Buckeye Hot Spring

Mono County, California · Near Bridgeport
38.2370°N, 119.3260°W · 6,963 ft
140°F 6,963 ft Open Roadside US Forest Service Camping nearby (2.5 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 140°F, the source water at Buckeye Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Six miles out of Bridgeport, Buckeye Hot Spring sits on Toiyabe National Forest ground in Mono County. The water is hot enough to hurt at the source. Public access is open, and Buckeye Road runs within about three hundred feet, so this is a roadside stop once the road itself is passable.

Location

Roadside, at close to seven thousand feet. Winters bring more than eight feet of snow and around twenty inches of precipitation, so the place is high and dry for most of the year and snowbound for the rest. National Forest land, no further designation. Honeymoon Flat campground is two and a half miles away.

The listed months are December through February, though Buckeye Road under eight feet of snow is something to verify. Honeymoon Flat is the camping on record. At the source the water can burn; let it cool or find where it has mixed before sitting. Nothing recorded 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 Buckeye Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Buckeye Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Buckeye Hot Spring
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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southwest.
Highest ground nearby
368 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
118 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 70% 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
30°
Jan
28°
Feb
32°
Mar
38°
Apr
45°
May
58°
Jun
66°
Jul
65°
Aug
59°
Sep
48°
Oct
36°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 20.1 in Annual Snow: 103.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 27°F · Water 140°F · +114° contrast
February Air 28°F · Water 140°F · +112° contrast
January Air 30°F · Water 140°F · +110° contrast
December offers 40°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
SW 7.9 mph
Tuesday 75° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +65° warmer
Wednesday 71° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +69° warmer
Thursday 70° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +70° warmer
Friday 73° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +67° warmer
Saturday 76° Low 45° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +64° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Honeymoon Flat 2.5 mi away

Overview Honeymoon Flat Campground is located just 8 miles from Bridgeport, California, next to Robinson Creek at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The Twin Lakes area is about 2 miles away, where visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.Recreation Robinson Creek offers good rainbow trout fishing and can be easily accessed from both loops. Numerous hiking trails are in the vicinity, including the popular Robinson Creek Trail.Facilities The campground contains single and double-f...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,963 ft

Buckeye Hot Spring sits at 6,963 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 28% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
140°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 140°F (60°C)
Avg Air Temp 44°F
Above Ambient +96°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Buckeye Road
Distance to Road 268 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Toiyabe National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Buckeye Hot Spring?
Buckeye Hot Spring has a water temperature of 140°F (60°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Buckeye Hot Spring located?
Buckeye Hot Spring is located in Mono County, California at 6,963 feet elevation, near Bridgeport. Coordinates: 38.2370°N, 119.3260°W.
How do I get to Buckeye Hot Spring?
Buckeye Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Buckeye Road (268 ft from the road).
Is Buckeye Hot Spring free to visit?
Buckeye Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Buckeye Hot Spring?
Yes, Honeymoon Flat is located nearby (2.5 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Buckeye Hot Spring?
With care. At 140°F Buckeye Hot Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.
Sources: OpenStreetMap