Keough Hot Springs

Inyo County, California · Near Bishop
37.2530°N, 118.3730°W · 4,205 ft
124°F 52°F air · Good soaking weather 4,205 ft Open Short Walk CITY Camping nearby (9.0 mi)

Keough Hot Springs lies in the Owens Valley some seven miles south of Bishop, off US 395, on ground credited to LADWP, the Los Angeles water department. Water comes out hotter than most people want without something to temper it. Access is listed as open. A short walk gets you there.

Location

Under five hundred feet of walking from a road whose name was not recorded. The valley floor here is around forty-two hundred feet, with a mild climate: low sixties on average, a bit under three feet of snow across a normal winter and little rain. Big Pine Canyon, nine miles away, is the camping on record. LADWP land with an Open listing.

Winter rates best, December through February. Sustained contact with water this hot will burn, so ease in with caution. Neither fee nor chemistry was recorded. Nobody has filed a photo. Because the owner is a city water agency, double-check current access conditions before going.

History of Keough Hot Springs

Wikipedia places Keough Hot Springs in the Owens Valley, about seven miles south of Bishop along US Highway 395.

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 Keough Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Keough Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Keough 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
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the west.
Highest ground nearby
137 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
150 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 93% 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
42°
Jan
43°
Feb
48°
Mar
56°
Apr
64°
May
77°
Jun
83°
Jul
82°
Aug
75°
Sep
63°
Oct
51°
Nov
41°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.6 in Annual Snow: 33.8 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 41°F · Water 124°F · +83° contrast
January Air 42°F · Water 124°F · +82° contrast
February Air 43°F · Water 124°F · +81° contrast
December offers 42°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
52°F
Clear NW 12.4 mph 37% Good soaking weather
Today 90° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +34° warmer
Wednesday 88° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +36° warmer
Thursday 86° Low 57° Sunny
Spring is +38° warmer
Friday 85° Low 59° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Saturday 88° Low 61° Sunny
Spring is +36° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Big Pine Canyon 9.0 mi away

Overview Big Pine Canyon Recreation Area includes two group campground sites. Named for glaciers that can be seen at the end of the valley, Clyde Glacier Group Site and Palisade Glacier Group Site sit along Big Pine Creek.Recreation Fishing is a popular activity in the creek and nearby lakes. Climbers make use of the steep, glacier-carved canyon walls for excellent climbing opportunities. The North Fork Trail climbs past waterfalls and zigzags through Jeffrey pine, manzanita and sage before...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
124°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 124°F (51°C)
Avg Air Temp 61°F
Above Ambient +64°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 482 ft
Land
Ownership Local
Agency CITY
Designation LOTH
Unit Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Manager CITY
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Keough Hot Springs?
Keough Hot Springs has a water temperature of 124°F (51°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Keough Hot Springs located?
Keough Hot Springs is located in Inyo County, California at 4,205 feet elevation, near Bishop. Coordinates: 37.2530°N, 118.3730°W.
How do I get to Keough Hot Springs?
Keough Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (482 ft from the road).
Is Keough Hot Springs free to visit?
Keough Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by CITY.
Can I camp near Keough Hot Springs?
Yes, Big Pine Canyon is located nearby (9.0 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Keough Hot Springs?
With care. At 124°F Keough 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.