Jordan Hot Springs

Inyo County, California · Near Lone Pine
36.2290°N, 118.3020°W · 6,533 ft
124°F 6,533 ft Open Hike US Forest Service Camping nearby (11.8 mi)

Jordan Hot Springs is a cluster of hot mineral springs in the Golden Trout Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, reached on foot. Lone Pine, the nearest town, is twenty-seven miles away. The water is hot, more than most people will sit in straight. Public access is Open. It is Forest Service wilderness, and the walk in is a real hike.

Location

The hike is about two and three-quarter miles from the closest road, which the record lists as East Beach Creek. You are a little above sixty-five hundred feet in the Golden Trout Wilderness, and winters are deep: eight feet of snow most years, and a bit over twenty inches of precipitation. Troy Meadow Campground, twelve miles away, is the closest camping the record shows.

The record names December through February as best months, which with this much snow means the approach will be a winter trip in a wilderness area. Judge that on your own. Stay in too long and it burns, so check it before settling. No fee is recorded. A photograph is on record; chemistry is not.

History of Jordan Hot Springs

Wikipedia has a short entry calling it a series of thermal mineral springs within the Golden Trout Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest.

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 Jordan Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Jordan Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Jordan 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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the east.
Highest ground nearby
312 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
102 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 50% 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
32°
Jan
32°
Feb
36°
Mar
43°
Apr
50°
May
63°
Jun
68°
Jul
67°
Aug
61°
Sep
51°
Oct
40°
Nov
31°
Dec
Annual Precip: 20.7 in Annual Snow: 99.2 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 31°F · Water 124°F · +93° contrast
January Air 32°F · Water 124°F · +92° contrast
February Air 32°F · Water 124°F · +92° contrast
December offers 37°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Today 67° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +57° warmer
Wednesday 64° Low 43° Sunny
Spring is +60° warmer
Thursday 64° Low 43° Sunny
Spring is +60° warmer
Friday 66° Low 45° Sunny
Spring is +58° warmer
Saturday 67° Low 46° Sunny
Spring is +57° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Troy Meadow Campground 11.8 mi away

7800 feet elevation. 73 campsites. 24' maximum RV length. Connects to OHV trails. This campground offers high elevation forest camping. Including; bear boxes, paved parking spurs, and drinking water during season.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,533 ft

Jordan Hot Springs sits at 6,533 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 26% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
124°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 124°F (51°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +76°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Nearest Road EAST BEACH CREEK
Distance to Road 2.7 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 Jordan Hot Springs?
Jordan Hot Springs has a water temperature of 124°F (51°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Jordan Hot Springs located?
Jordan Hot Springs is located in Inyo County, California at 6,533 feet elevation, near Lone Pine. Coordinates: 36.2290°N, 118.3020°W.
How do I get to Jordan Hot Springs?
Jordan Hot Springs has Hike road access, with the nearest road being EAST BEACH CREEK (2.7 mi from the road).
Is Jordan Hot Springs free to visit?
Jordan Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Jordan Hot Springs?
Yes, Troy Meadow Campground is located nearby (11.8 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Jordan Hot Springs?
With care. At 124°F Jordan Hot Springs 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: Wikipedia