Hot Creek Springs Look only
Hot Creek Springs reads 171°F at the source (NCEI, historical reading). Managed by the Inyo National Forest (checked 2026-08-19).
171°F / 77°C
Boiling-class range at the source — scalds in seconds
Reading from the NCEI Thermal Springs List (historical reading, 1981 compilation). Source temperature — lower pools usually run cooler.
Water temperatures change with flow and season — test before entering, and never submerge your head in warm natural water. CDC guidance on Naegleria fowleri.
- Coordinates 37.656° N, 118.834° W · USGS National Map
- Land manager Inyo National Forest — checked 2026-08-19
The rule here
This is a thermal feature to see, not a place to get in the water. The Inyo National Forest puts it this way:
“Entering the water is prohibited.”
— Inyo National Forest, checked 2026-08-19
Worth knowing: The Forest runs Hot Creek as a geologic viewing site: day use only, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., no swimming and no fishing. The Inyo alerts page also carries a Hot Creek Closure Order — check it before going.
Nearby springs
-
Hot Creek Gorge Springs
1 mile away · California · 199°F at the source
Look only
-
Mono Hot Springs
25 miles away · California · 109°F at the source
Soakable
-
Buckeye Hot Spring
48 miles away · California · 140°F at the source
Soakable
Identity, coordinates, and temperature quoted from the NCEI Thermal Springs List (historical reading, 1981 compilation).