Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser

Mono County, California · Near Mammoth Lakes
37.6480°N, 118.9140°W · 7,418 ft
199°F 7,418 ft Open Short Walk US Forest Service Camping nearby (1.9 mi)
Geyser: Not a Soaking Spring

Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser is a geyser, not a traditional hot spring. These geothermal features can be extremely dangerous. Boiling water, toxic gases, and unstable ground are common hazards. Do not attempt to soak.

Casa Diablo Hot Springs and Geyser is an active geothermal area in the Inyo National Forest, Mono County, a little over four miles from Mammoth Lakes. The water sits at boiling point. Public access is open on Forest Service ground. Casa Diablo Cutoff passes within six hundred feet or so, which the record classes as a short walk.

Location

A little under seventy-four hundred feet, with eight feet or more of snow most winters and modest precipitation otherwise. From the cutoff it is a short walk. National Forest, no further designation. Sherwin Creek campground is under two miles off, and Mammoth Lakes is only a few miles further. The snow total is the number that matters for timing.

December through February show up as the listed months, which means snow. The water will scald anyone who touches it. Sherwin Creek is the closest camping, about two miles. A 1984 USGS sample put it near neutral with high dissolved solids and iron present. No fee recorded.

History of Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser

Wikipedia describes Casa Diablo Hot Springs as a hot springs and active geothermal site near Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierra.

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 Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser.

Aerial view of the ground around Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser
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
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
81 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

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

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

Seen From Space

Landsat's thermal camera passed over on a clear winter day, January 5, 2022. This spring's heat shows up from about 440 miles up. The brightest yellow marks the warmest ground, roughly 13°F warmer than the land around it.

Aerial view of the ground around Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser Landsat thermal view of the same ground around Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser
Aerial Thermal

Drag to compare. The view is about 2½ miles across, and each thermal pixel covers roughly 300 feet of ground, so individual pools blur into one warm patch.

Thermal: Landsat 8/9 surface temperature, USGS (public domain), via Microsoft Planetary Computer. Aerial: USGS The National Map. More springs seen from space.

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
28°
Jan
27°
Feb
31°
Mar
38°
Apr
45°
May
58°
Jun
65°
Jul
64°
Aug
58°
Sep
47°
Oct
36°
Nov
25°
Dec
Annual Precip: 18.3 in Annual Snow: 98.5 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 25°F · Water 199°F · +174° contrast
February Air 27°F · Water 199°F · +172° contrast
January Air 28°F · Water 199°F · +171° contrast
December offers 40°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Today 74° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +125° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 38° Sunny
Spring is +129° warmer
Thursday 70° Low 39° Sunny
Spring is +129° warmer
Friday 72° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +127° warmer
Saturday 74° Low 44° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +125° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1984-05-09

The water at Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser is neutral (pH 6.8) with 967 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).

pH 6.8 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 2 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 230 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 160 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 240 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 100 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Sherwin Creek 1.9 mi away

Overview Sherwin Creek Campground is located in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains within 2 miles of the full-service community of Mammoth Lakes, California. Popular among anglers, hikers, off-road vehicle enthusiasts and photographers, the campground is near some of the most spectacular wilderness and outdoor recreation areas in the Sierras.Recreation With a motocross track and trails, Sherwin Creek is a hot spot for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. The area's majestic scenery and challenging...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,418 ft

Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser sits at 7,418 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 30% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
199°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 199°F (93°C)
Avg Air Temp 44°F
Above Ambient +155°F
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Casa Diablo Cutoff
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Inyo National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser?
Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser has a water temperature of 199°F (93°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser located?
Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser is located in Mono County, California at 7,418 feet elevation, near Mammoth Lakes. Coordinates: 37.6480°N, 118.9140°W.
How do I get to Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser?
Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Casa Diablo Cutoff (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser free to visit?
Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser?
Yes, Sherwin Creek is located nearby (1.9 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 6.8 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 967 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser?
No, not at the source. The water at Casa Diablo Hot Springs And Geyser reaches 199°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia