Springs

Inyo County, California · Near Lone Pine
36.4950°N, 117.8930°W · 3,601 ft
86°F 3,601 ft Open Short Walk CITY Camping nearby (13.9 mi)

Listed only as Springs, this unnamed thermal point in Inyo County sits on land the city of Los Angeles holds through its water and power department, about twelve miles from Lone Pine. The water is warm, a little below what most people want for a soak. The record marks access open. The Old State Highway passes within a couple hundred yards.

Location

Thirty-six hundred feet, in dry country that sees about ten inches of rain and some snow most winters. Walk in from the Old State Highway, under two hundred yards, on city-owned ground, the Los Angeles water agency's holdings. Tuttle Creek Campground is fourteen miles off. The file has no more to say about the surroundings than that.

The months on file run December through February. Snow is possible in those months. Access, per the record, is open. Tuttle Creek is the camping, fourteen miles. The water is warm, short of hot, so bring no expectations of a hot soak. No fee is listed.

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 Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around 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
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
32 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
110 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 60% 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
45°
Jan
47°
Feb
53°
Mar
61°
Apr
68°
May
81°
Jun
85°
Jul
84°
Aug
77°
Sep
66°
Oct
53°
Nov
44°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.6 in Annual Snow: 16.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 44°F · Water 86°F · +42° contrast
January Air 45°F · Water 86°F · +41° contrast
February Air 47°F · Water 86°F · +39° contrast
December offers 41°F more contrast than July
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Tuttle Creek Campground 13.9 mi away

Overview $10.00 per site per night. No reservations. Open all year. Tuttle Creek Campground offers 83 RV/tent sites, with ten pull-through trailer spaces, maximum recommended RV length is 30 feet. All sites include a fire pit, picnic table and a lantern holder. No hook-up. Potable water is available seasonally. Dump station fee is $10.00, no passes accepted, closed in winter. Closest amenities are 5 miles northeast in Lone Pine. Tuttle Creek Campground SignTuttle Creek Campground siteTuttle...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
86°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 86°F (30°C)
Avg Air Temp 64°F
Above Ambient +22°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Old State Highway
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
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 Springs?
Springs has a water temperature of 86°F (30°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Springs located?
Springs is located in Inyo County, California at 3,601 feet elevation, near Lone Pine. Coordinates: 36.4950°N, 117.8930°W.
How do I get to Springs?
Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Old State Highway (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Springs free to visit?
Springs has Open access. It is managed by CITY.
Can I camp near Springs?
Yes, Tuttle Creek Campground is located nearby (13.9 miles away).