Sykes Hot Spring

Big Sur, Monterey County, California, USA, United States

Location: Big Sur, Monterey County, California, USA, United States
Water type: iron-rich
Temperature: 38 °C
pH: 6.3

Water profile

Thermicity

Neutral

38 °C

LowHigh

Soothing — neither hot nor cold, perfect balance.

Mineralisation

Bio-active

LowHigh

Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.

Buoyancy

Standard buoyancy

LowHigh

Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.

FerBicarbonatesManganèse

Deep in the Ventana Wilderness along the California coastal range overlooking the legendary Big Sur cliffs, Sykes Hot Spring lies at the end of a roughly twenty-nine-kilometre round-trip hike along the Big Sur River. This trail through some of California's southernmost old-growth redwood groves, sheltered in their moist canyons, prepares the traveller for the reward that awaits: small natural pools on a hillside, filled with iron-rich water at 38 °C.

The iron-rich water stains the surrounding rocks in characteristic shades of amber and rust, forming natural travertine formations of raw beauty. Settled in these elevated pools, the gaze carries across the misty ridges of the Coast Range and, on clear days, to the shimmering light of the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The warmth of the water contrasts wonderfully with the cool air beneath the canopy of conifers and California bay laurels.

Sykes Hot Spring is the quintessence of wild California thermal bathing: unreachable without hiking, subject to Wilderness permit rules, and imbued with the spirit of nature respect that defines Pacific California's outdoor culture. The effort to get there is the first part of the ritual.

Insider tip — Sykes Hot Spring is a legendary backcountry reward at the end of a 19-kilometre wilderness hike along the Pine Ridge Trail deep in the Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest. The iron-rich pools perch above the Big Sur River canyon with views of ancient redwood groves and steep chaparral ridges, creating one of California's most scenically dramatic soaking experiences. Plan for a two-day backpacking trip with a forest service permit, as the trailhead fills rapidly and the pools accommodate only a handful of visitors at a time; the reward is near-total solitude under stars undimmed by coastal light pollution.

Find hotels nearby →See the map & practical info →