Unnamed Thermal Spring

Mono County, California · Near Mammoth Lakes
37.6390°N, 118.7560°W · 6,800 ft
86°F 37°F air · Good soaking weather 6,800 ft Open Roadside CITY Camping nearby (4.9 mi)

Thirteen or so miles out of Mammoth Lakes, a warm spring without a name in Mono County, on ground held by Los Angeles's water and power department. The temperature on file is 86 degrees, tepid, a little under body heat. The access status on record is open and the USGS keeps a site number for it. No photograph on file.

Location

No road name is given, only that the spring is under three hundred feet from one, a roadside stop. Elevation is around sixty-eight hundred feet. Snow comes to six feet in an average winter and yearly precipitation is about fifteen inches. The land is held by a city utility, with the record showing no designation beyond that.

Every recommended month on file falls in winter. Crowley Lake Campground is about five miles off. Nothing is recorded about a fee or chemistry, and the temperature could be from an old survey. Eighty-six degrees is below body heat, so nobody will overheat in it.

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 this spring.

Aerial view of the ground around the spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around the spring
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
43 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
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
132 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 83% 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
35°
Mar
42°
Apr
50°
May
63°
Jun
70°
Jul
69°
Aug
62°
Sep
52°
Oct
40°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 14.7 in Annual Snow: 72.9 in
Best Time to Visit
February Air 30°F · Water 86°F · +56° contrast
December Air 30°F · Water 86°F · +56° contrast
January Air 31°F · Water 86°F · +55° contrast
February offers 40°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
37°F
Clear WNW 25.0 mph 48% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 78° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +8° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 38° Sunny
Spring is +11° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 36° Sunny
Spring is +12° warmer
Friday 74° Low 38° Sunny
Spring is +12° warmer
Saturday 76° Low 40° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +10° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Crowley Lake Campground 4.9 mi away

Overview Crowley Lake Campground offers 47 RV/tent sites, 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. Dump station fee is $10.00, no passes accepted. Closest amenities are 2 miles south in Crowley, or 10 miles north in Mammoth Lakes. Recreation Popular activities include lake and stream fishing, boating, windsurfing, horseback riding, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Facilities Crowley Lake...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,800 ft

this spring sits at 6,800 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
86°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 86°F (30°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +38°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 273 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 ?
has a water temperature of 86°F (30°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is located?
is located in Mono County, California at 6,800 feet elevation, near Mammoth Lakes. Coordinates: 37.6390°N, 118.7560°W.
How do I get to ?
has Roadside road access (273 ft from the road).
Is free to visit?
has Open access. It is managed by CITY.
Can I camp near ?
Yes, Crowley Lake Campground is located nearby (4.9 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS