Elsinore Hot Springs & Lodge – Lake Elsinore, CA

Located in the city of Lake Elsinore, California, about an hour’s drive southeast of Los Angeles, the Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge is a unique hot spring resort on the banks of the Elsinore River. The springs have flowed naturally for thousands of years and were a popular spot for Native Americans to bathe in the thermal waters.

The resort has been in operation since the late 19th century and offers both indoor and outdoor soaking areas. The lodge was built in 1906 by J.J. Voorhees on land leased from Andrew Jackson Elsinore. J.J.’s son Albert Voorhees continued to operate the resort after his father’s death. In 1959, Albert’s daughter, Helen Voorhees, became manager and continued to operate it until her death in 1992.

Since then, her family continues to run it with Helen’s vision in mind. Following is a guide to exploring the Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge for yourself.

Indoor Bathhouse

The lodge’s indoor bathhouse has been in operation since the resort first opened in the late 19th century. It features a series of hot mineral water pools and a cold plunge pool. The pools are all lined with travertine and outfitted with beautiful tile work, including an old-fashioned starburst design in the cold plunge pool. There is also a meditation garden with four more hot mineral water pools available for private use.

The temperature of the indoor mineral water pools ranges from 98 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The largest pool is 75 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 4 feet deep. Other smaller pools are located along the sides and ends of this large pool. The cold plunge pool is about 12 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet deep.

The bathhouse officially closes at 10 p.m., but it is common for people to linger past closing time.

Lodge and Campground Accommodations

The Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge offers several lodging options. The main building is a large, historic, three-story structure with a number of guest rooms, each with its own bathroom. Rooms vary in size and price, starting at about $150 per night. Rooms on the third floor have great views of the river. In addition to the lodge rooms, there are several yurts available for rent along with a few RV spaces.

The lodge also offers a large outdoor soaking area featuring two hot pools connected by a waterfall, one of which is an outdoor pool that is solar heated. There is also an outdoor cold plunge pool and two outdoor soaking tubs filled by the river itself.

There is a restaurant on site offering breakfast, lunch and dinner selections as well as beer and wine. The restaurant has lovely views over the river.

The lodge also has an RV park available that includes 14 campsites with full hookups (30 AMP service), including water and electricity, two dump stations, fire rings and picnic tables along with easy access to the soaking pools. The RV park accommodates both tent camping as well as RVs up to 40 feet in length; rates for RV sites are $40 per night during the winter months and $45 during the summer months.

How to Get There

The Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge is located in the city of Lake Elsinore, California, about an hour’s drive southeast of Los Angeles. The easiest way to get there is to take Interstate 15 south to the Highway 74 exit. Take Highway 74 west and exit at Lake Elsinore Boulevard. Turn left onto Lake Elsinore Boulevard and follow it as it turns into Elsinore Trail.

The entrance to the resort is on the right just after you cross over the Elsinore River. There is a large parking lot in front of the lodge where you can park and walk up to the front entrance.

If you’re planning a weekend visit, I’d recommend checking out lodging available at the lodge’s sister property, Mansion House Inn Bed & Breakfast in downtown Lake Elsinore.

By Car

While the springs are located in Lake Elsinore, they are not easily accessible by car. The resort is more easily reached from the town of Wildomar, California, about 10 miles away. It is possible to reach the springs from Lake Elsinore, but you’ll have to navigate through residential areas and park on the side of the road.

The best way to get to Elsinore Hot Springs is to take Interstate 15 north until you reach Temecula Parkway/Hwy 74. Turn east on Temecula Parkway and follow it until you reach Rancho California Road. Turn north on Rancho California Road and continue for approximately 3 miles until you see signs for Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge.

From Wildomar, take Jackson/Rancho California Road south and follow it for about 10 miles until you see signs for Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge. The resort is on your left just before the bridge over the Elsinore River.

By Public Transit

If you’re interested in exploring the Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge without a vehicle, you can take the Inland Empire–Orange County (I.E. OC) Metrolink train from Los Angeles to the Southern California Regional Transportation Authority (SCRTA) Metrolink Station in East San Bernardino. From there, it’s about a 50-minute drive south on the I-15 freeway to Lake Elsinore.

The train station is located at 2520 North E Street in San Bernardino, California 92405. The phone number is 909-890-4220.

From the station, take the Inland Empire–Orange County (I.E. OC) train departing at 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., or 3:30 p.m., with a stop in Norwalk before reaching Lake Elsinore at 2:00 p.m., 2:25 p.m., or 4:10 p.m., respectively. The trip costs $14 per person one way and $28 round trip with discounts available for seniors, children, and people with disabilities. There are no reserved seats on the train so you may have to stand if you don’t get there early enough to grab a seat.

If you’d rather not take the train, you can also drive to Lake Elsinore from the San Bernardino station by taking I-15 south approximately 50 miles to exit 87B for Temescal Canyon Road south toward Lake Elsinore and Temescal Canyon State Park.

Turn left onto Canyon Hills Road and follow it for about 4 miles until it ends at Diamond Drive where you’ll want to turn left again for about 1/3 of a mile until you reach Elsinore Road on your right side. Turn right and follow it for about 1/3 of a mile until it ends at Highway 74 then turn right and follow 74 east for 1/2 mile before turning left onto Highway 74A.

Take a turn on the right onto Rancho Viejo Road where you’ll want to turn left onto Avenue 76 where the resort will be on your right side across from Temescal Creek Inn & Casino Casino & Resort (phone number 951-674-2555).

