There is a spring that is well known to cyclists who are riding up CA 39 up towards Crystal Lake/Angelus Crest Highway. The spring  spills from the mountainside into a road-side ditch. The spring is around the 4000 foot sign near a switchback turn.  See coordinates below. This is a popular spot for cyclists who are riding up the mountain to refill their water bottles.
I went here yesterday and I was very happy with my findings! First, let me say that this spring is ON mile marker 35.50. I had mistakenly stopped early because I heard water rushing near the point that the GPS coordinates brought me to; which was a mile or two before the point where you should actually be collecting water from. Just look at the mile markers and if you’re heading up the canyon, the spring will be on your left side, just after turning right around a hairpin turn. On your right side there’s a small gravel space to park. If you’re looking at the spring, to the right of it, higher up on the rocks there sits an old (seemingly abandoned) cabin. Also, if you have a large 5 gallon jug like I did, I would advise bringing a smaller container, maybe a 1 gallon jug along, as it would make the filling process go by much quicker. Good luck and as long as you look for the mile marker, you will be good!
I went up to this spring the other day and got 10 gallons of the water. I just followed the directions that other people put up here and it was pretty easy to find but it can be easily missed so pay attention. Been drinking the water for a few days now and it is the best water ever. There’s just something about it. This is absolutely going to be where I get my water from now. Plus, It’s free. If you’re willing to make the trip and the effort to collect it, you won’t regret it. (Note the pin on the map is slightly off. Spring is at the TOP of that hairpin bend) And finally, after you have gotten your water, don’t forget to go up a little further to the lookout point. Beautiful view.
Update+Location+Experience
I copy paste Matt coordination from above to my car navigation and start driving from LA. Navigation stop right before some type of valley with greenery. I read about sound of water. Yes, if you drive slow you will hear. Basically it is literally flow of water. You can access it from both side of the road. I just went ahead and exploring this “river”. I am very rustic, so even people I meet there never try this water, I just drank from one of the little pools. It taste fine, I went up across road, walk little higher and with my big jar collect water right from the “river”.
I decide drive up higher just for fun and I saw right immediately small spring inside greenery but it seems no “comfy” accces there, so I move on. After 2-3 min up road, it is there exactly like in the description water spring very very close to the road on the left side. Easy to miss it. I tasted the water and it taste much more like super clean spring water, so I let go previous water out and collect this one. I was all alone on the side of the road, I wash my face, wet hair, pour over my legs and my arms. I did and did again, so amazing if you believe in natural energy. I was wet like a fish, but happy like budda! If you have big jar, bring something smaller like glass bottle, it will fill very fast few times. Be careful, choose time to go there when you think it will be less cars, side road is very tiny! How to look for this spot: Right after the turn on the right side small “parking” and on the left this little water spring. And if you raise your eyes you will see away some type of wooden little house on the left side up road. Water spring just before house.
I went the other day and the water is great! This is the 2nd time I have gone and will definitely be going again. I’m in 90020 and would love to hook up w/ others in the area, too, and share in the collection. 🙂 I also found a second site just a bit further down the mountain from the coordinates described above, which I took water from the 1st time I went. I think it may be a different water source, because the water tastes even clearer here! Maybe it has just gotten more filtered by the time it gets to the pool, idk. This other area is just a few bends in the road before you reach the 35.50 marker, and the area described in this thread, as you are going uphill. You can collect on either side of the road, I found it easier to go on the right as you are heading up the hill. At any rate both places for collection are awesome, imo, and definitely worth going for!
I live in the area too. Got a small group of us who have been traveling to Carlsbad, and originally Hemet for water, but going to head out here today. Lets organize! Hit me at chrisdevcich@gmail.com. Thanks!
Just went today and it was great! Thanks for the mile marker number. It was so easy to find and the water tasted amazing. We will be going back soon. What a great resource.
If anyone is based in or around the 90027 area and wants to take turns at collecting spring water from this location, let me know.
Otherwise we will probably make the trip approx once a month.
Would be great to share the millage.
Hi Jaime Leigh,
I will gladly share water collection duties with you. Call me or email me and we’ll figure something out!
703-798-9374 RNShirley@gmail.com
Went today and it was awesome! The water was absolutely refreshing and tasted so good! I was able to fill my tin can in about 10 seconds. Definitely coming back here again!
