San Juan Hot Springs Ortega Highway How To Get There

San Juan Hot Springs is a historic geothermal area located along Ortega Highway (State Route 74) in Orange County, California, in the Santa Ana Mountains near Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park. This natural wonder has a rich history dating back thousands of years and offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s past. However, its current state reflects a mix of neglect and preservation.

History of San Juan Hot Springs

The Acjachemen (Juaneño) people first used the hot springs, the indigenous inhabitants of the area, who valued the hot waters, reaching temperatures of up to 120-135°F—for their believed healing properties. Archaeological evidence suggests a sizable Native settlement, possibly called Paala Sáqqiwvna, existed near the hot springs.

Spanish Portolá Expedition

Spanish explorers, including scouts from the 1769 Portolá Expedition led by Sgt. José Francisco Ortega (after whom the highway is named) encountered the springs, and later, Spanish missionaries from Mission San Juan Capistrano claimed the area. The springs became part of Juan Forster’s Rancho Mission Viejo in the 1840s, with Forster ensuring access for locals despite owning the land.

San Juan Hot Springs Resort

By the late 19th century, the springs transformed into a tourist destination. In the 1870s, people began camping there, and by the 1880s, a resort emerged with a bathhouse, hotel, restaurant, general store, and dance hall. Stagecoaches brought visitors from the Santa Fe Railroad, and after a paved road (later Ortega Highway) was built in 1913, automobiles increased accessibility. The springs declined after the San Juan Hot Springs resort closed in 1936 due to lease disputes and health regulations.

San Juan Hot Springs Hippie Hangout

The 1960s and ‘70s brought a resurgence as a counterculture hangout, though this period also saw vandalism and crime, including a reported shooting. Ultimately, more bikers and high schoolers were looking for a thrill (the author included), visiting the hot springs, than laid-back hippies. There was broken glass everywhere, the pools were full of algae, it was not a refreshing hot spring, it was dangerous, and the hot springs were all but abandoned by the mid-seventies.

Hot Spring Resort Resurgence

From 1980 to 1992, the Ortega Hot Springs were leased to an entrepreneur who reopened the site as a public spa. The Hot Springs were back in business with redwood hot tubs and a swimming pool in the same space as the demolished old pools. For about twelve years, the spa was active. Still, entrepreneur Russ Kiessig called it quits and moved to the California Central Coast to manage Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort near Avila Beach.

Hot Springs Current Condition

Today, there is not too much left of the hot springs. There used to be three small pools in this area, each hotter than the next; the center is filled with rocks, and the two outer pools are nearly filled in. One small pool has been cleared up and is suitable for a one-person soak. The area is fenced off, with remnants of old tubs and pools still visible, though overgrown and minimally maintained.

Getting to San Juan (Ortega) Hot Springs

The springs lie within Caspers Wilderness Park, adjacent to Ortega Highway near the Hot Springs Canyon Road exit. Access requires entering the park and hiking roughly via the San Juan Creek Trail or Juaneno Trail. Reaching the springs via a shorter Hot Springs Canyon Drive route is possible. However, this area is posted with no trespassing signs—Park website.

Summary:

The springs remain a hidden gem, their sulfur-scented waters a testament to their enduring natural allure, though their isolation and restricted access keep them off most modern radars. Without a policy change, the San Juan Hot Springs area will likely remain a quiet, abandoned relic in the foreseeable future. It’s business as usual—preservation over progress.

Ortega Highway Road Trip

List of California Hot Springs

Mission San Juan Capistrano