Yates Hot Springs

Kern County, California · Near Bodfish
35.4330°N, 118.4780°W · 3,905 ft
100°F 51°F air · Good soaking weather 3,905 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (10.2 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Yates Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Yates 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.

Yates Hot Springs is a soaking-warm spring in Kern County, about ten miles from Bodfish, at close to four thousand feet. The reading on file is right about where a hot bath runs. Nobody has recorded the access status, and no owner is on record, so the practical question of who lets you in is open. The file has no photo and no water chemistry. It is a thin record.

Location

Thompson Canyon Avenue is the road the record names, a few hundred feet away, so reaching the spring is a short walk. The elevation is foothill height. Winters bring about two feet of snow across the season, with a low rain total, so the ground will be dry most of the year and the road may see snow in the cold months. Land ownership and designation are both blank.

December through February on the record. A short walk from Thompson Canyon Avenue. Hobo Campground, roughly ten miles off, is the camping the file gives. Nothing is on file for fees or water chemistry. The access status is blank too, so confirm you may be there before you drive out. Nothing about the temperature calls for caution.

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 Yates Hot Springs.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the east.
Highest ground nearby
66 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
88 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 28% 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
44°
Jan
44°
Feb
49°
Mar
54°
Apr
60°
May
71°
Jun
78°
Jul
77°
Aug
71°
Sep
61°
Oct
50°
Nov
43°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.2 in Annual Snow: 24.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 43°F · Water 100°F · +57° contrast
January Air 44°F · Water 100°F · +56° contrast
February Air 44°F · Water 100°F · +56° contrast
December offers 34°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
51°F
ENE 19.6 mph 40% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 80° Low 53° Sunny
Spring is +20° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 53° Sunny
Spring is +22° warmer
Thursday 76° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +24° warmer
Friday 78° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +22° warmer
Saturday 82° Low 53° Sunny
Spring is +18° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Hobo Campground 10.2 mi away

Overview Hobo Campground is tucked on the banks of the Lower Kern River, north of the popular Miracle Hot Springs. It sits at 2290 feet elevation on the Sequoia National Forest in the Lower Kern Canyon. The close proximity to the Lower Kern River and the shade provided by the riparian forest make it an ideal summer escape from the heat. It has 23 individual tent only sites and an additional 10 sites across the campground.  Recreation  White water boating is popular on the Lower Kern and requi...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
100°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 100°F (38°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +42°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Thompson Canyon Avenue
Distance to Road 446 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Yates Hot Springs?
Yates Hot Springs has a water temperature of 100°F (38°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Yates Hot Springs located?
Yates Hot Springs is located in Kern County, California at 3,905 feet elevation, near Bodfish. Coordinates: 35.4330°N, 118.4780°W.
How do I get to Yates Hot Springs?
Yates Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Thompson Canyon Avenue (446 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Yates Hot Springs?
Yes, Hobo Campground is located nearby (10.2 miles away).