See Hot Creek Hot Springs, Mammoth Lakes, California

Add to My List Check Off

Hot Creek is located a few miles outside of the town of Mammoth Lakes in California. These Eastern Sierra's geothermal hot spring were once a swinging 60's hang out but now more low key and family-like - even thoguh you will find nude bathers at times. There are multiple pools/locations here and a creek that connects the water. The hot springs in Hot Creek are located in the middle of a cold stream, so you have to swim through what seems like freezing water to get to them. To get there go on US 395 and then turn east on Hot Creek Hatchery Rd/ Airport. After less than a mile, you will see a sign to "Hot Creek Geothermal Area". The last mile or so, before the parking lot, is unpaved. The park provides changing rooms and primitive toilets only. Hot Creek in the Hot Creek Gorge section can harbor dangers as the locations, discharge rates, and temperatures of springs often change. The changes can be sudden and dangerous to unprepared visitors (especially if entering beyond walkways and fences). Since May 2006, springs in and near the most popular swimming areas have been geysering or intermittently spurting very hot, sediment-laden water as high as 6 feet (2 m) above the stream surface. At times this geysering activity is vigorous enough to produce “popping” sounds audible from hundreds of feet away. The geysering usually lasts a few seconds and occurs at irregular intervals, with several minutes between eruptions. Fumaroles, or steam vents, are in gorge area also. They can occur in the ground beyond the creek bed. The unpredictability of this hazardous spring activity led the U.S. Forest Service to close parts of the Hot Creek Gorge in June 2006, and the closure has remained in effect as of April 2012.

4.0 out of 5 Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›