It has a spout and it is very well kept. My family and i have been drinking from this spring for the last year and its the best spring i have found in my area. and enjoy the watercress.
Nearest Address
Stampede Meadows Rd, Boca, CA 96161
Directions from Nearest Address
This spring is in the north lake tahoe area. 10 min. east out of truckee on the I-80. Take the hirschdale exit and make a left onto Stampede Meadows Rd. drive about a mile till you get to Boca Springs campground Rd. its a right onto dirt road. It about a half mile till the campground and the spring is located at the far back left side, near the meadow.
I am here at the spring. There is a large pvc pipe with a nice flow.. right next to the fenced in area. I hope this is the correct spring. It is loaded with beautiful watercress that I will also harvest and use in my juices. Thank you sweet mama earth for providing so abundantly for us. Cheers
UPDATE: We were there in Sept 2011 and there is now a cyclone fence around it and it’s been locked up, closed to the public due to vandalism. So sad…we drove out of our way to find this place, and even with the confusing directions, found it, only to be disappointed to hear from the resident park ranger that it’s inaccessable.
Was there and loaded up on water and cress, April ’12. The pipe is outside the cyclone fence seen in the lower foreground of this photo. Picture gallery at http://billyhoward.info/Boca_Spring/
Only the old part of the spring is closed off. Right before the fenced in part is the pipe with all the lovely water coming out. Go back again, I was just there on 7.25.13.
Ryans comments are more accurate as far as the distance up from highway 80 turnoff at Hirshdale rd..We spent the afternoon here and it was awesome…took the new puppy and he also sensed the purity of the water and entire area…
Ryans comments are more accurate as far as the distance up from highway 80 turnoff at Hirshdale rd..We spent the afternoon here and it was awesome…took the new puppy and he also sensed the purity of the water and entire area…
The Boca Springs Campground dirt road is actually about three miles up Stampede Meadows Road. After entering the campgrounds,stay the right of the bathrooms. Make your way to the back, right side of the meadow. A chain-link fence surrounds part of the spring. Just outside of the fenced area is a plastic white pipe, coming right out of the ground.
Lovely spring in a beautiful setting.We are grateful to Scott and his friend, two wonderful locals, who rescued us from being stuck in the snow. (If you are reading this: THANK YOU!!!) Yes, we had a 4×4, and still got stuck! Something to consider when going during the rainy/snowing season.
I found this spring in 2016. It’s quite the adventure. Definitely make sure you plan this one out because you may not get service in certain areas. Have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and know it’s a bit of a walk from where you park. Fenced area with a pvc pipe. I’m curious if it is still open as I have experienced several springs in my area near Palm Springs have been shut down. Any information greatly appreciated. Thank you. ?
At the spring today 9/14/2018. No forestry sign like the last commenter stated. Water is flowing fast out of a pvc pipe. I’m currently drinking it so I hope the last commenter is wrong about the coliform bacteria. Tastes good anyway. Fingers crossed.
My family and I visited this spring this morning, 10/02/2018. If you follow the directions and read the comments (which tell you you exactly where the spring is located) you should have no trouble finding it.
As mentioned in comments, the spring is located just feet outside of the chain link fence. The water flows freely out of a big PVC pipe located in the ground.
We parked right next to the spring and filled up our jugs in just a few minutes, as the spring is very fast-flowing.
If I can figure out how to do so, I will upload pictures.
My wife and I went to this spring Sunday Sept 24. There was a sign posted by the Forestry Service that the water had coliform bacteria in it and it should be boiled before drinking it.
We found the land around the area had been dug up and a new pvc pipe installed. It had a cap on it with holes drilled in it so the water comes out like a shower head.
We filled our containers up but it takes much longer due to the cap on the end of the pipe. We took home about 40 gallons of water. Haven’t decided if we will boil or not yet.
I Also saw the sign and can’t get a straight answer from the rangers. I have been drinking this water all summer (without boiling) and have been fine so far. The one ranger I talked to said that the water for the campgrounds has had a boil order for the entire summer and didn’t know if the spring was affected.
Just drove out there and saw the sign. We decided not to risk it. Wish I would have seen your post before driving out. Hope they can clear it to drink soon!! Ill keep my eye out herr before going there.
I LOVE this spring! The setting is gorgeous – I’ve camped in the campground a number of times. I love waking up in the morning to the vanilla scent from the Geoffrey’s pines. The water is wonderful!
Such a wonderful spring to come take the kids and family. We all really enjoyed it! It was beautiful to see the children understand that the earth provides for us and that its not all about going to the store or filtering the water at home. You can enjoy water from nature and drink from the source. Cold, great flow. Take a right off the main road across from the Boca Campground signs. The sign will say Verdi Peak 13 miles. Follow that road and go to the Boca Springs area about a Mile from the main road. The spring is near the chain link fence coming out of a PVC pipe with really fast flow, and lots of greenery…cant miss it….pick up some trash while out there and don’t forget to give lots of thanks for the abundance! Thank you everyone here and also Evan for originally posting this spring…Injoy! Eric
This spring is very much alive and well as of Aug 2014. The campground keeper told me that the fenced off area was being vandalized, so parks and rec fenced it. The actual pipe/spring is located OUTSIDE of the fenced area, and is easily found/accessed.
