Sierra Hot Springs

What to expect

Sierra Hot Springs sits on the hillside just south of Sierraville, where the pine forest meets the wide, flat Sierra Valley. The land has been a hot springs resort since the 1880s, when it was known as Campbell Hot Springs, and Indigenous people used the springs long before that. Today it is a nonprofit retreat run by resident workers on more than 600 acres that border national forest.

The feel is closer to a quiet retreat than a resort. Phones are banned in the pool areas, photography needs a permit, and the Temple Dome is kept as a quiet zone. The soaking areas are clothing optional. Most guests come to soak for hours, nap in the lodge, eat at the café and soak again.

The pools

The operator lists these soaking areas and temperatures:

• Hot Pool (Temple Dome), 110-112°F43-44°C. The main event: a hot pool inside a large geodesic dome with stained glass and skylights, with two cold plunges beside it. Adults only.
• Warm Pool (Temple Dome), 98-100°F37-38°C. Just outside the dome, next to a large sundeck and a dry sauna. Children are allowed from 11am to 6pm.
• Meditation Pool, 98-100°F37-38°C. An outdoor pool lined with rock and entered by stone steps, designed to look like a natural pool. It is the best spot for stargazing. Adults only.
• Phoenix Baths, 95-96°F35-36°C. Private tubs refilled with fresh water for each user, first come, first served. They take about 20 to 30 minutes to fill. Children may use them at any time.
• Dry sauna, beside the Warm Pool. Adults only.

The operator describes the water as smooth as silk. Older sources quote slightly different figures, so treat the operator’s numbers as current.

Getting there

The address is 521 Campbell Hot Springs Road, Sierraville, CA 96126.

• From Truckee: Leave I-80 at exit 188B and drive north on Highway 89 for about 30 minutes to Sierraville. At the Globe Hotel, where Highways 89 and 49 meet, turn right onto Highway 49, then right onto Lemon Canyon Road, then right again onto Campbell Hot Springs Road. Follow it to the Main Lodge and register before you use any facilities.
• From Reno or Sacramento: Head for Truckee on I-80 and follow the route above.

Car GPS units sometimes suggest turns onto tracks that are not real roads. Coming north on Highway 89 from Truckee, ignore any instruction to turn off before Sierraville. There is no EV charging on site. The nearest chargers are in Truckee and Portola. Small planes can land at Sierraville Dearwater Airport, next to the property.

When to go

The springs are open all year, Wednesday to Sunday. Winter is the classic season: snow on the meadow, steam over the Meditation Pool and cold, clear nights. Highway 89 is a mountain road, so carry chains and check Caltrans conditions before you drive. From November to April the camping meadow may close because of snow or snowmelt.

Weekends are busiest and passes often sell out, so book early. Wednesday and Thursday evenings are cheaper and quieter. Summer brings warm days and good hiking and biking on the property and in the neighbouring national forest.

Prices and booking

All prices are the operator’s published 2026 rates and include tax for lodging.

• Membership: At least one person in each party needs a current membership: $5 for 30 days, $20 for one year or $300 for life. It can be bought on arrival but does not include facility use. Sierra Hot Springs and Harbin Hot Springs honor each other’s memberships.
• Day use (Thursday to Sunday, 10:30am-5:30pm): $35 per adult and $25 per child on Thursday and Friday. $40 per adult and $25 per child on weekends and holidays.
• Evening soak (Wednesday to Sunday, 4pm-11pm): $35 per adult Wednesday and Thursday, $40 Friday to Sunday and holidays.
• Lodge rooms: From $160 a night Wednesday and Thursday and $198 Friday to Sunday, for two people. Some single rooms run $105 to $125. Most rooms need a two-night minimum, and lodge doubles need three nights on weekends. Extra adults are $45 and extra children $35.
• Camping and RVs: $45 per person per night Wednesday and Thursday, $60 Friday to Sunday and holidays, with no hookups.
• Overnight access: Rooms and camping include pool access from 2pm on arrival day to 2pm on departure day. Check-out is at 10am.

Book online or by phone at 530-994-3773 (9:30am-5pm Pacific, daily). Payment is due in full when you book, and cancellations more than 48 hours ahead are refunded. Massage and Watsu sessions are offered Thursday to Sunday by appointment.

Rules and etiquette

• Clothing optional in the pool areas only. Dress everywhere else.
• No phones in the pool areas, and silence devices across the property. No photography without a permit.
• Quiet in the Temple Dome. Save conversations for the outdoor areas.
• No alcohol, drugs or pets, not even a dog left in a car or RV.
• No open fires, candles, incense, smoking or cook stoves.
• Children must stay with a responsible adult at all times and follow the pool hours above.

Where to stay nearby

• On site: The Main Lodge, the Globe Hotel in Sierraville and the campground are all run by Sierra Hot Springs and include pool access. The Philosophy Café in the Main Lodge serves meals, and dining passes are sold at the front desk.
• Sierraville: The village at the Highway 89 and 49 junction is a few minutes away.
• Truckee: About 30 minutes south, with the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and fuel, plus the Tahoe ski resorts beyond.

Safety notes

• Hot Pool heat. At 110-112°F43-44°C, the dome pool is hot enough to make people faint. Keep soaks short, use the cold plunges and drink water between rounds.
• Altitude and alcohol. The springs sit at about 5,000 feet. Alcohol is banned here for good reason; arrive sober and hydrated.
• Winter driving. Snow and ice are common on Highway 89 and the property road. Carry chains.
• Wet stone. The rock steps into the Meditation Pool and the decks get slippery, especially at night and in frost.

Ownership note

The property, including the Globe Hotel, has been listed for sale since at least 2025, and the asking price has since been cut. The springs remain open and taking reservations as of October 2026. Check the official site before you travel in case anything changes.