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Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is Grover Hot to provide for the health, inspiration and The interplay of rock, education of the people of California by helping Springs to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological heat, and water deep diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities within the earth created State Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. the hot springs that attract visitors to this peaceful . California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with who need assistance should contact the park at (530) 694-2248. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Discover the many states of California.™

Grover Hot Springs State Park 3415 Hot Springs Road Markleeville, CA 96120 (530) 694-2248 Entrance/Camping (530) 694-2249 Pools

© 2015 California State Parks H idden in quiet Hot Springs Valley on the Gold and Silver Rushes homesteading it. After the native Washo were eastern side of the Sierra Nevada After gold was discovered at Coloma in 1848 driven out, loggers and woodcutters denuded range, Grover Hot Springs State Park offers and the Comstock Lode of Nevada silver ore the pine-covered hills. alpine vistas of granite peaks and wildflower was found in 1859, droves of wealth-seekers In 1878, Alvin Merrill Grover received an meadows. After taking a brisk hike or a scenic flocked to and settled on Washo lands. More interest in the land, built a bathhouse, and stroll, visitors may soak in a pool fed people came to this area (today’s Alpine fenced in the hot springs pool. His widow from six hot springs. County) after another silver strike at nearby charged visitors to bathe in the hot springs At nearly 6,000 feet elevation, Hot Springs Silver Mountain. Settlers imported livestock and to pitch tents on the hillside. A later Valley has the unpredictable climate of the that trampled or ate the native vegetation, and owner, Charles Scossa, lived at the springs in Sierra, with sudden thunderstorms. Average the endemic fish in local , and the log cabin nearby. highs in July and August reach the high 80s lakes were soon gone. Although park advocates suggested in 1928 while snowy winter lows can dip below 20°. Those indigenous people who survived that this area would be a desirable state park the newly introduced European diseases site, the property did not become Grover Hot PARK HISTORY and violence from the settlers struggled Springs State Park until 1959. Native People to preserve their language and customs. NATURAL HISTORY The ancestral lands of the Wašiw (Washo) Today’s Washoe Tribe of California and Vegetation Black cottonwood and people encompassed 1,500,000 acres around - Nevada members uphold those customs; they ponderosa, lodgepole (or tamarack), Jeffrey, the Tahoe basin. Four bands of Washo lived have revived the Washoan language for the and single-leaf pinyon pines surround the around the lake. The Hung-a-lel-ti (southern generations to come, and they have reclaimed Hot Springs Valley meadow. Incense cedar, band) of Washo lived in today’s Woodfords 70,000 acres of their ancestral homelands. mountain alder, and juniper grow nearby. and Markleeville area, south of Lake Tahoe. Euro-American Settlers Profuse colorful wildflowers dot the central The thermal waters-termed dih-teh-ee (our The Washo people’s first non-native contact meadow in . Ask at the kiosk for a place) lo-om (hot springs)-were valued for may have been the expedition party of wildflower list. health and spiritual benefits. The Washo still pathfinder John C. Frémont and his scout Wildlife Such raptors as bald eagles and live on their ancestral lands; they use this - Kit Carson, who passed through these Sierra sharp-shinned hawks perch in trees; park for plant harvesting and other activities. ridges and became snowbound in February vultures circle above. Mountain lions, 1844. Ten years later, Vermont farmer John Hawkins claimed the Hot Springs Valley by

Washo family, ca. 1866 Formation oF a The valley was formed by glacial action during the ice age, but the presence of hot springs is older

C and deeper. Subduction — caused by the collision of the lighter American continental plate and the heavier o l d Pacific plate — forces the heavier rock of the Pacific plate deep into the earth. Along the subduction

