Devils Kitchen
Devils Kitchen emerges at an extreme 207°F from volcanic terrain within Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, featuring some of the most acidic and mineral-rich water chemistry in California with a pH of 1.5.
The thermal feature rises from military land at 4,280 feet elevation in Kern County's remote desert landscape. Iron-rich water creates a caustic environment where only specialized microbes thrive, and the intense heat and acidic conditions make this one of the state's most extreme geothermal areas.
Public access to this spring is permanently closed due to its location on active military land. The extreme water chemistry—sulfate-dominated with iron concentrations of 28,000 µg/L—makes any contact hazardous. Visitors can appreciate the region's geothermal character at nearby accessible features.
Located within the militarized Coso geothermal region, Devils Kitchen forms from deep volcanic processes that generate water over 146°F hotter than ambient desert temperatures. The area's geology connects to active faulting and the young volcanic complexes defining the western Great Basin.
The water at Devils Kitchen is strongly acidic (pH 1.5) with 2500 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief), sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation), and iron (iron-rich springs may support circulation).
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Chimney Creek Campground is located within Chimney Peak Recreation Area and is cherry stemmed out of Owens Peak Wilderness. The campground contains 36 sites and is nestled among beautiful pinyon pines, grey pines, and oaks along Chimney Creek at 5,700 feet in elevation. Each site in the campground has a picnic table and fire ring. Potable water is available during the summer months near the very end of the campground loop at site 36. During the summer, days can be warm and dry. The Pacific C...
Devils Kitchen is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot — bring water shoes and test pools carefully.
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Springs Near Devils Kitchen
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Strongly Acidic Springs (pH ~1.5)
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