Surprise Valley HotSprings, east of Cedarville: Updated Guide 2026
I’m Vanessa, and I built CATRAVELTIMES to document the California hot springs most guides never bother finding. Surprise Valley Hot Springs is exactly why I do this. It sits 5.2 miles east of Cedarville, CA on the Nevada border in Modoc County private mineral tubs, no crowds, no WiFi. Rooms run $107 to $167 per night, water holds at 101–105°F, and your tub is yours alone. Among all the Hot springs in California, this one earns the drive.
What is Surprise Valley HotSprings? Quick Detail
This corner of northeastern California was Paiute and Modoc territory long before settlers arrived. The Northern Paiute people used these geothermal waters for centuries. European settlers pushed in during the 1860s, the biggest wave in 1864, and Cedarville took shape by 1867.
The springs became a private resort over time. When I pulled off CA-299 and looked out at the Warner Mountains with Nevada’s open desert ahead, knowing that history changed the weight of the soak entirely. It felt earned. The resort holds a 4.6-star rating. Now let me tell you how to get here.
How to find Surprise Valley HotSprings? Directions & Map
The resort is at 67254 CA-299, Cedarville, CA 96104 GPS 41.5331, -120.0786. Drive east from Cedarville on CA-299 for 5.2 miles; the resort sits on your right. The road is fully paved any vehicle handles it. What I didn’t expect was how empty the landscape gets once Cedarville disappears. Watch the right shoulder after mile 5; the turnoff comes faster than you think. You’ll understand why I had my camera out before I even checked in.
Surprise Valley HotSprings Photos: Stunning & Scenic Views
I shot the outdoor tubs at dusk, when the Warner Mountains turn everything copper. I got the alkali flats wide from the property edge and the midnight sky that made me question every urban trip I’d ever taken.
The water-and-sky combination is what you’ll keep scrolling back to but first, here’s everything practical you need to know.
Important Information You Need to Know About Surprise Valley HotSprings
Is Surprise Valley HotSprings Free to Visit?
No it’s a private paid resort. Rooms run $107 to $167 per night by room type. Pets cost $35 per stay, maximum 2 pets. A 4% bed tax applies. Soaking is for overnight guests only no day-use option, no walk-ins after 5:00 PM.
What Are the Room Types at Surprise Valley HotSprings?
3 tiers: Standard, Deluxe, and Suites. Standard and Deluxe rooms each have a private outdoor soaking tub fed by artesian mineral water. Suites Rooms 19, 20, 22, and 23 include indoor jetted tubs. Full kitchen in every room. No TVs, no internet.
What Are the Hours and Booking Policy?
The resort operates year-round. Reservations are required; no walk-ins after 5:00 PM. Book at surprisevalleyhotsprings.com or call (530) 279-2040. Spring and fall weekends book fast reserve 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Weekdays are easier to get and noticeably quieter when you’re there.
Is There Camping at Surprise Valley HotSprings?
The resort is rooms only no camping on-site. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in the valley allows free dispersed camping. South Warner Wilderness has backcountry sites with a permit. Neither connects to the resort’s hot springs access. A room reservation is required.
What’s the Mineral Content of the Water?
The source flows at 200°F (93°C) from a 200-foot-deep artesian well, piped to 100–105°F in the tubs with no chemicals added. Sodium 256 mg/L, Silica 102 mg/L, Lithium 0.95 mg/L. The water feels silky. Among Hot springs in California, this profile stands out.
Is Surprise Valley Hot Springs for Sale?
As of 2026, Surprise Valley Hot Springs is not publicly listed for sale. Ownership can always change contact the resort at (530) 279-2040 for current status before making any plans based on a listing you may have seen online.
What’s the Water Temperature & Best Time to Visit Surprise Valley HotSprings?
The tubs hold at 101–105°F warm enough to stay in for 90 minutes without watching the clock. I soaked until the stars came out overhead and walked back feeling like I’d left three weeks of tension in that water. The outdoor tubs shift in feel by season.
| Season | Why Visit | Best Time | Water Temperature |
| Spring | Mild temps, wildflowers, light crowds | April–May | 101–105°F |
| Summer | Long evenings, warm air, peak stargazing | June–August | 101–105°F |
| Fall | Cool air contrast, color in the Warners | September–October | 101–105°F |
| Winter | Quiet and stark; Cedar Pass may ice | November–March | 101–105°F |
| Year-Round | Private tubs available to guests always | Anytime | 101–105°F |
Spring and fall are the best windows mild Surprise Valley weather, clean Cedar Pass road conditions, and that edge in the air that makes hot water feel genuinely earned. Here’s what to pack.
Things to Do at Surprise Valley HotSprings
I spent most of my time soaking and stargazing and still left feeling like I missed the best of the region. The valley around the resort is why you stay 2 nights. If you’re already building a northeastern California hot springs loop, Deep Creek Hot Spring and Franklin Hot Springs are two stops worth mapping into the same trip before you head home.
South Warner Wilderness
About 15 miles west off CA-299, the South Warner Wilderness offers remote hiking through alpine meadows and ridgeline views across the Great Basin. Free, managed by Modoc National Forest. Trails rarely see crowds. I did an early morning loop and went 3 hours without passing another person.
Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary
30 miles east near the Nevada border, Massacre Rim is 1 of only 10 designated Dark Sky Sanctuaries worldwide. No entry fee. I went out on my second night and it’s the darkest sky I’ve seen in California. Bring binoculars this is not a stretch to say it’s worth the trip alone.
