Home / United States / California / Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs
Resort & lodging

Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

  • From $90
  • 85–104°F
  • 1 hr 34 min from San Francisco
  • Walk-in OK

Calistoga's resort and spa running since 1952 on Lincoln Avenue, with three geothermal mineral pools, one indoor and two outdoor, set at about 85, 95 and 104°F. The 104°F Hot Spring is adults only. Day visitors can buy pool passes, daybeds and cabanas through ResortPass, and the spa still offers its original mud bath, The Works.

Overhead view of a swimmer in the mineral pool at Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, Calistoga, California
Photo: Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs
Price
From $90
Water
85–104°F
Nearest town
Calistoga
From San Francisco
1 hr 34 min
Reservations
Walk-in OK

Plan your visit

Hours & season

HoursPools daily 9am-10pm (per ResortPass)
SeasonOpen year-round

Tickets & booking

Price
  • ResortPass Daycation Pass from $90 incl. fees
  • Daybeds from $168 and cabanas from $224 for 2
  • Mud treatment from $220
  • Pools included with stays
AccessDay pass, walk-ins welcome
Booking
  • Day passes, daybeds and cabanas sold through ResortPass
  • Book spa treatments ahead as they fill quickly

Rules

Ages
  • The 104F Hot Spring pool is adults only
  • A third-party guide says spa services are 18+

On site

Pools3
LodgingYes

Not stated by the venue: swimwear, dogs.

Water temperature

Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.

Mineral profile

Total dissolved minerals

676 mg/L

Moderately mineralized · Sodium–chloride (salty, brine-like water)

Sodium184 mg/L
Calcium5.1 mg/L
Magnesium0.28 mg/L
Potassium8.3 mg/L
Chloride192 mg/L
Sulfate1.1 mg/L
Silica161 mg/L
pH
7.6
Temp at source
145°F
Lithium
1.5 mg/L
Fluoride
9.3 mg/L
Boron
10.5 mg/L
Iron
0.02 mg/L

Lab analysis of the source water at a USGS sampling site (0.1 mi from Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs), sampled 2004–2007 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.

The pools

PoolTemp
The Spring85°F
The Warm Spring95°F
Hot SpringAdults only. One of the three pools is indoor; the venue does not say which.104°F

As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.

Facilities

  • Showers: yes
  • Towels included: yes
  • Food on site: yes
  • Drinks / bar: yes
  • Massage: yes
Good to know
  • Check in at the front desk with confirmation and photo ID
  • Pets welcome for overnight stays by arrangement

What's here

  • three geothermal mineral pools (one indoor)
  • adults-only 104F Hot Spring
  • The Works volcanic ash mud bath
  • mineral whirlpool baths
  • geothermal steam room
  • poolside daybeds and cabanas
  • House of Better restaurant
  • operating since 1952

Getting there

  • From San Francisco1 hr 34 min75 mi
  • From Santa Rosa30 min17 mi
  • From Santa Rosa (STS)34 min19 mi

Typical driving time without traffic or snow.

Elevation358 ft
Road
  • Paved road
  • On Lincoln Avenue in downtown Calistoga
ParkingFree on-site parking with Tesla and standard EV chargers

Things to do near Calistoga

attraction

Old Faithful Geyser of California

Privately run geyser that erupts at regular intervals, about 2 miles north of downtown Calistoga.

park

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

Mount St. Helena trails north of Calistoga, including the summit route.

park

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Redwood and oak trails plus a campground between Calistoga and St. Helena.

Nearby springs

Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa: 0 mi · Calistoga Spa Hot Springs: 0 mi · Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa and Resort: 0 mi

Sources (6)

· 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.

  1. Official site: home
  2. Official site: Llms.txt
  3. Official site: Mineral pools
  4. Official site: Faqs
  5. resortpass.com: Dr wilkinsons backyard resort and mineral springs
  6. hotspringsguides.com: Dr wilkinsons backyard resort mineral springs california