Directions in this post were quite challenging to me, but I found it after about an hour of driving around in the woods. Below are my pretty darn specific directions to help seekers find this amazing spring and campground.
Exit Hirshdale Rd from HWY 80.
Turn left toward Boca Reservoir.
Go 3.1 miles.
From Stampede Meadows Road, make a right on paved road directly across from Tahoe National Forest Campground “Boca Rest”. (The pavement ends and becomes gravel about 50 yards after you turn onto it)
Stay left the entire way up the gravel road. There will be a short incline which is paved. Keep going.
When you reach the campground go straight .You will see “Boca Spring Campground” sign on your left. Stay straight toward campground spaces 3-16. The spring is on the ground next to the cyclone fence. It’s coming out of a white pipe. The cyclone fence and spring are located in the top lefthand corner of campground.
Exact distance from highway 80 to turnoff to spring: 3.1 miles.
Exact distance from Boca Dam (actual dam) to right turn which takes you up to Boca Spring campground: 2.2 miles. (You will pass the dam on your way to the spring turnoff)
Exact distance from turnoff from Stampede Meadows Road to spring pipe: 1.1 miles.
You can pull you car right up to the spring and easily fill and load your bottles. You could also camp at one of the site right next to the pipe and chug this nectar during your trip.
There is enough room under pipe to fill 5 gal bottles. Flow is very strong. Fill up is fast.
TDS 83ppm (using meter)
PH 7.5-8 (approx, based on PH test kit, not meter.
We went on July 20th, it was easy to find from main road to campground, turn right, go uphill towards Boca Campground & Boca Spring (clearly marked). Water is amazing. TDS 99-110 (I sampled it several times). Very cold & fresh!
Was up there camping last week at the spot 16 right next to the spring. Such an amazing trip, and having that water there was truly a blessing… We also went up to crystal peak and got some quartz to lay in the base of the spring. Hope that was ok, thought it looked pretty 🙂
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
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Boca Springs, Boca, CA
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I am here at the spring. There is a large pvc pipe with a nice flow.. right next to the fenced in area. I hope this is the correct spring. It is loaded with beautiful watercress that I will also harvest and use in my juices. Thank you sweet mama earth for providing so abundantly for us. Cheers
has this water been tested by the Environmental Health Agency, (or anyone for that matter) for any animal fecal matter?
UPDATE: We were there in Sept 2011 and there is now a cyclone fence around it and it’s been locked up, closed to the public due to vandalism. So sad…we drove out of our way to find this place, and even with the confusing directions, found it, only to be disappointed to hear from the resident park ranger that it’s inaccessable.
Was there and loaded up on water and cress, April ’12. The pipe is outside the cyclone fence seen in the lower foreground of this photo. Picture gallery at http://billyhoward.info/Boca_Spring/
Loaded up with 21 gals today. Pipe hard to see with high growing grass. I’ll post more pics on the above gallery later tonight.
Only the old part of the spring is closed off. Right before the fenced in part is the pipe with all the lovely water coming out. Go back again, I was just there on 7.25.13.
The TDS is 99
The pH is 7.2
Temp is about 50’s
Just wondering about the ph and the temp. Did you have it tested? I was up there last week and wasn’t sure if I should have it tested?
Ryans comments are more accurate as far as the distance up from highway 80 turnoff at Hirshdale rd..We spent the afternoon here and it was awesome…took the new puppy and he also sensed the purity of the water and entire area…
Ryans comments are more accurate as far as the distance up from highway 80 turnoff at Hirshdale rd..We spent the afternoon here and it was awesome…took the new puppy and he also sensed the purity of the water and entire area…
The Boca Springs Campground dirt road is actually about three miles up Stampede Meadows Road. After entering the campgrounds,stay the right of the bathrooms. Make your way to the back, right side of the meadow. A chain-link fence surrounds part of the spring. Just outside of the fenced area is a plastic white pipe, coming right out of the ground.
The water is very cold and crisp. Best Ever!
Lovely spring in a beautiful setting.We are grateful to Scott and his friend, two wonderful locals, who rescued us from being stuck in the snow. (If you are reading this: THANK YOU!!!) Yes, we had a 4×4, and still got stuck! Something to consider when going during the rainy/snowing season.
