The Hot Springs

Mono County, California · Near Bridgeport
38.2250°N, 119.2170°W
113°F 30°F air · Good soaking weather Short Walk Camping nearby (5.8 mi)

An entry named The Hot Springs sits two miles out of Bridgeport in Mono County. The water is hot, 113 degrees, at the edge of what most people can sit in for long. The land has no owner on file. Access is unstated. Even the elevation is not recorded.

Location

Less than six hundred feet to a road without a recorded name. Cold country: the annual average hovers in the upper forties and winters bring nearly eight feet of snow, on eighteen inches of total precipitation.

Winter ranks best on record. Honeymoon Flat campground lies roughly six miles off. No fee is listed. At this heat the water can burn with time; ease in and get out if your skin reddens. The snow total means winter access on foot may be a slog. Land ownership isn't on file, so access is a question you have to answer locally.

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 The Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around The Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around The 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 northeast.
Highest ground nearby
137 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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
135 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 85% 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
31°
Jan
30°
Feb
34°
Mar
41°
Apr
49°
May
62°
Jun
69°
Jul
68°
Aug
62°
Sep
50°
Oct
39°
Nov
29°
Dec
Annual Precip: 18.0 in Annual Snow: 93.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 29°F · Water 113°F · +84° contrast
February Air 30°F · Water 113°F · +83° contrast
January Air 31°F · Water 113°F · +82° contrast
December offers 40°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
30°F
SSE 5.2 mph 75% Good soaking weather
Today 77° Low 35° Sunny
Spring is +36° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 33° Sunny
Spring is +40° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 34° Sunny
Spring is +41° warmer
Friday 74° Low 36° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 38° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Honeymoon Flat 5.8 mi away

Overview Honeymoon Flat Campground is located just 8 miles from Bridgeport, California, next to Robinson Creek at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The Twin Lakes area is about 2 miles away, where visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.Recreation Robinson Creek offers good rainbow trout fishing and can be easily accessed from both loops. Numerous hiking trails are in the vicinity, including the popular Robinson Creek Trail.Facilities The campground contains single and double-f...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
113°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 113°F (45°C)
Avg Air Temp 47°F
Above Ambient +66°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at The Hot Springs?
The Hot Springs has a water temperature of 113°F (45°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is The Hot Springs located?
The Hot Springs is located in Mono County, California, near Bridgeport. Coordinates: 38.2250°N, 119.2170°W.
How do I get to The Hot Springs?
The Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near The Hot Springs?
Yes, Honeymoon Flat is located nearby (5.8 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at The Hot Springs?
With care. At 113°F The 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.