Unnamed Thermal Spring
Near Benicia in Solano County, this 73-degree spring flows at 218 feet, 14 degrees warmer than ambient, just 68.5 meters from Lake Herman Road overlooking the Carquinez Strait.
The short walk from Lake Herman Road crosses grassland sloping toward the strait where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers merge their waters on the journey to the Pacific. The spring emerges in rolling terrain of golden grass and scattered oak. Views extend to the water where maritime traffic passes between the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay. The setting combines hill country with proximity to major waterways.
The Carquinez Strait marks a critical geological boundary where major faults separate the Coast Ranges from the Sacramento Valley. This thermal spring reflects heat from deep crustal processes active along these fault zones. The area has supported human settlement from Native American peoples through Spanish colonial periods and into the modern industrial era.
This spring's convenient roadside location requires minimal walking effort. Year-round access is available, though autumn and spring offer the most pleasant conditions. The proximity to Lake Herman creates opportunities to combine water recreation with spring visitation. Nearby Benicia offers dining and amenities.
Is this spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Aquatic Park Cove is a vibrantly urban harbor that mimics a natural anchorage and is located on the Pacific shores of one of America's great West Coast cities. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park's Aquatic Park Cove is the small craft gateway to San Francisco. Vessels entering Aquatic Park Cove are instructed to contact the Park's permit officer on VHF marine radio channel 83A (157.175Mhz) using the call sign "Aquatic Park NPS" followed by transmission of the vessel'...