Activities | Leisure

primitive.hot springs

You've heard of them - Deep Creek, Sespe, & Saline. Hot mineral waters flowing from the earth into rock tubs, surrounded by total nature. Like a distant dream you imagine the terrain, the soak, the stars. NATURAL HOT TUBS: California Hot Springs located in rural areas, mostly on dirt roads, some inside or near National Forests. Most have camping nearby, but not adjacent the hot tubs. All of these are maintained by volunteers. They must be cared for by everyone, for your enjoyment. Please respect the land and the hot mineral waters: pick up litter, do not use soap and keep the hot tubs clean. These hot spring tubs are usually built and cared for by local volunteers and regular folks, not the government agencies that manage our public lands.

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Primitive Hot Springs

Most of these special places can be reached by one lane paved or dirt road. SUV /high clearance vehicle may be needed in some cases, but 4x4 is not necessary. Many are hike in only access. Few allow parking your car right next to the springs. Some tubs are so remote, the only way to reach them is by hiking several miles. Get maps and cross reference. Make an overnight backpacking trip for more secluded hot springs. Plan for a relaxing time and exciting adventure.

Hot springs are a naturally occurring phenomena. Neither improved nor maintained by the Forest Service. Most of the tubs in these locations are build by volunteer efforts. Please respect these valuable loactions & leave the place cleaner than when you found it. hot springs tips Footing around hot springs is often poor. Watch out for broken glass, towels, drinks, dogs, clothes and slippery moss. Use caution when going barefoot and don't go alone. At night bring flashlights. Water temperatures vary by site, ranging from warm to very hot. Test the water first for temperature to avoid scalds and burns. Keep alcoholic beverages for afterward, or at least to a minimum. Prolonged immersion may be hazardous to your health and result in hyperthermia, also known as heat stroke. Elderly persons and those with a history of heart disease, diabetes, high or low blood pressure or who are pregnant should consult their physicians prior to use. Respect private property rights. Do not trespass at private hot springs without the landowners permission. hot springs ettiquette Rinse your feet prior to tub entry. Please don't litter. Pick some up! Don't drink the water. Don't let your dog drink the water. Don't let your dog soak. Don't leave cigarettes/butts lying around. Majority rules: clothing optional can be uncomfortable for some folks. Assess the situation before hand and bring some swimwear if you must. If there are a bunch of tourists and families, you will see more swimsuits. Young people, bikers, campers and hippies, it's gonna be the nudies ruling.

