# Devils Kitchen, California

Devils Kitchen in California. 207°F (97°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Kern County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/devils-kitchen-1
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Devils Kitchen?

No. The water at Devils Kitchen 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, 468 ft from the nearest road |
| Land | Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Department of Defense |
| County | Kern County |
| Nearest town | Inyokern |
| Coordinates | 36.03600, -117.80200 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Chimney Creek Campground, 19.1 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Devils Kitchen 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 Devils Kitchen

Devils Kitchen is a boiling acid thermal area inside Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in Kern County, some 26 miles from Inyokern. It is closed to the public. The water was measured at nearly boiling, and a 1964 sample put the pH at one and a half, which is fiercely acidic. This is a geologic feature to read about, because you cannot go.

The site lies on military ground at mid elevation in the desert, behind the base boundary. On paper it is a short walk from an unnamed road, under five hundred feet, which means nothing when the gate is shut. Snow falls some winters, around a foot most years, and rain is scarce. The land is listed under a military designation as part of the weapons station.

There is no visiting. Access is recorded as closed and the land is an active military installation. If you are reading this for the chemistry, note that the only sample on file dates from 1964, with sulfate and iron among the analytes, and the temperature is scalding. Chimney Creek Campground, about nineteen miles away, is the nearest listed camp.

## 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), 2 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [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
- [Coso Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/coso-hot-springs): 207°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 Devils Kitchen?**
Devils Kitchen has a water temperature of 207°F (97°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Devils Kitchen located?**
Devils Kitchen is located in Kern County, California at 4,280 feet elevation, near Inyokern. Coordinates: 36.0360°N, 117.8020°W.

**How do I get to Devils Kitchen?**
Devils Kitchen has Short Walk road access (468 ft from the road).

**Is Devils Kitchen free to visit?**
Devils Kitchen has Closed access. It is managed by DESG.

**Can I camp near Devils Kitchen?**
Yes, Chimney Creek Campground is located nearby (19.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Devils Kitchen?**
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 Devils Kitchen?**
No, not at the source. The water at Devils Kitchen 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