Unnamed Thermal Spring
Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
High in Inyo National Forest, Mono County, an unnamed spring about fourteen miles from Mammoth Lakes. Water on record is 97 degrees, a proper soaking temperature, and the Forest Service lists access as open. At over eight thousand feet, this is high country, and the year's average temperature is around forty.
Reaching it takes a short walk, roughly a third of a mile; the road has no name on record. Snowfall on file runs to nearly eleven feet most winters, with total precipitation around twenty-two inches. National Forest land, no designation beyond that, and no campground closer than Oh Ridge. The access class on file is open.
Recommended months on file are all snow months, and at this elevation that means a snowbound approach more often than not. Oh Ridge campground is about four miles off. No fee on file. Open Forest Service land. Ninety-seven degrees is bathwater; most people can stay in a good while. No chemistry sample exists on record.
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.
- Setting
- Canyon floor
- Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
- Highest ground nearby
- 274 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
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.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
Overview The outstanding lake and mountain views at Oh Ridge Campground make it a favorite spot for both families and anglers. It sits in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in close proximity to the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake. The nearby town of June Lake offers the convenience of shopping and dining, while the surrounding land and lakes provide ample outdoor recreation opportunities.Recreation Oh Ridge campers have no problem staying busy and enjoying the o...
At 8,159 feet, this spring is in high-altitude territory where the air is noticeably thinner. Soaking in hot water accelerates dehydration and can amplify altitude effects like headache and fatigue. UV radiation is roughly 33% stronger here. Wear sunscreen even on overcast days and take breaks from the water to rehydrate.
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