Alkali Lake Hot Springs
127°F
Source water (NOAA)
Short walk
Easy access
Free
No fee reported
Alkali Lake Hot Springs is a primitive spring in the Long Valley Caldera near Warm Lake, about 13 miles east of Mammoth Lakes off Benton Crossing Road. Very hot water is captured in a culvert and piped to a small shallow concrete tub about 50 feet away. Guides rate the soaking as mediocre, and the tub has been dry at times when the pipe was plugged.
01 · Before you go
Plan your visit
What to expect on the ground: rules, facilities and when to go.
- Clothing optionalCommon here, not official policy
- 1 pool
- SeasonGuides describe it as accessible year-round from a paved road.
- Free to soakOne guide lists no day-use fee.
02 · Live
Conditions
Access status, weather and hazards. Closure feeds are checked automatically every morning.
Access
No closures reported
No closure, fire or weather warning found in Forest Service, wildfire (NIFC) or National Weather Service feeds. That isn't confirmation it's open, so check with Bureau of Land Management.
Checked 14 Oct · updated daily
A 2007 report found the feed pipe plugged and the tub dry. A more recent guide describes a working pipe to a shallow concrete tub, but says it is not a great soak. This spring is not the Alkali Hot Springs in Dyer, Nevada, which is closed to the public.
The source water is reported at roughly 120 to 135 F, so the tub can be too hot to enter. Water has to be diverted or cooled by hand. The spring sits in the open next to a road used by trucks. Valves and pipes are informal and can be left running or become plugged.
03 · Route
Getting there
Nearest town: Mammoth Lakes.
- 1
From US-395 south of Mammoth Lakes, turn onto Benton Crossing Road and drive about 4.4 miles to a small dirt road and gate near Warm Lake and Big Alkali Lake.
- 2
The spring is a short distance from the parking area.
- 3
Guide coordinates are about 37.669, -118.782.
37.6670, −118.7810 · nearest town Mammoth Lakes, CA
04 · Where to stay
Stay nearby
Start early and stay close. Places to stay near Mammoth Lakes, from campgrounds to cabins.
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