Cold spring coming from deep within Mt. Tamalpais. This is the closest, most accessible quality public spring for much of the Bay Area. Park your car right next to pipes in the large pullout. The center copper pipe has the highest flow but does get occasionally vandalized. Flow rate is good through dry autumn, and really gushes in the spring. Area is nearly vacant most of the time, but can become crowded midday on warm weather weekends. Spring has been lab tested, details here: https://longevitypower.com/red-rock-beach-spring-testing-2013/. Please do not tamper with pipe setup, as local steward has to regularly fix damage that has been done. Please support excellent spring water etiquette and ongoing lab testing here: https://www.meetup.com/BayAreaSpringWater/
Nearest Address
915 Shoreline Hwy
Directions from Nearest Address
From 101 take the Stinson Beach Exit. Follow Route 1 North (Shoreline Hwy) for about half an hour until just before the town of Stinson Beach. Large parking lot on both left and right. The spring is on your right coming out of bottom of sheer cliff.
Im heading to this spring tomorrow. I hope to find it. Im here doing the longevity now conference, so ive heard alot about the san fran spring water. wish me luck. I flew all the way from australia… cheers shane
Charles from what I understand, the SFDrake one was closed/privatized years ago. My friend tried to go there and has only gotten back to me ambiguously. Maybe it can be accessed!? I will get back to you.
Definitely go into the rock fissure for fill up. The PVC has algae in it, plus anti-UV light chemicals, plus phytoestrogens.
Debbie, I can’t stand your trolling spam on this site. Every spring I look into, I have to go through all your copy-paste crap to sell some filter. 5 different springs and every single one you put the same stuff over and over. Sell your crap somewhere else. People are looking for information about the spring they select. They don’t want poser-advertisements from you.
MODERATOR: WHERE ARE YOU!!
Christian, What do you recommend in terms of copper pipes? a few feet long and not too wide? I enjoy collecting spring water, but haven't put a pipe in a fissure..Thanks!
10 feet long copper pipe (I use 2 5 foot with a joiner). 1″ is best. 3/4 inch will do. Wrap a wet washcloth around the top end to direct the water into the pipe about 12 inches into the hole in the cliff.
Went the day after Christmas 12/26/23. It was my first experience at a spring. After doing some research I was led to this one. The hour drive was worth it. The water tastes great and I loved the experience. I’ll definitely be back.
The spring is there. It says “don’t drink” but my friend brings a 5 gallon jug there all the time. It is on the hill side of the road on a small turnout on SFD in the Samuel P Taylor area. Just got to keep an eye out and you’ll find it.
Sorry, no more specifics.
Hi, the directions and GPS location are already outlined
Description
Cold spring coming from the volcanic rock of Mt. Tamalpais, right near the San Andreas Fault. There is a sign that says “Non-Potable Water” but the “Potable” is scratched away and replaced with the word “Profit.” Multiple pipes coming out of cliff, some flowing water, some not. Easy access right along road for all SF Bay Area spring hunters. 1000 feet below is a hot spring on Red Rock Beach only accessible as a hot pool during very low night time tides.
Nearest Address
915 Shoreline Hwy
Directions from Nearest Address
From 101 take the Stinson Beach Exit. Follow Route 1 North (Shoreline Hwy) for about half an hour until just before the town of Stinson Beach. Large parking lot on both left and right. The spring is on your right coming out of bottom of sheer cliff.
I have found a new, great spring on mt. tam. If anyone wants to carpool to get water from San Francisco, please give me a call.
thanks
zach
415-286-4453
Madhuri, the holes are basically the eye of the spring. Mt. Tamalpais has dozens of springs all over it. A few springs higher up on the Mountain here fed the Bay for eons before the Municipal system was in place.
The flow increases slightly in the winter, but does not go down much at the end of summer. Its a deeper spring, I would say less than half effected by rainfall.
Yep, go here every week. Water is always flowing. Landslides only happen in the winter. There was a big one that covered the spring. Myself and a few locals dug it out. The pullout is just 2 to 4 minutes south of Stinson Beach.
I also think this should maybe come of the sight. I was there and it seems it is effected by rain fall and so not a true spring. Also spoke with some folks living in the area that said they felt they got sick from the water. I guess the source is somewhere up on mount Tamalpais, and these pipes were drilled into the side of the mountain to relive the wetness that was happening up by the spring source. We should go find out where the source is. I'd be up for that adventure.