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r o zone, pressure and friction melts the hot rock to , which solidifies into igneous u n d rocks. Faults — fractures in the earth’s crust with differential movement — are often w a associated with the plate boundaries, as are . te r When percolates down into the earth, it meets the hot magma and ed w Heat ater rock, heating the water. Hot water is less dense than cool water, so it rises through FRACTURES the fractures and faults, collecting dissolved on its course, and bubbles OR FAULTS up as a hot spring. Cold replaces the rising heated water, then the cold water heats — continuing the cycle. Six mineral springs here collect 148° F water at the HOT OR MOLTEN ROCK IGNEOUS surface. A holding tank above the pools lets the water cool before it fills the hot pool. (heat source) ROCK black bears, coyotes, raccoons, and bobcats -The Burnside Lake Trail, which can ACCESSIBLE FEATURES may sometimes be seen, and bats and owls be accessed at the extra-vehicle parking lot, Parking, two campsites, restrooms with fly silently through the dark. runs the length of Hot Springs Valley. The trail showers, and the pool area are accessible. RECREATION features a side trip to a (at 1.5 miles) Accessibility is continually improving. For and Burnside Lake (at 5.5 miles). Access updates, visit . Camping-More than 75 sites have firepits http://access.parks.ca.gov and grills, cupboards, bear-resistant lockers, Charity Valley and Blue Lakes Road (6+ miles) NEARBY STATE PARKS and tables, with nearby piped water and using the Burnside Lake Trail. All are outside • Bodie State Historic Park (107 miles) restrooms/showers. The campground is open the park on U.S. Forest Service land. The hot Hwy. 270, Bridgeport 93517 from Memorial Day until October, weather springs pools can be reached by taking the (760) 647-6445 permitting. Make site-specific reservations at Hot Springs Cutoff Trail. • Emerald Bay State Park (41 miles) www.parks.ca.gov or (800) 444-7275. Fishing-Hot Springs Creek is planted with Nine miles north of US 50 on Hwy. 89 South In winter, the day-use parking area has 20 trout in summers when flow is adequate. Lake Tahoe 96150 (530) 525-7232 first-come, first-served campsites near the Swimming/Soaking-Day-use fees apply to entrance. Restrooms and piped water are use the park’s two pools. The hot soaking PLEASE REMEMBER available, but there are no showers. pool is kept at 102 to 104˚ F; its mineral water • All natural and cultural features, including is drained and refilled daily. A cold swimming downed wood, are protected by law and pool is steps away. A lifeguard is on duty. The may not be removed or disturbed. pools close on Wednesdays from Labor Day • Dogs must be on a six-foot leash and be until Memorial Day. confined to a tent or vehicle at night. Winter Sports The meadow is ideal for - • Bears may be present day and night. cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Campers are required to keep all food, Interpretive Programs Campfire and Junior - drinks, and toiletries in the bear-resistant Ranger programs are given in summer. lockers when not being used and promptly The visitor center gives out park and local information and sells interpretive items. dispose of trash in bear-resistant bins. Do not store scented items in vehicles. 7600'

7400' Ward Creek 50 7200' Grover Hot Springs 6800' Lake Tahoe to Carson Ed Z’Berg Sugar City State Park Pine Point SP 6600' D.L. Bliss SP 0 5 10 Miles Emerald Bay SP South Lake Tahoe TOIYABE NATIONAL 0 10 20 Kilometers Washoe Meadows SP N V FOREST Lake Valley C A Legend 6600' SRA Pollock Pines 89 88 50 Major Road Grover Hot to Sacramento EL DORADO Springs SP 89 Paved Road NATIONAL FOREST 6400' Markleeville Unpaved/Service Road 88 Trail: Hike Indian Grinding Bear Valley STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST 6200' Rock SHP Trail: Hike & Bike 104 4 26 Accessible Feature Jackson Calaveras Big 108 6000' Trees SP Bridge to waterfall, Burnside 49 to Angels Camp

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STATE PARK

This park is supported in part through 6200' 0 0.25 0.5 Miles Friends of Grover Hot Springs,

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6800' 6800' 6600' 6600' P.O. Box 2186400' • Markleeville, CA 96120 7000' www.visitgroverhotsprings.org 0 0.5 1 2 Miles 7200'

0 0.5 1 2 3 Kilometers TOIYABE NATIONAL FOREST 7400'

7600'