Grover Hot Springs State Park in Lake Tahoe
Just south of Lake Tahoe near the town of Markleeville, Grover Hot Springs State Park beckons visitors to come and enjoy the supposedly-curative properties of the hot springs and a truly relaxing day soaking in the waters that flow from within the mountains of the High Sierras.
Easily accessible from anywhere around Lake Tahoe, this state park is characterized by sagebrush and open pine forest. It’s open year-round (except Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Thanksgiving, and during the last two weeks of September for maintenance), so guests can experience the hot springs in a number of different weather conditions. The park service notes that winds regularly whip through the park, causing plenty of havoc, and that summertime blistering thunderstorms can commonly close down the pool at just a moment’s notice, though it normally opens back up again after the rain has passed. Regardless, visitors should plan accordingly.
The hot springs consists of a large, hot pool that is kept at about 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors come from all over the area and beyond to bask in these warm waters, even in the snow. The Native Americans that lived in the area once pronounced these waters “curative” and recommended soaking in them to cure a number of different kinds of ailments. Many people still believe that the hot springs can help with a variety of woes and many head there specifically for that reason. Others simply make a trek to Grover Hot Springs as part of their Lake Tahoe vacation experience. In addition to the hot springs pool, there’s also a cold pool so that visitors can take a cold plunge, especially in the summer when sitting in the hot pool can get to be a bit toasty.
The pool accommodates 50 people during the winter months but the capacity is permitted to be increased to 75 during the summer time. Weekends and holidays can be quite busy and sometimes guests must wait to enter the pool, so early arrival is advised during peak tourist seasons.
Guests will notice that the Grover Hot pool looks green at most times. This is not because there’s a problem of any sort and it’s perfectly fine to enter the pool when it’s green. The color is caused by the mineral deposits on the bottom of the pool. The park service explains: “The light that is reflected from the bottom loses certain wavelengths that are absorbed by the various color patterns on the bottom. The remaining light waves then pass back up through the water and are reflected at the surface. This reflected light is in the yellow-green wavelengths of the spectrum.”
Camping facilities are abundant in and around Grover
Hot Springs State Park. The main campground is open from mid-April through
the end of September; a total of 76 sites are available by the start of
fishing season. Some can accommodate motor homes up to 27 feet long. There
is an off-season campground available in the Day Use area as well. Running
water and flush toilets are available throughout the year but hot showers
are not in use in the wintertime.
No hook-ups are available for RVs.
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