Caspers Wilderness Park - Hike San Juan Hot Springs

Name: Caspers Wilderness Park
Address: 33401 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA

10.5 miles - Moderate Effort
5 Hours (Total)
830 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 820 feet
No Dogs Allowed

This is a a fun hike to San Juan Hot Springs, which is located in Caspers Wilderness Park, a lightly-visited, 8,000 acre, protected wilderness preserve in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. The San Juan Hot Springs were first opened in the late 1800s as a full blown resort, complete with cabins, soaking tubs, and pools. Over the years they've closed and opened again, with the latest version being closed down in 1992. Today you can hike to San Juan Hot Springs, but whether you can go in them is up for debate (see the article for more). This hike to the hot springs can be done as an 10.5 mile out-and-back trip, or you can do a longer 14 mile loop that circles through the ridges in Caspers Wilderness Park, offering incredible views.

In this Guide:

Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Video
Caspers Wilderness Park Trail Maps
Can You Go in the San Juan Hot Springs?
How to Get to the San Juan Hot Springs

Quick Links:
Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Apr 2024 Gear

Check the park website for trail conditions. Many trails were damaged and closed with winter flooding.

Getting to Caspers Wilderness Park

Use this as the trailhead address: 33401 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA.

There's a small fee to enter the park (see the park site for details). You can camp at the park if you want to extend this to an overnight excursion. You can even camp with your horse here.

Pick up a free trail map when you enter the park.

The hike starts at the end of San Juan Meadow Group Area. When you pull into the group area, keep driving until the end of the lot where the trail starts.

San Juan Meadow Group Area map — When you pick up a map at the entrance, it has a zoomed section for the park entrance. This is where the San Juan Meadow Group Area is.

San Juan Meadow Group Area bathrooms — The San Juan Meadow Group Area has bathrooms and water fountains to fill your hydration pack. Bring more water than you need, it can get very hot here.

Gear for the Hike

Although it's not a mountain hike, it's still a tough one with some ups and downs, and I recommend hiking gear for it. You could get away with fitness clothes in a pinch.

Caspers Wilderness Park is I often see more wildlife than people here (I didn't see any on the day I did this trip report). I've spotted deer, coyotes, bobcats, red-tailed hawks, and rattlesnakes on the trails at Caspers. Keep your eyes open and camera ready.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Caspers Wilderness Park Trail Maps

The hike to the hot springs is an out and back effort, but I've also included an option to return on the ridge above. It adds some climbing and about 3 miles of distance, but it's really beautiful, gives you a good taste of Caspers Wilderness Park, and is worth it if you have the energy.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

san juan hot springs 3d map — The hike follows the San Juan creek valley and Route 74 until you get to San Juan Hot Springs.

San juan hot springs hike elevation — The graph is deceiving, it's not too tough and feels mainly flat with some little ups and downs toward the end.

Alternate Way Back on Oso Trail

After visiting the hot springs, you can simply retrace your steps and go back the way you came. If you have the energy, I recommend doing this detour that adds about 3 miles and 1,200 feet of climbing onto the hike, but offers some incredible views. Here's the GPX file for the hike with this extension: capsers-park-san-juan-hot-springs-extra

san juan hot springs hike extension elevation — Here's the elevation profile with the extension. It's about 1200 feet of extra climbing but worth it.

Can You Go in the San Juan Hot Springs?

Historic San Juan Hot Sprints — Here's how San Juan Hot Springs used to look when it was a resort. It doesn't look anything like that now. Photo Tobin Fricke

The original San Juan Hot Springs resort which was opened in the 1800s was abandoned in the 1940s. In the 1960s and 1970s is was a popular spot for locals to party and get high. The old-time comedian Red Skelton was evidently a regular along with every hippy in the area. From 1980 to 1992 the springs re-opened, but have been closed and in disrepair since. You can see the old entrance and sign (good for photos) if you hike a few minutes past the hot springs (directions below).

According to a local source, the water flows in at about 122F, and has a pH of 8. People remark that unlike other hot springs, San Juan Hot Springs don't leave a bad sulfur smell on you. Today, only one pool is cool enough to go in.

