The tribe broke ground on the Cultural Plaza in 2018.

Getting there

The spa is at 200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, at the northeast corner of Indian Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way, next to the Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs.

• From Los Angeles: Take I-10 east to the CA-111 Palm Springs exit. Follow CA-111, which becomes Palm Canyon Drive, into downtown. Indian Canyon Drive runs one block east. Allow about 2 hours without traffic.
• From Palm Springs International Airport: It is about 2 miles west along Tahquitz Canyon Way.

The spa does not publish parking details online, so ask when you book. If you are staying downtown, it is an easy walk from most hotels.

When to go

The spa is indoors and outdoors and open all year, but the season shapes the visit. From roughly November to April, the desert weather is mild and the outdoor pools are at their best. These are also the busiest months in Palm Springs, so book ahead, especially for weekends.

Summer in the Coachella Valley is very hot, and lounging by the pool at midday can be hard going. Morning visits work better then. Weekday passes are $30 cheaper than weekend ones, and Monday to Thursday tends to be calmer.

Prices and booking

Rates listed by the spa in 2026:

• Day pass: $135 Monday to Thursday, $165 Friday to Sunday and holidays. Includes the private Taking of the Waters bath and all amenities during spa hours.
• Day pass with treatments: From October 1, 2026, guests booking $200 or more in spa services pay $25 (weekdays) or $35 (weekends and holidays) for same-day access. The spa says this pass is required for entry with treatments.
• Bath add-ons: A CBD infusion or a gemstone collagen eye mask, $25 each.
• Included: A private locker, robe, sandals and grooming products.

Book online or by phone at 866-777-3243. Reservations need a credit card, phone number and email address. Change or cancel at least 24 hours ahead, or you pay the full cost for your party. If you have a treatment, arrive at least an hour early. Late arrivals lose time.

Rules and etiquette

• Ages 18 and up for day passes, treatments and amenities, with photo ID at check-in.
• Swimsuits in all public areas. Clothing is optional only in your private bath, during treatments and in the private locker showers.
• Phones must be silenced and put away, and calls must be taken outside. No personal music.
• No outside food or drinks. No smoking or vaping anywhere on site.
• Leave jewelry at home. The minerals tarnish it.
• Tell the spa about pregnancy or health conditions when you book.

Where to stay nearby

The spa has no rooms of its own. Downtown Palm Springs is full of hotels within walking distance, from large properties to small mid-century inns along Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. Desert Hot Springs, a short drive north across I-10, has a cluster of small resorts with their own hot mineral pools if you want to soak where you sleep.

Safety notes

• Heat: A 105°F41°C bath is hot. Keep to the 15-minute session, drink water, and stand up slowly when you finish.
• Desert sun: Outdoor loungers get strong sun most of the year. Use shade and sunscreen, and drink more water than you think you need.
• Alcohol: Skip drinks before your soak. Hot water and alcohol together can cause dizziness.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum shares the plaza at 140 N. Indian Canyon Drive. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm with timed tickets, and covers Cahuilla history and the story of the spring. Allow 1 to 2 hours. The museum is closed Mondays and on several major holidays.