Blaney Meadows Hot Springs

Mono County, California · Near Mammoth Lakes
37.2340°N, 118.8810°W · 7,676 ft
109°F 7,676 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (5.6 mi)

Blaney Meadows Hot Springs belongs to the Sierra National Forest side of Mono County, with Mammoth Lakes the nearest town at about twenty-eight miles. The recorded temperature is hot, at the upper edge of what most people will sit in. Access is open to the public and the ground is Forest Service.

Location

High country at close to seventy-seven hundred feet. The nearest road has no name on file and is a short walk away, around two tenths of a mile. Snow is the defining fact: over seventeen feet in an average winter, with precipitation near three feet a year. That much snow sets the calendar here.

The months listed as best are December through February, which collides with seventeen feet of snow; in practice the season for reaching it is whatever the snowpack allows. Jackass Meadow campground lies about five and a half miles distant. Hot enough that easing in slowly makes sense. Nothing on file about a fee.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Blaney Meadows Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Blaney Meadows Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Blaney Meadows Hot Springs
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
259 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from north to south, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
136 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 86% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
31°
Jan
29°
Feb
33°
Mar
38°
Apr
44°
May
57°
Jun
64°
Jul
64°
Aug
58°
Sep
49°
Oct
37°
Nov
29°
Dec
Annual Precip: 36.1 in Annual Snow: 208.9 in
Best Time to Visit
February Air 29°F · Water 109°F · +80° contrast
December Air 29°F · Water 109°F · +80° contrast
January Air 31°F · Water 109°F · +78° contrast
February offers 35°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
Tuesday 68° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +41° warmer
Wednesday 65° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +44° warmer
Thursday 64° Low 40° Sunny
Spring is +45° warmer
Friday 67° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +42° warmer
Saturday 69° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +40° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Jackass Meadow 5.6 mi away

Overview Jackass Meadow Campground remains closed until further notice due to hazard tree removal.  Jackass Meadow Campground is situated below Florence Lake on the San Joaquin River, surrounded by the craggy peaks of the John Muir Wilderness. Jackass Meadow is shaded by a stand of Aspen and Lodgepole Pine, and the South Fork of the San Joaquin runs through the campground. This camp is located near several Native American archaeological sites.Recreation There is a .7 mile accessible hiking tr...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,676 ft

Blaney Meadows Hot Springs sits at 7,676 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 31% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
109°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 109°F (43°C)
Avg Air Temp 44°F
Above Ambient +65°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Sierra National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Blaney Meadows Hot Springs?
Blaney Meadows Hot Springs has a water temperature of 109°F (43°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Blaney Meadows Hot Springs located?
Blaney Meadows Hot Springs is located in Mono County, California at 7,676 feet elevation, near Mammoth Lakes. Coordinates: 37.2340°N, 118.8810°W.
How do I get to Blaney Meadows Hot Springs?
Blaney Meadows Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Is Blaney Meadows Hot Springs free to visit?
Blaney Meadows Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Blaney Meadows Hot Springs?
Yes, Jackass Meadow is located nearby (5.6 miles away).