By Bike

The resort is accessible by car, but it can also be explored on bike via the Elsinore Bike Trail, which begins at the Elsinore Marina. The bike trail is a paved recreational path shared by walkers, runners, and bikers. It travels along the shoreline of Lake Elsinore and then up into the mountains where it passes several lakes before descending back to Lake Elsinore. This portion of the trail is about 10 miles long.

The bike trail is also part of a larger regional trail system known as the Juanita’s Pacific Crest Trail that extends from Mexico to Canada. The Pacific Crest Trail equestrian route parallels the bike trail for approximately 10 miles from the Elsinore Marina to Setchell Canyon Dam.

It’s about a 20-mile round-trip from the Elsinore Marina to the hot springs and lodge. On your trip there, you’ll ride along part of the Elsinore Lake channel that was formed when damming began on the Elsinore River in 1916. You’ll pass several boat launches and fishing areas before reaching Lake Street (Route 94). Here, you can turn left to head toward Temescal Canyon Road and follow signs for the resort’s entrance.

Or, if you prefer to ride back along the bike trail, continue past Route 94 on Lake Street for another 2 miles until you reach Old Town Hemet where you’ll find a traffic circle that leads back toward the marina where you began your ride.

What to Bring

The Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge is completely clothing-optional, so it’s not necessary to pack a change of clothes. There are lockers available for your valuables. You’ll want to bring a towel or two, maybe a sarong to sit on and some flip-flops or water shoes to walk in the river. You can rent towels at the lodge for $2.

The springs are outdoors, so you’ll want to apply sunscreen liberally and wear hats to protect yourself from the sun. The summer months can be very hot, so you may also want to pack some cold refreshments.

There is no electricity at the springs, so you’ll want to wear a watch with a timer and pack some candles or battery-operated lights if you plan on staying overnight. If you’re planning on soaking overnight, you’ll need to pack a sleeping bag and tent or tarp in order to stay overnight.

What to Leave in the Car

While there are no rules against bringing drinks, food, or other items into the baths, there are some things you will be happier leaving in the car. The biggest one is shoes. The lodge was built before the popularity of enclosed shoes and has a lot of rough concrete floors. If you can leave your shoes in the car, you will be happier while soaking in the springs and walking around the lodge.

Also, if you’ve never soaked in a clothing-optional setting before, clothing-optional means just that—you can go without clothes. While this is not a requirement, many people do prefer to soak without clothes. If you feel more comfortable soaping up with your clothes on, then do so; however, it is perfectly acceptable to soak naked as well.

Finally, bring a towel for drying off after soaking and for sitting on while eating your meal at the restaurant. While there are benches available to sit on inside and outside of the springs area, they tend to get wet and uncomfortable after people have soaked in them.

Where to Eat and Drink

To explore the Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge, you don’t need to bring a thing except yourself. However, since you’re going to need to eat and drink at some point, here are some nearby options for meals and drinks.

If you’re looking for a meal with a view, try the Elsinore Brewery & Kitchen located on Main Street in downtown Lake Elsinore. The restaurant is housed in an old brick building that used to be a firehouse before becoming the brewery in 1994. The food menu is varied and makes use of local ingredients. Be sure to check out their beer list; they have eight different house beers on tap with many more in bottles.

For beverages, there’s Mulligan’s Irish Pub, located on Lake Street in downtown Lake Elsinore, which opened in 1995 and has been a local favorite ever since. Try their “Mulligan’s Cheesecake”—it’s a unique combination of cheesecake, cheesecake batter and ice cream served with whipped topping on top of graham crackers.

If you’d rather stay at the hot springs and lounge around on your own all day, there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance. Within walking distance from the Elsinore Hot Springs & Lodge are the Blue Water Grill & Bar (seafood), Tio Pepe Mexican Restaurant (Mexican), Dixie’s BBQ (barbeque) and Jack’s Pizza & Wings (pizza).

Things to Do Around Lake Elsinore

Lake Elsinore is a large reservoir on the Elsinore River, created by the damming of the river by the Elsinore Dam. The reservoir is located north of the springs and lodge. Needless to say, swimming, boating, and fishing are popular activities here. However, another attraction worth exploring is the Lake Elsinore State Park. This 2,000-acre state park features a number of recreational opportunities including hiking trails through canyons, picnic areas with barbecue grills, and a boat launch for canoes and kayaks.

Also in Lake Elsinore is Chain of Lakes Park, which features boating and fishing on Lake Jennings along with picnic areas and playgrounds. With so many great recreational opportunities in Lake Elsinore and its vicinity, you will want to schedule your trip to include a few days of exploring before or after your visit to the springs.

Bottom line

Lake Elsinore’s Elsinore Hot Springs and Lodge is a unique and fascinating destination that provides an unforgettable experience. From the thermal pools to the hiking trails and luxurious accommodations, this destination offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to relax or explore, the Elsinore Hot Springs & Lodge is sure to provide you with a memorable experience.

With its combination of natural beauty and modern comforts, this destination is truly one of a kind. So if you’re looking for a place to get away from it all, and reconnect with nature, the Elsinore Hot Springs & Lodge is an ideal destination for your next adventure.

Weather forecast for next 5 days

[simple-weather latitude=”33.672926″ longitude=”-117.325465″ days=”5″ night=”yes”
units=”imperial” text_align=”right” display=”block” style=”large-icons”]

Location information

Address: 316 N Main St #3916, Lake Elsinore, California 92530
GPS: 33.672926,-117.325465
Phone: 951-674-9997
Season: Year-round
Hours: 7 am to 1:30 am, daily
Website: elsinore-hot-springs-inn.business.site

Map