Travertine Hot Springs

Mono County, California · Near Bridgeport
38.2450°N, 119.2050°W · 6,747 ft
180°F 33°F air · Good soaking weather 6,747 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (7.0 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 180°F, the source water at Travertine Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Travertine Hot Springs is a cluster of geothermal mineral springs right outside Bridgeport, under a mile from town in Mono County. The source water on file is 180 degrees, well past scalding, so any soaking here depends on finding where the water has cooled. It sits on Bureau of Land Management ground run by the Bishop Field Office, and the public may visit; access is on record as open.

Location

Travertine Hot Springs Road, which carries the name, ends a few hundred feet away, and from there it is a short walk. Close to seven thousand feet puts this in high country. Winters stack up something like eight feet of snow. The rest of the year stays dry, with under twenty inches of precipitation all told.

Deep winter is the recommended window, December through February, which means snow on the ground when you arrive. Honeymoon Flat campground sits seven miles or so away. Respect the source. Water at 180 degrees scalds in seconds, so test before a foot goes in. No fee shows up.

History of Travertine Hot Springs

Wikipedia's entry is brief: a group of geothermal mineral springs near the town of Bridgeport, California.

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 Travertine Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Travertine Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Travertine 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
232 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
129 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 79% 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
29°
Feb
33°
Mar
40°
Apr
48°
May
61°
Jun
69°
Jul
68°
Aug
61°
Sep
50°
Oct
38°
Nov
28°
Dec
Annual Precip: 18.0 in Annual Snow: 93.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 28°F · Water 180°F · +152° contrast
February Air 29°F · Water 180°F · +151° contrast
January Air 31°F · Water 180°F · +150° contrast
December offers 40°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
33°F
SSW 8.4 mph 73% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 74° Low 37° Sunny
Spring is +106° warmer
Wednesday 70° Low 36° Sunny
Spring is +110° warmer
Thursday 69° Low 34° Sunny
Spring is +111° warmer
Friday 70° Low 35° Sunny
Spring is +110° warmer
Saturday 73° Low 37° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +107° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Honeymoon Flat 7.0 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 →
Mile-High Advisory 6,747 ft

Travertine Hot Springs sits at 6,747 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 27% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
180°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 180°F (82°C)
Avg Air Temp 46°F
Above Ambient +134°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Travertine Hot Springs Road
Distance to Road 344 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Bishop Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Travertine Hot Springs?
Travertine Hot Springs has a water temperature of 180°F (82°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Travertine Hot Springs located?
Travertine Hot Springs is located in Mono County, California at 6,747 feet elevation, near Bridgeport. Coordinates: 38.2450°N, 119.2050°W.
How do I get to Travertine Hot Springs?
Travertine Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Travertine Hot Springs Road (344 ft from the road).
Is Travertine Hot Springs free to visit?
Travertine Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Travertine Hot Springs?
Yes, Honeymoon Flat is located nearby (7.0 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Travertine Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Travertine Hot Springs reaches 180°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.