You are not officially allowed to go into the hot spring pools, although you are allowed to hike to and visit them. People certainly still go in illegally, but be aware that there are (hidden) video cameras used by the Caspers Wilderness Park rangers.

And before there were any hot spring resorts, the land here was occupied by the Juaneños, a hunting and gathering tribe of Native Americans. It's easy to imagine how the Juaneños lived off the fertile land along San Juan Creek before the gringos came along.

San Juan Hot Springs Hike Directions

The Juaneno Trail start is at the end of the parking lot and well marked. Read any notices and start here.

The Juaneno Trail is well defined and easy to follow.

hike on the Juaneno Trail — Hike straight through the first intersection and stay on the Juaneno Trail.

san juan creek — The hike goes along the banks of San Juan Creek. You can imagine what this looks like after it rains for a few days in the Santa Ana mountains.

Juaneno Trail marker — When the Juaneno Trail leaves the wash, there's a trail marker to confirm you're on the right path.

Juaneno Trail intersection — Continue straight on the Juaneno Trail.

ridge line at caspers wilderness park — If you opt for the optional extension on the return trip, you hike along the ridge to the left.

The views of Cleveland National Forest come into view as you gently climb up the valley.

A little after 3 miles, the Juaneno Trail will dead end into the San Juan Creek Trail. Hike to the left along the San Juan Creek Trail.

Double check your position using the free park map as you hit trail junctions.

Continue straight on the San Juan Creek Trail as the Badger Pass trail intersects to the left.

A San Juan Creek trail marker alerts you to a hard left turn. Head up the hill.

Eventually the trail emerges in a clearing. Stay right on the Hot Springs Trail.

Hot Springs Trail marker — Here's a closeup of the trail marker at the last intersection. It's set back in brush and easy to miss.

There are a few palm trees that mark the hot springs. After the turn go straight towards them.

Here you are, the San Juan Hot Springs! They were smaller than I imagined them, but still cool. Walk around and explore.

If you want to mix it up, I have two optional extensions below. One continues on to the old San Juan Capistrano Hot Springs rest area, which is pretty unremarkable but has a cool sign that is great for photo ops. The other extension returns up along the ridge line, offering great views, but a bit of climbing. Or just go back the way you came.

San Juan Capistrano Hot Springs Rest Area Extension

Instead of making the left back the way you came on the Hot Springs Trail, make the right and continue down the hill.

You will come to the intersection of the Sitton Peak trail. Stay to the left.

If you want to hike to Sitton Peak, it's a good one. I have full hike directions for Sitton Peak on the site here.

San Juan Hot Springs rest area — The trail opens up to the old San Juan Springs rest area. There are picnic benches and some old porta-potties.

San Juan Hot Springs rest area sign — The sign is what everyone wants a photo with. Grab your shot and head back the way you came.

Alternate Return Hike on Oso Trail

Again, after visiting the hot springs, you can simply retrace your steps and go back the way you came. If you have the energy, I recommend doing this detour that adds about 3 miles and 1,200 feet of climbing onto the hike, but offers some incredible views.

Pick these directions up from the end of the Hot Springs hike directions.

When you get back to the Cold Springs Trail and Hot Springs Trail intersection, make the right onto Cold Springs Trail.

Keep your eyes open for the wildlife cameras. They're motion activated and have IR night vision.

Make the right on the Oso Trail. This will seem counterintuitive, but go ahead and do it anyway.

The views of Saddleback Mountain and Cleveland National Forest are great from this part of the Oso Trail.

At the intersection with Badger Pass, make the quick left to stop at the picnic bench.

Take a break at this trail junction and enjoy the view.

bench on trail — Take advantage of the shady bench if you need a break.

The trail comes to a junction. Head left up the steep climb (last one!) on the East Ridge Trail.

views from East Ridge Trail — This is the last stretch, so enjoy the views. You earned it on the climb.

And you're back at San Juan Meadows! Pat yourself on the back, that was a long hike!

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.