Morton's Warm Springs

What to expect

Morton’s Warm Springs is not a spa and not a hot tub. It is a summer swim park on about 20 acres beside Sonoma Creek, on Warm Springs Road between Kenwood and Glen Ellen, and it has the feel of a mid-century family picnic ground. Big oaks shade the lawns, families stake out picnic tables and barbecues, and kids move between the pools, the snack window and the creek.

The water comes from geothermal springs on the property. The operator keeps all three pools at 90-94°F32-34°C, which feels like warm lake water on a hot Sonoma afternoon rather than a hot soak. There are two main pools: the Diving Pool, 4.5 to 9 feet deep, and the Family Pool, 2.5 to 5 feet deep. A separate geothermal wading pool is for infants and toddlers. Lifeguards are on duty, and changing rooms have showers fed by the warm water.

Cafe 108° on site sells drinks and soft serve, with a full menu on some days. Outside food is always welcome.

The site has deep roots. The operator traces use of the springs back to the Wappo, Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok peoples. In the 1880s a bathhouse and a stone-walled creekside swimming tank were built here, and some of that stonework is still visible below the current pools. A lodge, cabins and a music pavilion followed in 1909, when the place was known as Los Guilicos Warm Springs. The Morton family later ran it as a family resort and gave it its name. Since 2016 it has been owned by a group of local investors called Warm Springs Stewards.

Getting there

The address is 1651 Warm Springs Road, Glen Ellen. Warm Springs Road runs between Highway 12 at Kenwood and Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen, so you can come in from either end.

• From San Francisco: Take US-101 north, then Highway 37 east and Highway 121 toward Sonoma. From Sonoma, follow Highway 12 north through the Valley of the Moon to Kenwood and turn onto Warm Springs Road. Allow at least an hour and a half in summer weekend traffic.
• From Santa Rosa: Take Highway 12 southeast toward Kenwood and turn right onto Warm Springs Road.

There is an on-site parking lot. It is a short, flat walk from the car to the gate, the lawns and the pools.

When to go

Morton’s runs a short season. In 2027 the operator plans to open May 1 and close September 26:

• May and September: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only.
• June to August: Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays.

Weekdays in June and July are the easiest days, with space on the lawns and in the pools. Weekends and holidays often sell out several days ahead. Arrive at 10 am if you want a picnic table in the shade or a barbecue, since only groups can reserve a specific area.

Sonoma Valley summers are hot, which is when 90-94°F32-34°C water makes the most sense. On cool or smoky days the pools are much less appealing, and the operator does not refund for weather or air quality, so watch the forecast and change your date before the cutoff.

Prices and booking

Morton’s uses a tiered sliding scale for online bookings. 2026 prices:

• Day visit: $23. The operator says this covers its costs and asks most people to choose it.
• Replenish: $30. Each one funds two below-cost visits for others.
• Below cost: $18 Tuesday to Friday, $20 weekends and holidays. For families in real financial hardship, limited in number.
• At the gate, no booking: $25, only when space remains.

Every guest age 3 and up needs a ticket, including non-swimmers. Children 2 and under are free but must wear swim diapers. All tiers give the same access for the whole day. You can arrive any time from 10 am to 4 pm. Season passes are sold in limited numbers and give guaranteed entry without a reservation.

Changing or cancelling: You can move your booking to another date in the same season yourself until 9 am on the day. Cancellations by email before 9 am the day before qualify for a refund. After 9 am on the day, it counts as a no-show.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits required. No street clothes or cut-offs in the pools.
• Shower every time before you get in. Let sunscreen dry for at least 15 minutes, and skip oils and lotions.
• Bring a towel. None are provided, though the cafe sells them.
• Adult float time: From 10 am to noon every day, the deep pool is for quiet adult floating. Kids can use the Family Pool then.
• Supervision: Children under 16 need an adult with them. Under-6s and non-swimmers need an adult within arm’s reach.
• No food, drinks or glass in the gated pool area. Water in non-glass bottles is fine.
• No diving or flips, no water fights, no large inflatables.
• No sound systems of any size anywhere on the property, and no confetti, water balloons or piñatas.
• Barbecues: Bring your own charcoal, lighter and tools. Home charcoal grills are not allowed.
• Dogs must be leashed and are not allowed in the pool area. Never leave a pet in the car.
• Smoking only in the parking lot or outside the gate.

Where to stay nearby

Morton’s is day use only. Nearby bases:

• Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, just north of Kenwood off Highway 12, has a state park campground in the hills at the head of Sonoma Creek.
• Glen Ellen and Kenwood have small inns and bed and breakfasts within a few minutes’ drive.
• Sonoma and Santa Rosa have the widest choice of hotels, each roughly 20 to 30 minutes away by car.

Safety notes

• Water safety: The Diving Pool is up to 9 feet deep. Lifeguards are on duty, but keep young children and weak swimmers within reach as the rules require.
• Sun and heat: Summer afternoons in the valley are hot and the lawns are partly exposed. Bring hats, shade and water.
• Sonoma Creek: The creek is accessible from the grounds. A 2024 restoration project with the Sonoma Ecology Center reshaped the banks below the picnic area. Watch children near the water and the uneven creek edge.
• Fire season: Sonoma Valley is wildfire country. Follow any closure or smoke notices from the operator.

Nearby stops worth adding

Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen has trails, the ruins of London’s Wolf House and his cottage. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is good for a morning hike before a swim. The wineries along Highway 12 between Kenwood and Glen Ellen are minutes away for the adults in the group.