# Coso Hot Springs, California

Coso Hot Springs in California. 207°F (97°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Kern County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/coso-hot-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Coso Hot Springs?

No. The water at Coso Hot Springs reaches 207°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 207°F (97°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 1.5 (Strongly Acidic) |
| Total dissolved solids | 2,500 mg/L |
| Elevation | 4,280 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 361 ft from the nearest road |
| Land | Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Department of Defense |
| County | Kern County |
| Nearest town | Inyokern |
| Coordinates | 36.04500, -117.76900 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Chimney Creek Campground, 20.9 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Coso Hot Springs reaches 207°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

## About Coso Hot Springs

Inside Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, a long way out from Inyokern, Coso Hot Springs is a cluster of vents and pools. It is closed. The water comes out scalding, hot enough to cook skin on contact, and a 1964 sample put the pH down near 1.5, which is extremely acidic. This is a listed historic site on a military base, and you cannot visit it.

Desert at a little over four thousand feet on record, inside the fence of a Navy weapons range. Almost no rain. A little snow some winters. A road passes within a few hundred feet of the springs. That road is on the base, and the base is off limits. Chimney Creek Campground, the closest camping on file, is a long drive off.

The springs are on the National Register of Historic Places. Wikipedia puts them on record of the Mojave Desert, in Inyo County, and the USGS carries a sampling record for them that goes back to 1964. The whole complex now sits inside Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.

There is no season for this one because there is no access. The land designation is military and public access is recorded as closed. The water is far above scalding and acidic on top of that. If the place interests you, the interest is historical. Treat the chemistry numbers as sixty year old readings.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1964-01-01 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 1.5 |
| Total dissolved solids | 2,500 mg/L |
| Calcium | 18 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 81 mg/L |
| Sodium | 14 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 1,400 mg/L |
| Chloride | 0 mg/L |
| Iron | 28,000 µg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Tied for most acidic of the 654 US springs with a pH reading: pH 1.5 (also a US record)
- Tied for most iron of California's 24 springs with an iron reading: 28,000 µg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Inyokern](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/inyokern), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Devils Kitchen, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/devils-kitchen-1): 207°F source, pH 1.5, TDS 2,500 mg/L, Short Walk, near Inyokern, Kern County
- [Fumarole, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/fumarole-2): 203°F source, pH 1.5, TDS 2,500 mg/L, Short Walk, near Inyokern, Kern County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-kern-county-1): 80°F source, Short Walk, near Inyokern, Kern County
- [Dirty Socks Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/dirty-socks-hot-spring): 93°F source, Short Walk, near Lone Pine, Inyo County
- [Soda Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/soda-springs-1): 100°F source, Hike, near Lone Pine, Inyo County
- [Bainter Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/bainter-spring): 92°F source, Short Walk, near Searles Valley, San Bernardino County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Coso Hot Springs?**
Coso Hot Springs has a water temperature of 207°F (97°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Coso Hot Springs located?**
Coso Hot Springs is located in Kern County, California at 4,280 feet elevation, near Inyokern. Coordinates: 36.0450°N, 117.7690°W.

**How do I get to Coso Hot Springs?**
Coso Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (361 ft from the road).

**Is Coso Hot Springs free to visit?**
Coso Hot Springs has Closed access. It is managed by DESG.

**Can I camp near Coso Hot Springs?**
Yes, Chimney Creek Campground is located nearby (20.9 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Coso Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 1.5 (strongly acidic). Total dissolved solids measure 2,500 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Coso Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Coso Hot Springs reaches 207°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coso_Hot_Springs