Big Caliente Hot Springs
- Free
- Roadside
A day-use hot spring in the Upper Santa Ynez area of Los Padres National Forest, and the only spring on the forest modified with a small concrete retention structure. It sits beside the Big Caliente Picnic Area at the end of a long dirt-road drive from San Marcos Pass. The picnic area is closed under a storm-damage order through September 15, 2027.
Closed by LPNF storm-damage order 05-07-54-26-09 until Sep 15, 2027; Big Caliente Rd (5N16) closed to vehicles.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Santa Barbara
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
What's here
- small concrete soaking tub (only modified spring on the forest)
- day-use only
- adjacent Big Caliente Picnic Area
- Upper Santa Ynez backcountry
- long dirt-road drive
Getting there
| Elevation | 2,372 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
Things to do near Santa Barbara
First Crossing Day Use Area
Santa Ynez River picnic area off Paradise Road; $10 vehicle fee collected by the concessionaire.
Campgrounds
- Rock Camp Campground0.3 mi
- Upper Caliente Camp1.4 mi
- Middle Santa Ynez Campground2.2 mi
- P-Bar Flat Campground2.4 mi
Trailheads
- Cold Spring7.7 mi
- Cold Spring Trail7.8 mi
- Ridge Trail7.8 mi
- Las Barrancas Trail8.5 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Little Caliente Hot Springs
A primitive, undeveloped hot spring on the Santa Barbara Ranger District, a short walk from Mono Campground beyond Pendola Station. The Forest Service treats it as day-use only, with no camping at the springs. The Little Caliente Picnic Area and Mono Campground are closed under a storm-damage order through September 15, 2027.
Willett Hot Springs
Primitive hot springs in the Sespe Wilderness, about 9 miles east of Piedra Blanca Trailhead on the Sespe River Trail and then 0.6 mile past Willett Camp. The area is open only to foot and horse travel, and parking at the trailhead requires a recreation pass. The Forest Service lists it among the four hot springs on Los Padres open to visitors.
Sespe Hot Springs
Remote hot springs and a hot creek at about 2,600 feet in the Sespe Wilderness, reachable only on foot or horseback. The Forest Service describes three routes: the Sespe River Trail from Piedra Blanca, the Alder Creek Trail from Dough Flat near Fillmore, and the Johnston Ridge Trail from Mutau Flat. It recommends spring visits, since summer temperatures can top 100F.
Little Caliente Hot Springs: 3 mi · Willett Hot Springs: 30 mi · Sespe Hot Springs: 32 mi
Sources (8)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.
- Official site: Hotsprings3 07.pdf
- Official site: Special closure sbrd storm damage recovery 0
- Official site: Order 05 07 54 26 09 SPECIAL CLOSURE STORM DAMAGE RECOVERY 091526.pdf
- Official site: Alerts
- Official site: Campground concessionaire operations
- Official site: First crossing day use picnic area
- recreation.gov
- santabarbaraca.com