Slab City Hot Springs
Also known as Barraza Hot Springs
98–104°F
Pool temperatures
Short walk
Easy access
Free
No fee reported
This is a small, muddy, informal geothermal pool at the edge of the Slab City squatter community east of Niland. It has no official management, charges no fee and is a short walk from where you park. Water is reported at up to about 104 F with a weak sulfur smell, and it is popular with locals for bathing and socializing.
01 · Before you go
Plan your visit
What to expect on the ground: rules, facilities and when to go.
- Camping nearbySlab City itself is an unregulated free camping area where RVs and tents are accepted. Facilities are minimal and informal.
- 1 pool
- HoursNo official hours. Open access is reported.
- Free to soakNo fee. The site has no official management.
Best time to go. One guide says the pool is best in summer. Summer air temperatures are extreme, so cooler months are likely more comfortable, though no source says so.
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 Unmanaged, informal. Slab City sits on former Camp Dunlap land owned by the State of California..
Checked 14 Oct · updated daily
No closures, fire or road restrictions found in searches for 2024 and 2025. The pool is informally maintained by the community, so its condition can change. A Hot Springers report is dated September 2024.
Water is muddy with a faint sulfur smell, and one visitor described its sanitary condition as questionable. Extreme desert heat can make soaking dangerous, and there are reports of people falling asleep in the springs and dying. Wikivoyage says police have ticketed people for bathing nude here. Nearby irrigation canals carry polluted water and are dangerous.
03 · Route
Getting there
Nearest town: Niland.
- 1
From Highway 111 in Niland, go east on Main Street, cross the railroad tracks and continue on Beal Road past the dump.
- 2
The spring is reached by driving unmarked desert tracks off Beal Road near the entrance to Slab City, past water storage tanks and power lines.
- 3
Park wherever the track ends and walk a short way to the pool.
- 4
There is no signage, so use a map or ask locals.
33.2458, −115.4768 · nearest town Niland, CA
04 · Where to stay
Stay nearby
Start early and stay close. Places to stay near Niland, from campgrounds to cabins.
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05 · Keep exploring
More in California
Agua Caliente County Park Hot Springs52 mi away · Developed · 90–102°F