Baja Hot Springs
Guadalupe Canyon ---> Hot Spring Camps Southwest of Mexcali Reservations for groups only - Rob's Baja Tours PO Box 4003 Balboa, CA 92661 949-673-2670	Tours to Guadalupe Canyon can be booked thru Total Escape Adventures inquire or RSVP
Big Bear Hot Springs
Deep Creek Hot Springs hike in only parking @ Bowen Ranch, Parking fee & Maps available 2 mi. steep trail / 6 mi. opt.B Or option C 4WD Guide: San Bernardino Mtns	San Bernardino NF I-15, exit Hesperia & take Main St. @ Y veer left-Rock Springs Rd., left-Kiowa Rd., right-Round Up Rd., right- Bowen Ranch Rd., 5.5 mi., any fork bear right to reach ranch option B: I-15, exit Hesperia & take Main St. @ Y veer left- Rock Sprgs Rd., right on Deep Creek Rd. Park near damn&look for sign. 6 mi. gentle hike
Big Sur Hot Springs
Esalen Institute Esalen Hot Springs open to general public by reservation only from 1am to 3am. $20 fee, payable by credit card only. Reservations, 831-667-3047	Sykes Hot Springs hike in only Trail #3E06.2 via Rd.#20S05 E of Pfieffer Big Sur SP located in a remote area of the Los Padres National Forest pix	Tassajara Hot Springs Tassajara Rd. Los Padres NF San Francisco Zen Center 300 Page St, San Francisco 415/865-1899 415/865-1895
Bishop - Eastern Sierra Hot Springs
Keough Hot Springs Keough Hot Ditch right off Hwy 395, dirt roads 8.5 mi. South of Bishop Resort@ KeoughsHotsprings.com
Bridgeport Hot Springs
Buckeye Hot Springs Toiyabe National Forest 702/882-2766 8 mile NW of Bridgeport NW of town, on Hwy 395 take forest service road 017 (dirt road) 6-7 miles	Fales Toiyabe NF 702/882-2766 old resort now in ruins along Hwy 395 near the Sonora Jct Hwy 108; drive W from Bridgeport 13 miles. Property will be on your left and the runoff will be about a tenth of a mile on your right	Travertine Hot Springs 1 mile SE of Bridgeport; off of Hwy 395 via Jack Sawyer Rd.
Death Valley Hot Springs
Saline Valley Hot Springs > NORTH < Death Valley National Park E of Hwy.395, N off Hwy.190 via Saline Valley Rd. 50+ mi. of rugged dirt roads. High Clearance a must & 4WD may be needed in wetter months. Topo & back road maps advised. Acess is a long 3 hour trip off-road. Fly in via small plane- dirt landing strip No developed campground facilties. Clothing optional my ass, nudity is the norm here.	see also - Tecopa Hot Springs CA SOUTH Death Valley National Park
Eastern Sierra Hot Springs most remote areas
Long Valley Area Little Hot Creek Crowley Hill Top via Whitmore Tubs Rd. Crab Cooker Shepard The Tub	< -- all these off of Hwy 395 at Benton Crossing Road near Lake Crowley on the way to Benton Hot Springs  see also - Mammoth
Gaviota - Santa Barbara Hot Springs
Gaviota near Gaviota State Park Highway 101 @ PCH jct 1		see also - Santa Barbara
Hesperia
Deep Creek Hot Springs hike in only parking @ Bowen Ranch, Parking fee & Maps available 2 mi. steep trail / 6 mi. opt.B Or option C	San Bernardino NF I-15, exit Hesperia & take Main St. @ Y veer left-Rock Springs Rd., left-Kiowa Rd., right-Round Up Rd., right- Bowen Ranch Rd., 5.5 mi., any fork bear right to reach ranch	option B: I-15, exit Hesperia & take Main St. @ Y veer left- Rock Sprgs Rd., right on Deep Creek Rd. Park near damn&look for sign. 6 mi. gentle hike
Kennedy Meadows
Jordan Hot Springs. hike in only West from Blackrock 5 miles is beautiful Beach Meadows. North 8 miles at the end of the road at Blackrock are trails into the Golden Trout Wilderness Area. 2 mile hike into Casa Vieja Meadows, & another 3 miles down to Jordan Hot Springs.  Sequoia National Forest Inyo National Forest	..
Kern River Hot Springs
Democrat Hot Springs Delonegha Scovern You've seen these signs along Hwy 178, but don't get too excited, these are all on private property (as of 2004) - with no access to public	Miracle Hot Springs Preserve, P.O. Box 782 Lake Isabella, CA 93240 760 379-4407 off Hwy 178 via Borel Road/ Old Kern River Canyon Road near Hobo Campground
Remington Hot Springs Old Kern River Canyon Road 1-3 mi W from Hobo Campground; dirt parking lot near telepjone poles; hike in acess only	..
Lake Arrowhead Hot Springs
Deep Creek Hot Springs Hike in only parking @ Bowen Ranch, Parking fee & Maps available 2 mi. steep trail / 6 mi. opt.B Or option C	San Bernardino NF I-15, exit Hesperia & take Main St. @ Y veer left-Rock Springs Rd., left-Kiowa Rd., right-Round Up Rd., right- Bowen Ranch Rd., 5.5 mi., any fork bear right to reach ranch	option B: I-15, exit Hesperia & take Main St. @ Y veer left- Rock Sprgs Rd., right on Deep Creek Rd. Park near damn&look for sign. 6 mi. gentle hike
Lakeshore - Sierra Hot Springs
Mono Hot Springs Hwy. 168, Kaiser Pass NE of Huntington Lake located in Sierra NF winter trip: Sno-Mo Sierras	Blayney hike in only ferry from Florence Lake Sierra National Forest
Mammoth Hot Springs
Casa Diablo Hot Springs off Hwy 395, East side hwy. on Substation Rd.	Hot Creek off Hwy.395@fish hatchery, proceed to Hot Creek Rd.	see also - East Sierra
Ojai Hot Springs
Sespe Hot Springs 10 mi + hike Los Padres NF hike in only Trail head @ end of Forest Service Rd. #7N03 via Johnson Ridge Trail #20W12 located in a remote area of the Los Padres NF	Willett Hot Springs Los Padres National Forest
Santa Barbara Hot Springs
Both of these can be reached by driving Hwy.154 N, then right on Forest Service Rd.#5N12 (E. Camino Cielo to Romero Cyn Rd. #5N15 ) Follow signs.
Little Caliente located @ end of Forest Service Rd. #5N15 in Los Padres National Forest small campground nearby	Big Caliente Hot Springs located @ end of Forest Service Rd. #5N16 via #5N15 in Los Padres National Forest small campground nearby	Vickers north shore Matilija Creek Hwy. 33 N from Ojai W on Matilija Rd.

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