Miracle Hot Springs

Mapping Made Easy

Address:
Sequoia National Forest, California, USA

Category: Hot Springs-soakable

Used in the following map:

C/O Hiking & Soaking in the Western U.S. & Canada

GPS GeoCoords: 35.5758,-118.5336

This was originally known as Compressor Hot Springs or Clear Creek Hot Springs because an ingenious miner constructed a turbine that used water from Clear Creek to power a compressor that supplied air to underground miners in Havilah. A hobo camp with bath houses developed in the area during construction of the Borel power plant in 1901, changing the name to Hobo Hot Springs.

The land was leased from the Forest Service for construction of a hotel in 1927. There was even an official post office established in 1932 that was used for the next 50 years. Professional therapists from Finland combined deep massage with the soothing effects of the hot springs. The name was changed to Miracle in 1947, for the 'miraculous' relief powers of the hot springs mineral waters.

The hotel burned to the ground in 1975. The Forest Service cleared up the remaining hazards in recent years, but the trail to the springs and some rock tubs still remain. The water temperature comes out at 119 degrees. Miracle Hot Springs is 1/8 mile west of Hobo Campground. A short hiking trail leads to the springs.

There used to be a 'preservation' group that maintained and charged a fee for use of the pools but I can't find a recent reference to them anymore.

The Sequoia National Forest lists the site and the adjacent campground but makes no mention of pools or soaking at all. Miracle Hot Springs is most often referenced as a 'put out' point for whitewater kayakers along the Kern River.

In April of 2003, the Forest Service, under pressure from the City of Bakersfield (which gets it's water supply from the Kern River), demolished the cement tubs of the springs. They took this action because of unacceptable bacteria counts in the pools that threatened the water supply.

There are rumors that die-hards keep rebuilding rock pools at the springs sources . . . which keep getting knocked down.

Still, I will continue to keep this one as SOAKABLE and maybe a 'best kept secret'. Rick