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.
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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.
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.
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Great spring. Ill definitely be back for this amazing water.
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Carol
Hello everyone I thought I’d leave an update here about the spring. Just went today and got 12 gallons. Super easy and it tastes so good!
Just went here yesterday for the second time. Parked at the lot across from the abandoned-looking house, and walked across to the spring right behind the 35.50 mile marker.
A man come out from the house and asked if we were there for water, because the better water is 30 feet down the road. The one we were at, he said, is clean enough but the lower one is better.
So we walked a little down the road on the same side, and there is another spring very, very close to the road. This water did seem colder!
Another man came from the house and said to us that he’s been drinking the water for 20 years!
It’s smooth tasting, strangely has a nice mouth feel. (We tested the first, higher up spring at 211ppm. We also tested for contaminants and it came back negative. The lower, better spring is 258ppm.)
Here’s a picture link to the lower, better spring.
http://imgur.com/a/kzUjA
Our personal suggestion is to get a 5-foot PVC pipe, funnel, and elbow connector piece. The elbow piece makes it easy to put the funnel in and still have the pipe horizontal, right into your 5-gallon bottle!
Enjoy the water! <3
Went on Jan 23rd 2022 still flowing amazing
The road was closed the few times I went up earlier this year due to a mud slide. But I was finally able to make it up a few days ago. You can hear the water before you see it. There is room for a car or two just across the road. I was able to fill a quart jar in seconds. Not sure about the legality of collecting here so I didn’t stay for too long. Tested it when I got home with a kit I got from Home Depot, all the levels came in at normal ranges, and the tests came back negative. Water tasted great was nice and cold. Unable to tell if the water is coming from the ground at the collecting point, or if it is exposed further up. There are cabins near by. Ultimately based on the tests I took and the history of people drinking from here I would accept it as safe. However the drive is long and the collecting location is exposed to passing cars. Not sure this will be a regular source for me.
It always was safe to drink. Drank it growing up on the mountain.
Hi,,I own the cabin by the spring I would love to talk to you about the area..Adam was once the owner if you have any pics of the place that would be great email me. Rocke33@gmail.com thanks
Since this is the closet spring to two other possible springs, I will post some information about them. The first one is a historical area that was the main water source for Native Americans in that area. This place had a lot of running water back in 1982 when they were tearing up the hills for housing construction. However, at least one topographical map showed several springs that are still there. The area is called Powder Canyon and it’s surrounded by Rowland Heights, La Habra and City of Industry. It’s a park mainly used for mountain biking and hiking. The other place still has springs flowing from the hills and this is off Carbon Canyon Road in Brea. This was the site of a famous resort and hot springs called La Vida. It was there for over 100 years as a developed resort but it was one of the main hot springs for Native Americans over 100 years ago. I was there about a month ago but it was late in the afternoon and I didn’t want to venture further in because I was alone. I have seen a large springs flowing with water on another occasion about year ago. There are about two YouTube videos posted about this area. For those of you that like to explore new possibilities for water sources, you might find something worth tasting!
Hari Om everyone – update for January 2022 – it was our first time visiting this spot to fill up. Water is very clear and clean looking and quite cold. We filled up about 25 gallons – we found it easiest to fill 1 gallon jugs at the topmost part where the flow is strong, and then fill our bigger 5 gals with that. Overall good water although does have a slightly drying effect on the mouth and definitely may particles/minerals that make it hard water. We will probably mainly use it for cooking and teas for now instead of straight drinking water.
Stopped by this lovely fairy spring and I’m here to express ultimate gratitude for the clean drinking water that this great mountain offers – cold, clean, crystalline!
My son and I went there today. It was easy to locate by following the tips in these comments. The water was plentiful, cool, and clean. Good taste. I did some quick testing and got 205 ppm and a ph of 7.94. My teenager loved it. Really nice little spot.
Hey Kevin! The water is safe, yes! I have been drinking the water from this spring and the one in Springville up north for probably almost 5 years if not longer! I never catch the illnesses that go around each year that most people seem to get; that should say something! Please try it out! You will find the experience very rewarding! It will probably ease your mind too to know that last time I filled up here about a week ago there were two other people filling up as well and I have met someone in the past who has also been drinking it for years! Go have a blast!
My Family used to go to Falling Springs Resort Years ago( early 60s). We stayed in several cabins and had meals at the restaurant. It was great! Sorry to hear it is a Ghost town, essentially.
I finally made it to the spring, but sadly won’t be regularly drinking the water. I really like the idea of natural spring water, benefits of soil based organisms etc., but I did not feel good after drinking the water. It should be noted I have a lot of sensitivities to foods and chemicals so my reactions aren’t the norm. It actually tasted really great, but made me feel tired and weak. Anyone else have a weird reaction like this?
Has anyone tested the water for anything beyond pH, and TDS?
I’ve tested the water numerous times on my way up, PH levels have always came back 7+ every time.
Anyone test the water recently? Filled up a few gallons and haven’t gotten sick but does dry the mouth a little.
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
Went to the spring on 12/6/2024…water volume was very high coming out of the rocks. Super clean looking in the glass bottles I filled up, and the taste is superb. No signs of life at the tiny cabin buried up the hillside close to the spring.