09/15/2024 I could not locate this spring 🤷🏻♀️
I found this spring in 2016. It’s quite the adventure. Definitely make sure you plan this one out because you may not get service in certain areas. Have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and know it’s a bit of a walk from where you park. Fenced area with a pvc pipe. I’m curious if it is still open as I have experienced several springs in my area near Palm Springs have been shut down. Any information greatly appreciated. Thank you. ?
Has anyone been out here recently?
I went out the other day but was unable to locate the spring. =[
At the spring today 9/14/2018. No forestry sign like the last commenter stated. Water is flowing fast out of a pvc pipe. I’m currently drinking it so I hope the last commenter is wrong about the coliform bacteria. Tastes good anyway. Fingers crossed.
My family and I visited this spring this morning, 10/02/2018. If you follow the directions and read the comments (which tell you you exactly where the spring is located) you should have no trouble finding it.
As mentioned in comments, the spring is located just feet outside of the chain link fence. The water flows freely out of a big PVC pipe located in the ground.
We parked right next to the spring and filled up our jugs in just a few minutes, as the spring is very fast-flowing.
If I can figure out how to do so, I will upload pictures.
My wife and I went to this spring Sunday Sept 24. There was a sign posted by the Forestry Service that the water had coliform bacteria in it and it should be boiled before drinking it.
We found the land around the area had been dug up and a new pvc pipe installed. It had a cap on it with holes drilled in it so the water comes out like a shower head.
We filled our containers up but it takes much longer due to the cap on the end of the pipe. We took home about 40 gallons of water. Haven’t decided if we will boil or not yet.
I Also saw the sign and can’t get a straight answer from the rangers. I have been drinking this water all summer (without boiling) and have been fine so far. The one ranger I talked to said that the water for the campgrounds has had a boil order for the entire summer and didn’t know if the spring was affected.
Just drove out there and saw the sign. We decided not to risk it. Wish I would have seen your post before driving out. Hope they can clear it to drink soon!! Ill keep my eye out herr before going there.
I LOVE this spring! The setting is gorgeous – I’ve camped in the campground a number of times. I love waking up in the morning to the vanilla scent from the Geoffrey’s pines. The water is wonderful!
Such a wonderful spring to come take the kids and family. We all really enjoyed it! It was beautiful to see the children understand that the earth provides for us and that its not all about going to the store or filtering the water at home. You can enjoy water from nature and drink from the source. Cold, great flow. Take a right off the main road across from the Boca Campground signs. The sign will say Verdi Peak 13 miles. Follow that road and go to the Boca Springs area about a Mile from the main road. The spring is near the chain link fence coming out of a PVC pipe with really fast flow, and lots of greenery…cant miss it….pick up some trash while out there and don’t forget to give lots of thanks for the abundance! Thank you everyone here and also Evan for originally posting this spring…Injoy! Eric
This spring is very much alive and well as of Aug 2014. The campground keeper told me that the fenced off area was being vandalized, so parks and rec fenced it. The actual pipe/spring is located OUTSIDE of the fenced area, and is easily found/accessed.
Directions in this post were quite challenging to me, but I found it after about an hour of driving around in the woods. Below are my pretty darn specific directions to help seekers find this amazing spring and campground.
Exit Hirshdale Rd from HWY 80.
Turn left toward Boca Reservoir.
Go 3.1 miles.
From Stampede Meadows Road, make a right on paved road directly across from Tahoe National Forest Campground “Boca Rest”. (The pavement ends and becomes gravel about 50 yards after you turn onto it)
Stay left the entire way up the gravel road. There will be a short incline which is paved. Keep going.
When you reach the campground go straight .You will see “Boca Spring Campground” sign on your left. Stay straight toward campground spaces 3-16. The spring is on the ground next to the cyclone fence. It’s coming out of a white pipe. The cyclone fence and spring are located in the top lefthand corner of campground.
Exact distance from highway 80 to turnoff to spring: 3.1 miles.
Exact distance from Boca Dam (actual dam) to right turn which takes you up to Boca Spring campground: 2.2 miles. (You will pass the dam on your way to the spring turnoff)
Exact distance from turnoff from Stampede Meadows Road to spring pipe: 1.1 miles.
You can pull you car right up to the spring and easily fill and load your bottles. You could also camp at one of the site right next to the pipe and chug this nectar during your trip.
There is enough room under pipe to fill 5 gal bottles. Flow is very strong. Fill up is fast.
TDS 83ppm (using meter)
PH 7.5-8 (approx, based on PH test kit, not meter.
Enjoy!
Will post pics sometime in the future.
Luke
We went on July 20th, it was easy to find from main road to campground, turn right, go uphill towards Boca Campground & Boca Spring (clearly marked). Water is amazing. TDS 99-110 (I sampled it several times). Very cold & fresh!
Was up there camping last week at the spot 16 right next to the spring. Such an amazing trip, and having that water there was truly a blessing… We also went up to crystal peak and got some quartz to lay in the base of the spring. Hope that was ok, thought it looked pretty 🙂