Spring
This thermal spring emerges at 99°F along the Feather River Highway in Plumas County, delivering water 44 degrees warmer than ambient air in California's northern Sierra Nevada. The spring's most distinctive feature is its roadside accessibility—just 66 feet from the scenic byway—combined with its notable thermal intensity at 2,792-foot elevation.
Approaching from the Feather River Highway, the spring sits where the landscape transitions from river-carved granite canyons to mixed conifer forest. At this elevation the air remains cool even in summer, averaging 55°F annually, while the spring's 99-degree water creates a striking sensory contrast. Heavy annual snowfall of 112 inches characterizes winters, and the surrounding area receives over 40 inches of rain yearly, making this a water-rich environment.
The spring taps into geothermal heat cycling through the Sierra Nevada's fault systems, heated by rock deep in Earth's crust rather than shallow magma. The Feather River Canyon itself was carved by glaciation and river erosion over millennia, and the location near Quincy places it within historical Gold Rush territory where early settlers would have discovered such thermal features.
Access is straightforward: the spring sits mere steps from the Feather River Highway between Quincy and Oroville. Best visited during shoulder seasons (spring or fall) when air temperatures make thermal waters more appealing but snow hasn't closed higher elevations. The area experiences genuine four-season climate, so plan accordingly for winter conditions.
Is Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Hallsted campground is conveniently situated in the Feather River Canyon, just off the main road in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. At an elevation of 2,300 feet, it offers a cool getaway from the summer heat, as well as a variety of outdoor activities The route on the nearby Feather River National Scenic Byway traverses a steeply carved river gorge that encapsulates the historic railroad system from Oroville to Quincy and impressive powerhouses built to provide hydroelectric...