Hello. Thank you for reading this. Anyone been there and know how many gallons per minute or cups per minute ? If I go, I would bring containers to fill and want to see how long I will be there. Thank you.
I went twice, the first time I did not travel nearly far enough up highway 39 and gave up too early. Travelling up 39, when you get to mile marker 35.05, it’s right around the corner. (Past the 3000ft elevation sign by a ways, and I never saw the 4000ft elevation sign but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there or maybe it was past the spring). I went at night, and it was very dark but it almost looked like the road narrowed and you curved around to the right and it was immediately around the curve. Basically roll down your windows at mile marker 35.05 and you will hear the crashing water. The water is seeping out of the rocks, there isn’t a pipe. Thank God someone happened to be parked there or I might have driven past it in the dark. Park on the right with room for 2 cars though a tight squeeze and carefully cross to fill up. Be careful not to get hit by an oncoming car, there isn’t a ton of standing room between you and the road and you kind of have to balance on some rocks. The guy who helped me filled up my 5 gallon jug within a few minutes. Been drinking this water since late saturday evening, and it’s really really yummy. Of the three springs I’ve visited it’s my favorite so far. Good luck!
The spring is easy to miss, but i have found it. it’s running off rocks off the side of the moutain. The area is called Falling Springs and its on some maps. There are deserted cabins there. As you drive up, the spring is on the left side and again, running off a rock. Plus lots of vegetation where the water runs off. I found it somewhat easily because i had my windows rolled down and heard all the water when i drove by 🙂 the water is cold and tastes good, however, the TDS value was 220- not sure if that is bad?? I’ve filled up from here a few times.
This spring is mis-marked on this map. It’s actually across the street from the parking area on the upper hump of the hairpin turn near the house there.
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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Carol
did anyone start a group to go up there yet? im in ktown
so awesome to find this site, I am planning a trip up there soon from Long Beach. Is it safe to drink directly?
I went here yesterday and I was very happy with my findings! First, let me say that this spring is ON mile marker 35.50. I had mistakenly stopped early because I heard water rushing near the point that the GPS coordinates brought me to; which was a mile or two before the point where you should actually be collecting water from. Just look at the mile markers and if you’re heading up the canyon, the spring will be on your left side, just after turning right around a hairpin turn. On your right side there’s a small gravel space to park. If you’re looking at the spring, to the right of it, higher up on the rocks there sits an old (seemingly abandoned) cabin. Also, if you have a large 5 gallon jug like I did, I would advise bringing a smaller container, maybe a 1 gallon jug along, as it would make the filling process go by much quicker. Good luck and as long as you look for the mile marker, you will be good!
I went up to this spring the other day and got 10 gallons of the water. I just followed the directions that other people put up here and it was pretty easy to find but it can be easily missed so pay attention. Been drinking the water for a few days now and it is the best water ever. There’s just something about it. This is absolutely going to be where I get my water from now. Plus, It’s free. If you’re willing to make the trip and the effort to collect it, you won’t regret it. (Note the pin on the map is slightly off. Spring is at the TOP of that hairpin bend) And finally, after you have gotten your water, don’t forget to go up a little further to the lookout point. Beautiful view.
Update+Location+Experience
I copy paste Matt coordination from above to my car navigation and start driving from LA. Navigation stop right before some type of valley with greenery. I read about sound of water. Yes, if you drive slow you will hear. Basically it is literally flow of water. You can access it from both side of the road. I just went ahead and exploring this “river”. I am very rustic, so even people I meet there never try this water, I just drank from one of the little pools. It taste fine, I went up across road, walk little higher and with my big jar collect water right from the “river”.
I decide drive up higher just for fun and I saw right immediately small spring inside greenery but it seems no “comfy” accces there, so I move on. After 2-3 min up road, it is there exactly like in the description water spring very very close to the road on the left side. Easy to miss it. I tasted the water and it taste much more like super clean spring water, so I let go previous water out and collect this one. I was all alone on the side of the road, I wash my face, wet hair, pour over my legs and my arms. I did and did again, so amazing if you believe in natural energy. I was wet like a fish, but happy like budda! If you have big jar, bring something smaller like glass bottle, it will fill very fast few times. Be careful, choose time to go there when you think it will be less cars, side road is very tiny! How to look for this spot: Right after the turn on the right side small “parking” and on the left this little water spring. And if you raise your eyes you will see away some type of wooden little house on the left side up road. Water spring just before house.