Modoc National Wildlife Refuge
South of Alturas, the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge draws sandhill cranes and waterfowl during peak migration seasons. Free access, rated 4.6/5 on Google Maps. I walked the auto tour route in total quiet just birds and wind. Worth the detour in spring or fall.
High Rock Canyon Wilderness
About 60 miles east into Nevada, High Rock Canyon is BLM-managed volcanic canyon country with petroglyphs and wild horses. Free access. Bring a paper map cell service dies entirely. The canyon scale genuinely surprised me; it’s some of the most dramatic landscape in the whole Great Basin region.
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
About 70 miles east into Nevada, Sheldon holds one of the country’s largest pronghorn antelope populations. Free entry, rated 4.7/5. High-clearance vehicle preferred. If Benton Hot Springs is in your itinerary on the return, this northeastern loop makes for a serious multi-day California hot springs route.
The region rewards slow travel don’t rush through it. Here’s where to sleep and eat.
Where to Stay & Eat Near Surprise Valley Hot Springs
Near Surprise Valley, lodging options are small-town and honest, which suits this place perfectly.
Hotels Near Surprise Valley HotSprings
Surprise Valley Hot Springs Resort
Rooms at $107–$167/night, rated 4.6/5, private mineral tubs in every room, full kitchens throughout. Adults only. 67254 CA-299, Cedarville. Book directly this is the main event.
Cockrell’s High Desert Lodging
Ranch-style lodging in Cedarville, 5 miles from the resort. Rated 4.4/5. Good Western character and practical amenities. Solid backup when the resort is fully booked.
Sunrise Motel and RV Park
In Cedarville, the Sunrise Motel offers basic rooms and RV hookups. Budget-friendly and practical for an overnight before the resort or after a long Cedar Pass drive.
The Cressler House
Historic bed-and-breakfast-style lodging in Cedarville, named for one of the valley’s founding settlers. Well-rated for character and quiet. Good for travelers who want local history baked into where they sleep.
Restaurants Near Surprise Valley HotSprings
Country Hearth Restaurant, Bakery & Gift Shop
Most complete dining near the resort breakfast, lunch, baked goods, gifts. Rated 4.3/5, Cedarville. Gets busy on weekend mornings; arrive early.
Woody’s
Casual community dining in Cedarville, limited days call ahead. American comfort food at honest prices. After a day in the desert, simple and filling is what you want.
Valley Farm Store
General store and deli in Cedarville. Less restaurant, more essential supply stop. Stock your room kitchen here before heading to the resort covers the basics.
Bear
Local Cedarville bar and casual dining. Good for an end-of-day drink after the tubs. Limited hours check before you go.
Boathouse Bar & Stowaway Grill
In Alturas, about 50 miles southwest. Casual, waterfront-adjacent. Worth a stop coming through Alturas on the drive in grab a real meal before the final stretch.
What Are People Saying About Surprise Valley Hot Springs?
Google reviews land at 4.6 out of 5 and reading through them, the thread is consistent: people come for the privacy and leave talking about the silence. Couples especially love it.
The most repeated praise covers the mineral water quality, the staff, and the total absence of distraction (no WiFi, no TV, no noise from neighboring rooms). A few reviewers note the remoteness as the main drawback if you forget something in town, it’s a 10-mile round trip. That tracks with my experience. Come prepared and you’ll have nothing to complain about.
My Honest Take on Surprise Valley HotSprings
I want to be clear about who Surprise Valley Hot Springs is for: it is for people who want to disappear for 2 days. No crowds, no cell signal, no agenda. If you need resort amenities, room service, or a spa menu, this is the wrong place. But if you want a private mineral tub outside your door, a kitchen stocked with whatever you brought from Cedarville, and a sky at night that genuinely stops you mid-sentence this is one of the best places in California to find that. If you’re hunting for more escapes like this, CATRAVELTIMES is where I document every hot spring worth the drive.
What stayed with me longest wasn’t even the soak. It was waking up at 6 AM, stepping outside in 48°F desert air, looking at the Warner Mountains in the first light, and thinking: I drove a long way for this and I am not ready to leave. That’s the Surprise Valley feeling. Vanessa
FAQs About Surprise Valley Hot Springs
Can you visit Surprise Valley Hot Springs without staying overnight?
No overnight guests only, no walk-ins after 5:00 PM. All soaking access is private within your reserved room. Reservations are required well in advance, especially for spring and fall weekends.
Is there camping at Surprise Valley Hot Springs?
No camping on-site rooms only. Free dispersed BLM camping is available in the surrounding valley. South Warner Wilderness has backcountry sites with a permit. Neither option includes hot springs access.
What is the weather like at Surprise Valley Hot Springs?
High desert climate at 4,650 ft. Summers reach 95°F; winter nights drop below freezing. Spring and fall are best mild days, cool evenings. Cedar Pass can ice November through March; check road conditions first.
Is there WiFi or TV at the resort?
No WiFi, no TV, no internet intentionally. Download anything you need before leaving Cedarville. Most guests rate the disconnection as a highlight of the stay rather than an inconvenience.
What is the water source at Surprise Valley Hot Springs?
A 200-foot-deep artesian well feeds all the tubs. Water surfaces at 200°F and cools to 100–105°F in the tubs. No chemicals added. High sodium and silica content gives it a noticeably silky feel.
