Eagleville Hot Springs (Squaw Baths)

Which spring this is

This listing covers the roadside hot spring south of Eagleville in Surprise Valley, Modoc County. Older lists call it Squaw Baths or Squaw Bath. That word is now widely treated as a slur, and the spring appears as Eagleville Hot Springs on OpenStreetMap and in most recent trip reports, so that is the name used here. Do not confuse it with Menlo Baths, a separate spot a few miles north on the same road, or with Surprise Valley Hot Springs, a lodging near Cedarville.

What to expect

Surprise Valley is a long, dry basin in the far northeast corner of California, close to where the state meets Oregon and Nevada. The Warner Mountains rise along the west side and the Alkali Lakes, shallow and often dry, fill the valley floor. Surprise Valley Road runs along the base of the mountains, and the spring comes out of the hillside and the road embankment right beside it.

Visitors have dug out and walled two main pools at the bottom of the embankment, with a third, smaller one mentioned in a 2024 report. They are shallow, about a foot deep, with gravel bottoms, and each holds one or two people comfortably. The upper pool is the larger and hotter of the two. Water drains from it into the lower pool, so that one is usually a few degrees cooler. One guide puts the pools at roughly 100-110°F38-43°C depending on the weather, with the outflow hotter. The water is clear and visitors say it has little or no sulfur smell. Grass and wild mint grow around the edges.

The view is the reason people stop. You sit low, below the level of the road, looking east across the alkali flats to the bare ranges on the Nevada side. The trade-off is that this is not remote. You can hear trucks pass on the road above, and anyone driving by can see you. On a quiet evening there may be no traffic at all. On another day you may get several cars in an hour.

There is nothing here. No toilet, no trash can, no shade structure, no changing area. Bring water, a towel and a bag for your trash.

Getting there

The spring is on Surprise Valley Road (Modoc County Road 1), the paved road that runs south from Cedarville down the east foot of the Warner Mountains.

• From Alturas: Take Highway 299 east over Cedar Pass to Cedarville. In Cedarville, turn south onto Surprise Valley Road.
• From Cedarville: Drive south about 16 miles to the small town of Eagleville, then keep going roughly 8 more miles. One guide gives the total from the Highway 299 junction as 23.9 miles, with the turnout on the left (east) side just after milepost 5.5.

The road is paved and fine for any car. The hard part is spotting the turnout. It is a narrow gravel shoulder with no sign, and satellite images do not show the pools clearly. Slow down after Eagleville and watch for the gravel pull-off and steam or green growth below the road on the east side. Pull fully off the pavement. From the shoulder, a short but steep path drops down the embankment to the pools. It turns slick when wet, so wear shoes with grip rather than sandals.

Fill up with fuel in Alturas or Cedarville. Services south of Eagleville are very thin.

When to go

Most guides suggest late spring through fall. Surprise Valley sits around 4,500 feet, and winters bring hard frosts and snow. The road stays paved, but getting in and out of shallow pools in freezing wind is unpleasant, and the bank can ice over.

Summer days are hot and the pools have no shade, so early morning or the hour before sunset is more comfortable. Evenings also tend to have less traffic. One visitor reported having the pools to themselves on a fall Sunday evening, with no cars passing.

Rules and etiquette

There is no operator and no posted rules board, so the rules come from the landowner and from common sense:

• Respect the land status. The fullest guide says the spring is on private land that is open to the public and asks visitors not to abuse that. Another source says to confirm ownership before stopping. If you find a No Trespassing sign, do not soak.
• Know the history of the signs. A 2022 report said the pools had been taken apart and posted, but visitors in 2024 found no signs and the pools as before. A nearby spring, Wild Mint, less than a quarter mile away, is posted No Trespassing and is not open to the public.
• No camping. Do not sleep at the turnout or by the pools.
• Clothing is optional, but this is a roadside spot in plain view. A swimsuit is the polite default if other people or passing cars are around.
• Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. There are no facilities.
• No soap or glass in or near the pools.

Where to stay nearby

• Cedarville, about 24 miles north, is the main town in Surprise Valley and the place to buy fuel and food before heading south.
• Surprise Valley Hot Springs, a few miles east of Cedarville, rents rooms that each come with a private spring-fed tub.
• Alturas, the Modoc County seat, is west of Cedarville over Cedar Pass on Highway 299 and has more motels and full services.
• Modoc National Forest land covers much of the Warner Mountains on the west side of the valley, and there are Forest Service campgrounds in the range. Check the Modoc National Forest website for which are open and for fire restrictions.

Safety notes

• Road edge: The turnout is narrow and sits right beside traffic. Pull well off the pavement, watch children and dogs near the road, and take care getting back on.
• The bank: Most of the risk is the short, steep path down, which gets muddy and slick. Go slowly, especially after rain or after dark.
• Water temperature: The upper pool can run hot. Test it with your hand, keep soaks short and drink water. Do not put your head under.
• Remoteness: This is one of the emptiest corners of California. Carry water, food and a spare tire, and tell someone your plans.
• Sun and wind: There is no shade, and the valley gets strong wind. Bring a hat and a warm layer for after you get out.