Ramona, I am in the 91042. I would be interested in going to check out the water.
hows the spring these days?
I went the other day and the water is great! This is the 2nd time I have gone and will definitely be going again. I’m in 90020 and would love to hook up w/ others in the area, too, and share in the collection. 🙂 I also found a second site just a bit further down the mountain from the coordinates described above, which I took water from the 1st time I went. I think it may be a different water source, because the water tastes even clearer here! Maybe it has just gotten more filtered by the time it gets to the pool, idk. This other area is just a few bends in the road before you reach the 35.50 marker, and the area described in this thread, as you are going uphill. You can collect on either side of the road, I found it easier to go on the right as you are heading up the hill. At any rate both places for collection are awesome, imo, and definitely worth going for!
Utmost thanks to all who shared information regarding this spring.
I’m in Hollywood (near 90028) and would love to be a part of a group effort to collect potable spring water.
Peace Jamie and Robin!
I live in the area too. Got a small group of us who have been traveling to Carlsbad, and originally Hemet for water, but going to head out here today. Lets organize! Hit me at chrisdevcich@gmail.com. Thanks!
Just went today and it was great! Thanks for the mile marker number. It was so easy to find and the water tasted amazing. We will be going back soon. What a great resource.
If anyone is based in or around the 90027 area and wants to take turns at collecting spring water from this location, let me know.
Otherwise we will probably make the trip approx once a month.
Would be great to share the millage.
Hi Jaime Leigh,
I will gladly share water collection duties with you. Call me or email me and we’ll figure something out!
703-798-9374
RNShirley@gmail.com
Me and the kids went today. Awesome, nice flow easy fill. My meters said 251 ppm and 7.9ph.
what is the pH?
Went today and it was awesome! The water was absolutely refreshing and tasted so good! I was able to fill my tin can in about 10 seconds. Definitely coming back here again!
Coordinates: N34°18′ W117°50′
Mile Marker: 35.50 (Hwy. 39)
TDS: 210 ppm
Temperature: 13.5°C / 56.5°F
Hello. Thank you for reading this. Anyone been there and know how many gallons per minute or cups per minute ? If I go, I would bring containers to fill and want to see how long I will be there. Thank you.
I went twice, the first time I did not travel nearly far enough up highway 39 and gave up too early. Travelling up 39, when you get to mile marker 35.05, it’s right around the corner. (Past the 3000ft elevation sign by a ways, and I never saw the 4000ft elevation sign but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there or maybe it was past the spring). I went at night, and it was very dark but it almost looked like the road narrowed and you curved around to the right and it was immediately around the curve. Basically roll down your windows at mile marker 35.05 and you will hear the crashing water. The water is seeping out of the rocks, there isn’t a pipe. Thank God someone happened to be parked there or I might have driven past it in the dark. Park on the right with room for 2 cars though a tight squeeze and carefully cross to fill up. Be careful not to get hit by an oncoming car, there isn’t a ton of standing room between you and the road and you kind of have to balance on some rocks. The guy who helped me filled up my 5 gallon jug within a few minutes. Been drinking this water since late saturday evening, and it’s really really yummy. Of the three springs I’ve visited it’s my favorite so far. Good luck!
I could not find this spring. The coordinates are not on this page either.
The spring is easy to miss, but i have found it. it’s running off rocks off the side of the moutain. The area is called Falling Springs and its on some maps. There are deserted cabins there. As you drive up, the spring is on the left side and again, running off a rock. Plus lots of vegetation where the water runs off. I found it somewhat easily because i had my windows rolled down and heard all the water when i drove by 🙂 the water is cold and tastes good, however, the TDS value was 220- not sure if that is bad?? I’ve filled up from here a few times.
This spring is mis-marked on this map. It’s actually across the street from the parking area on the upper hump of the hairpin turn near the house there.
If collecting water from a spring, just run it through a water filter before drinking to be safe.
Is this water safe to drink without filtering it?
It’s probably best to filter the water before drinking it