I also think this should maybe come of the sight. I was there and it seems it is effected by rain fall and so not a true spring. Also spoke with some folks living in the area that said they felt they got sick from the water. I guess the source is somewhere up on mount Tamalpais, and these pipes were drilled into the side of the mountain to relive the wetness that was happening up by the spring source. We should go find out where the source is. I'd be up for that adventure.
I also went here today and it was not producing. I was able to shake the spout and get some water from it- and it tasted funky. I recommend removing this 'spring' from the database. I also HIGHLY recommend Rattlesnake spring in NAPA. It is well worth the trip. Best tasting water ever.
Hi all! I just read the lab test results for this spring from April 2024 and it seems like cadmium and coliform were to items that were flagged/tested. I’m not familiar with the levels, and what is considered safe, is this something to be concerned about? Thanks in advance!
Please fill from the fissure. I bring copper pipes for ease of filling from the fissure into my jugs. DO NOT DRINK FROM THE PVC PIPES, as they are not connected to the spring eye, they just channel water from pools created just below the spring which people step in all the time. Local idiots installed these and I tear them out every time I go.
I’ve noticed there are very visible floaters in this water. I also know the surrounding rock has asbestos. I enjoy this water consistently for years. Hoping someone assuage my concerns ??
Hello everyone I am new to the “find a spring” community. Would anyone be able to tell me if there’s anything I should bring just to be more prepared I was reading something about a Fisher pipe in the comments, well other than a water jug. Any info would be highly appreciated as I’m planning on making the drive sometime this week I will be coming from about an hour away.
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi everyone! I noticed that there is no up-to-date information about the water quality for this spring. I would like to collect from here but also want some peace of mind. I will use the findaspring 15% discount code but would like help fundraising to get new testing done by watercheck.com I want to do the deluxe, iron bacteria, and glyphosate testing. please feel free to share the gofundme to people you know who collect here/ want to collect here who might want to see the updated results as well 🙂 https://www.gofundme.com/f/check-water-safety-of-red-rock-beach-spring-water?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
Went to the location April 1, 2019. Easily accessible. It was really flowing! Three pipes sticking out of mountain on a big turn out. Two of the pipes were really flowing, filled up 20 gallons in minutes.
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
Thank you so much for uploading this – I just checked it out and it says there were 2 things detected – cadmium and coliform – is this something you are concerned about personally?
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Cameron
Im heading to this spring tomorrow. I hope to find it. Im here doing the longevity now conference, so ive heard alot about the san fran spring water. wish me luck. I flew all the way from australia… cheers shane
Charles from what I understand, the SFDrake one was closed/privatized years ago. My friend tried to go there and has only gotten back to me ambiguously. Maybe it can be accessed!? I will get back to you.
Definitely go into the rock fissure for fill up. The PVC has algae in it, plus anti-UV light chemicals, plus phytoestrogens.
Debbie, I can’t stand your trolling spam on this site. Every spring I look into, I have to go through all your copy-paste crap to sell some filter. 5 different springs and every single one you put the same stuff over and over. Sell your crap somewhere else. People are looking for information about the spring they select. They don’t want poser-advertisements from you.
MODERATOR: WHERE ARE YOU!!
Christian, What do you recommend in terms of copper pipes? a few feet long and not too wide? I enjoy collecting spring water, but haven't put a pipe in a fissure..Thanks!
10 feet long copper pipe (I use 2 5 foot with a joiner). 1″ is best. 3/4 inch will do. Wrap a wet washcloth around the top end to direct the water into the pipe about 12 inches into the hole in the cliff.
Went the day after Christmas 12/26/23. It was my first experience at a spring. After doing some research I was led to this one. The hour drive was worth it. The water tastes great and I loved the experience. I’ll definitely be back.
I don't doubt that the Rangers are clueless. I collected water from the PVC pipes and a crack in the side of the cliff.
From what I understand, there is another spring off of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Any info on that one?
The spring is there. It says “don’t drink” but my friend brings a 5 gallon jug there all the time. It is on the hill side of the road on a small turnout on SFD in the Samuel P Taylor area. Just got to keep an eye out and you’ll find it.
Sorry, no more specifics.