To find the spring look for the tiny 2 car turnout just past the hairpin turn with the spring on the left and the turnout on the right – it has a small bear proof trashcan standing in it. If you pass the “trashcan turnout” you’ve gone too far up the road. Was there on a slow day and encountered no traffic of any kind in the middle of the day for at least a half hour. Took a few videos and some pix of this glorious spring, but don’t know how to post them on this board.
For those wondering “is it worth the trip?” I would say “heck to yeah” or “yes, Yes and YES!”
Visited the spring today and drank from it. Water was cold and clear. I took a sample to get the water tested. Be back with results soon.
Is the road to this spring closed? It seems from previous comments that there are homes nearby which makes me think there must be some way to access this spring. Please share if you’ve been here recently!
As of 2024 the spring is going strong and keeps perfectly bottles in the refrigerator. Definitely a high mineral content thought so drink in moderation.
How does high mineral content affect drinkability?
Just went here for the first time. Tasted great. Would be awesome if someone shared pics of any test results.
Hope this stays as is forever, as scary times ahead for water. #waterrights Be cautious, be vigilant, demand more, be water wise, your 70% water.
Update?
Does anyone still actively drink from this spring?
I went there water taste amazingly clean
We drive up from Glendora to fill up weekly. If anyone wants us to fill for them, we do this for several families at a small fee per 5 gallon bottle. Best water!
Just went up today! Water was gushing pretty strong! It was soooo refreshing and cold!!! I’m in love!
It’s so thirst quenching! I filled up a 6 gallon glass carboy and multiple other glass bottles. If you’re filling up a carboy sized jug, you definitely need a gallon or half gallon size to collect and pour into the big boy.
I tested it when I got home. 7.46 PH and 261 PPM TDS. It was raining earlier this week, not sure if that makes a difference. Going again next week, I’ll update PPM if it changes.
Praise God for fresh clean water!!
Hi Summer!
Are you still filling up 5 gallons for people? We live in Arcadia. Thanks so much!
Summer, do you still drive up to fill bottles?
Hi there Summer 🙂 I was wondering if you still fill up bottles for people? Feel free to email me at memcmurray@hotmail.com
Thanks!
I still collect often. Weekly or bi weekly.
Hello Summer,
I just moved to the area and have been looking for a good spring.
Unfortunately during my drive up falling springs, I failed to locate the source.
If it’s not to much to ask, the next time you’re up. Would you mind pinning the coordinates? Thank you!
Is it open?
Hi Summer! I think it’s great that you & others have discovered this wonderful spring! I would love to go there myself to see what it’s like & to try the water. This web site says that the spring is located somewhere near the 4,000 foot mark?? Is there an actual sign? Is the spring mini waterfall visible from the road? I’m so confused & I don’t want to get lost so any directions &/or feedback from you (or anyone reading this) would be much appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Summer,
Do you still fill for other people? Or, can you tell me exactly how to get there myself? Please email me… ambrosiart@aol.com and put SPRING WATER in the subject line. Thanks so much!
Hi April! I would love to speak with you about filling water for me. Please e mail me only1raquel@hotmail.com
: )
I meant to write, “Hi Summer”, not April. Anyway, please message me is you are still collecting water. : )
Hi how much do you charge and how would one go about obtaining the water from you? I would go myself but im a bit afraid of possible steep car climbs and step declines.
Hi, do you still go here? Thanks 🙂
Does this water need to be filtered before drinking it or is it good as is??
Has the water been tested recently? Do you drink it without boiling or altering it in any way?
Hi there, I went up to the spring yesterday the water seems really clean. I was curious if anyone knows if you should boil it or filter it before drinking. Or if it’s safe tonjust drink. Also I took photos but I’m not sure where to add them to this site.
Always best to put in jug then filter it using a santevia water pitcher. natural springs contains some sediment that our body cant process. spring houses will use sediment filters for this reason.
i also drink it daily as my only water source/cook with it, have been doing so for a few months and no issues. i dont filter/boil/treat at all. but this honestly means nothing because i dont know 100percent what possible contaminates it could have.
I have collected and drank this spring water several times this year. No issues. I drink it raw and not boiled. My meter shows around 140 ppm. Not bad. Haven’t had it tested. PH was a bit high though.
Does anyone know anything about the abandoned cabins by the spring? I saw quit a few ‘No Trespassing’ signs.
I know the history of the cabins. My father owned Falling Springs and I grew up there.
do you know anything about the source of the spring and if that spot it flows out from truly is the first spot it touches air at, meaning there’s no other spots beforehand it could be contaminated with something? im just really wary these days of trusting anything. how would anyone truly 100percent know where the water comes from and its path along the way?!
Hello Allyson,
Please tell me the history of the cabins and who own the falling Springs.
Thank you
Trying to get info on the cabins we grew up there knew the Burke family and Dottie ours was 152 Star Rt
My father spent his teenage years at Falling Springs in the late 1940’s as it was owned by his father. He still remembers the natural and historical features quite well.
made it to the spring this evening, road was reopened and the natural mountain spring water is the best in CA/the world #h2o 😉 enjoi
I went today, the road is currently down for construction. Let me know when u able to get the water again.
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.
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.
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.