Mud Volcanoes

Imperial County, California · Near Niland
33.3450°N, 115.5880°W · -71 ft
Warm 103°F air -71 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (24.6 mi)

The farthest of the Mud Volcanoes points from Niland, around eight and a half miles out. It lies below sea level. Warm by description only, with no owner or access note on file. Like the others in the cluster, visit it for the sight; nothing on record describes a pool or a measured temperature.

Location

About two thousand feet of walking gets you there, starting from a road nobody bothered to name. Imperial Valley floor, the same low ground as the others nearby, a little over seventy feet below sea level, where rain almost never falls. Corn Springs campground is listed at about 25 miles.

No season or fee is on record, and nothing says who may enter. Ask before entering. Avoid summer, when the valley floor is at its hottest.

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 Mud Volcanoes.

Aerial view of the ground around Mud Volcanoes LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Mud Volcanoes
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
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
33 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
139 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 88% 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
59°
Jan
63°
Feb
70°
Mar
76°
Apr
81°
May
91°
Jun
96°
Jul
96°
Aug
90°
Sep
80°
Oct
68°
Nov
58°
Dec
Annual Precip: 2.7 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Current Conditions
103°F
SSE 50.4 mph 39%
Tuesday 100° Low 76° Sunny
Wednesday 97° Low 74° Sunny
Thursday 97° Low 73° Sunny
Friday 100° Low 73° Sunny
Saturday 101° Low 75° Sunny
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Corn Springs Campground 24.6 mi away

The Corn Springs Campground is located deep in a canyon of the Chuckwalla Mountains and has a $6.00 per night camping fee. Situated adjacent to a stand of California fan palms. This oasis supports abundant wildlife and is an important stopping place for migratory birds. Wheelchair accessible. Corn Springs was a major occupation site of prehistoric Native American Indian groups. The petroglyphs at Corn Springs are one of the finest examples of rock art in the Colorado Desert. They displ...

Stay limit 14 Day Camping Limit
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
Warm
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 77°F
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.4 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Mud Volcanoes?
Mud Volcanoes is classified as warm. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Mud Volcanoes located?
Mud Volcanoes is located in Imperial County, California at -71 feet elevation, near Niland. Coordinates: 33.3450°N, 115.5880°W.
How do I get to Mud Volcanoes?
Mud Volcanoes has Short Walk road access (0.4 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Mud Volcanoes?
Yes, Corn Springs Campground is located nearby (24.6 miles away).