Desert Hot Springs is a town in Riverside County in the California Desert. Most visitors are here to chill in the desert, and relax at one of the many hotel/spas. The naturally hot mineral waters flowing into the soaking pools is heated by the earth's magma and is unusual that it contains no sulfur smell and is tasteless.

The hot water table is actually above the cold water table and in some places is so near the surface it leaks out of the earth. Soaking in the naturally hot mineral waters proves therapeutically beneficial to those suffering arthritis, bursitis, muscular fatigue or damage and is generally healing to the body. In some places the wells measure temperatures as high as 140 degrees requiring cooling of the waters before they flow into the soaking pools.

The waters that flow into the pools also flow out of the pools into retention basins that allow the waters to slowly soak back into the earth. By this method the pools are constantly refreshed with new waters flowing in, so less chlorine is required.

The city of Desert Hot Springs, once known as Spa City, was founded by Cabot Yerxa and came into being in the 1950s due to the hot mineral springs. This makes it a unique destination among all cities of the Coachella Valley. Nearby cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Indio do not have hot mineral springs.

Get in

Having a car is definitely the easiest option.

From Los Angeles take the I-10 East, exit Palm Drive, and head north.

From Palm Springs, take either Indian Canyon Drive north, or Gene Autry Trail north, which turns into Palm Drive. Either route will take around 30 minutes.

See

• 1 Cabot's Pueblo Museum, 67616 Desert View Avenue.  

Do

• Mission Creek Preserve. (updated Jan 2018)
• Cabot's Pueblo Museum. 100+ year old native-style home and museum of city founder Cabot Yerxa. (updated Mar 2018)

Eat

• The Capri Italian Food and Steakhouse. 
• South of the Border. 
• 1 Thai Palm Restaurant, 12106 Palm Dr, ☏ +1 760-288-3934. A decent little Thai restaurant, with a traditional menu accompanied by a not-so-traditional specials menu. Mains $8-15. 

Drink

• Escapades Bar, 12347 Palm Drive. Friendly, neighborhood bar. $. (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

Most of the hotels double as spas.

• Aqua Soleil Hotel & Mineral Water Spa, 14500 Palm Drive. (updated Jan 2018)
• El Morocco Inn & Spa. Moroccan inspired 12 room inn with 2 hot mineral pools. 
• The Good House, 12885 Eliseo Road, ☏ +1 760-251-2885. 
• Hope Springs. 
• 1 Miracle Manor Retreat. 
• Sagewater Spa. 
• The Sea Mountain Inn Spa Resort. A nude swinger resort for couples only. 
• 2 The Spring Resort & Spa, 12699 Reposo Way, ☏ +1 760 251-6700. 
• 3 Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa, 67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail, ☏ +1 760 329-8791. This sprawling resort set on 50 acres. Their pools are fed by a 140F natural hot spring, which is cooled and divided into a large 98F pool and a smaller 104F pool. The spa is fantastic, with top-notch masseuses and a host of other offerings. They bill themselves as a retreat, so cell phones are banned in the public areas, and whispering is preferred. Rooms and suites start around $150-200. 
• Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel (Spa Hotel). 
• Miracle Springs Spa and Resort (Miracle Springs). 

Go next

• Joshua Tree National Park – Stunning landscapes and home to two desert ecosystems and is a favorite for campers, hikers, and rock-climbers. The western entrance is about 30 minutes drive north on CA 62 in Joshua Tree Village.

Routes through Desert Hot Springs

Ends at ← Palm Springs ←

W  E

→ Yucca Valley → Jct N S