Rock Tub Hot Spring
90–100°F
Pool temperatures
Short walk
Easy access
Free
No fee reported
Rock Tub is a single small rock-and-cement tub, sized for about 2 to 6 people, fed by a pipe from nearby geothermal water. It sits beside a small dirt parking area off Whitmore Tubs Road, east of Mammoth Lakes, with Sierra views. Water is lukewarm to warm, and flow is unreliable. It is often confused with Whitmore Hot Springs, which is the name of the wider geothermal area.
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
- Camping nearbyFree dispersed camping on the surrounding public land along Whitmore Tubs Road, with a handful of fire-ring sites. Reviewers say the roads are rough and the area is windy.
- Parking
- 1 pool
- ModerateOne guide recommends spring through fall.
- SeasonThe last stretch is a gravel road that is passable for most vehicles when dry. In snow or mud, people park on the main road and walk in.
- Free to soakGuides report no day-use fee.
Best time to go. One guide recommends spring through fall. Weekdays are likely quieter, since weekends are busy.
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 search for closures turned up none. Visitor reports from August 2025 describe the tub dry, with cattle damage to the supply pipe. Check recent reports before going.
The tub is fed by a pipe, and the flow can stop or be disrupted. One visitor found no water in August 2025, and another reported cattle trampling the pipe in August 2025. Reviewers describe a slippery, slimy bottom. One reviewer reported bacteria in the water. Vehicles drive fast on the dirt road. Mud is possible in wet weather.
03 · Route
Getting there
Nearest town: Mammoth Lakes.
- 1
From US-395 north of Bishop, or south of Mammoth Lakes, turn onto Benton Crossing Road at the small green church. Go about 1.1 miles and turn left onto gravel Whitmore Tubs Road.
- 2
After about 1 mile, turn right onto an unmarked dirt road. Drive about 0.1 miles to a small parking area.
- 3
The tub sits just below and beside the lot.
37.6477, −118.8089 · 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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