Dirty Socks Hot Spring
Dirty Socks Hot Spring emerges at 93°F from the Owens Valley floor, named for the distinctive sulfurous odor that has defined this modest thermal feature since its discovery.
The spring flows into a small pool near Dirty Socks Road at 3,603 feet elevation, where algae growth often discolors the water to murky greens and browns. The immediate landscape features sagebrush desert and distant views of the Sierra Nevada, with the Alabama Hills visible to the south.
The spring formed through geothermal processes in the Owens Valley, an active geothermal region shaped by the Sierra Nevada's uplift and Basin and Range extension. The sulfur compounds that create its distinctive smell arise from subsurface mineral deposits interacting with circulating groundwater.
Located just 400 feet from Dirty Socks Road near Lone Pine, the spring is readily accessible via a short walk. Water temperature rarely exceeds 93°F, making it warmer than ambient conditions by just 28°F. Visit year-round, though summer offers the most stable access. The spring is open to public use on Los Angeles Department of Water and Power land.
Is Dirty Socks Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Overnight camping trips
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Overview $10.00 per site per night. No reservations. Open all year. Tuttle Creek Campground offers 83 RV/tent sites, with ten pull-through trailer spaces, maximum recommended RV length is 30 feet. All sites include a fire pit, picnic table and a lantern holder. No hook-up. Potable water is available seasonally. Dump station fee is $10.00, no passes accepted, closed in winter. Closest amenities are 5 miles northeast in Lone Pine. Tuttle Creek Campground SignTuttle Creek Campground siteTuttle...