Kern Hot Spring Soakable

Kern Hot Spring reads 109°F at the source (NCEI, historical reading); the pools people soak in usually run cooler than the source. Managed by Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (checked 2026-08-19).

Cool Warm Hot Boiling-class 109°F

109°F / 43°C

Hot range at the source — hotter than a hot tub

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.

Access

A backcountry stop on the High Sierra Trail in the Kern Canyon, a multi-day trip from Crescent Meadow — roughly 49 miles to the John Muir Trail junction. The park writes that hikers “will arrive at Kern Hot Springs, complete with a crude cement bathtub,” and prohibits soap in the river or the tub. A wilderness permit is required, and “a High Sierra Trail permit is needed to access the High Sierra Trail between Seven Mile Hill and Kaweah Gap.” The park notes the canyon runs almost due north and south for about 25 miles and can be hot and dry in the middle of the day.

Trailhead: Crescent Meadow, High Sierra Trail

Winter: The park posts no winter route and no open season; it notes Precipice Lake often stays frozen into mid-summer.

Access notes read from the manager's own page, checked 2026-08-19.

Worth knowing: The park gives the tub temperature as 115°F; the NCEI historical reading carried on this record is 109°F.

Check current conditions with Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Nearby springs

Identity, coordinates, and temperature quoted from the NCEI Thermal Springs List (historical reading, 1981 compilation).