Hi, the directions and GPS location are already outlined
Description
Cold spring coming from the volcanic rock of Mt. Tamalpais, right near the San Andreas Fault. There is a sign that says “Non-Potable Water” but the “Potable” is scratched away and replaced with the word “Profit.” Multiple pipes coming out of cliff, some flowing water, some not. Easy access right along road for all SF Bay Area spring hunters. 1000 feet below is a hot spring on Red Rock Beach only accessible as a hot pool during very low night time tides.
Nearest Address
915 Shoreline Hwy
Directions from Nearest Address
From 101 take the Stinson Beach Exit. Follow Route 1 North (Shoreline Hwy) for about half an hour until just before the town of Stinson Beach. Large parking lot on both left and right. The spring is on your right coming out of bottom of sheer cliff.
High, you guys must not be at the right spring. This spring rawks and is always flowing. Don't use the pipes, fill from the rock fissure!
I have found a new, great spring on mt. tam. If anyone wants to carpool to get water from San Francisco, please give me a call.
thanks
zach
415-286-4453
can you add the spring to the map!
thanks 🙂
Guys, if it’s a true spring. try it in the winter the water should be warm. in the summer should feel like ice water.
Madhuri, the holes are basically the eye of the spring. Mt. Tamalpais has dozens of springs all over it. A few springs higher up on the Mountain here fed the Bay for eons before the Municipal system was in place.
The flow increases slightly in the winter, but does not go down much at the end of summer. Its a deeper spring, I would say less than half effected by rainfall.
Yep, go here every week. Water is always flowing. Landslides only happen in the winter. There was a big one that covered the spring. Myself and a few locals dug it out. The pullout is just 2 to 4 minutes south of Stinson Beach.
Spring is clean from the fissure. I live right by the rangers here, they know nothing.
I also think this should maybe come of the sight. I was there and it seems it is effected by rain fall and so not a true spring. Also spoke with some folks living in the area that said they felt they got sick from the water. I guess the source is somewhere up on mount Tamalpais, and these pipes were drilled into the side of the mountain to relive the wetness that was happening up by the spring source. We should go find out where the source is. I'd be up for that adventure.
I also think this should maybe come of the sight. I was there and it seems it is effected by rain fall and so not a true spring. Also spoke with some folks living in the area that said they felt they got sick from the water. I guess the source is somewhere up on mount Tamalpais, and these pipes were drilled into the side of the mountain to relive the wetness that was happening up by the spring source. We should go find out where the source is. I'd be up for that adventure.
I also went here today and it was not producing. I was able to shake the spout and get some water from it- and it tasted funky. I recommend removing this 'spring' from the database. I also HIGHLY recommend Rattlesnake spring in NAPA. It is well worth the trip. Best tasting water ever.
Hi all! I just read the lab test results for this spring from April 2024 and it seems like cadmium and coliform were to items that were flagged/tested. I’m not familiar with the levels, and what is considered safe, is this something to be concerned about? Thanks in advance!
Please fill from the fissure. I bring copper pipes for ease of filling from the fissure into my jugs. DO NOT DRINK FROM THE PVC PIPES, as they are not connected to the spring eye, they just channel water from pools created just below the spring which people step in all the time. Local idiots installed these and I tear them out every time I go.
I’ve noticed there are very visible floaters in this water. I also know the surrounding rock has asbestos. I enjoy this water consistently for years. Hoping someone assuage my concerns ??
My go to spring in the Bay Area ! Very accessible on the side of highway 1
Hello everyone I am new to the “find a spring” community. Would anyone be able to tell me if there’s anything I should bring just to be more prepared I was reading something about a Fisher pipe in the comments, well other than a water jug. Any info would be highly appreciated as I’m planning on making the drive sometime this week I will be coming from about an hour away.
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi everyone! I noticed that there is no up-to-date information about the water quality for this spring. I would like to collect from here but also want some peace of mind. I will use the findaspring 15% discount code but would like help fundraising to get new testing done by watercheck.com I want to do the deluxe, iron bacteria, and glyphosate testing. please feel free to share the gofundme to people you know who collect here/ want to collect here who might want to see the updated results as well 🙂 https://www.gofundme.com/f/check-water-safety-of-red-rock-beach-spring-water?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
Went to the location April 1, 2019. Easily accessible. It was really flowing! Three pipes sticking out of mountain on a big turn out. Two of the pipes were really flowing, filled up 20 gallons in minutes.