# Dirty Socks Hot Spring, California

Dirty Socks Hot Spring in California. 93°F (34°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Inyo County.

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

## Can you soak at Dirty Socks Hot Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 93°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 93°F (34°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 3,603 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 395 ft from the nearest road (Dirty Socks) |
| Land | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, CITY |
| County | Inyo County |
| Nearest town | Lone Pine |
| Coordinates | 36.33000, -117.94800 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Tuttle Creek Campground, 19.0 mi |

## About Dirty Socks Hot Spring

Dirty Socks Hot Spring is a sulfur spring in Inyo County, around nineteen miles from Lone Pine, on ground that belongs to Los Angeles Water and Power. The water smells, and it is often green with algae. Temperature sits at the low end of soaking warm. The public may visit. It was developed once and no longer is.

Dirty Socks is the road's name as well, and the spring sits a few hundred feet off it. The ground belongs to Los Angeles, held by the city's water utility, at mid elevation in a dry climate: eight inches of rain, and a bit over a foot of snow most winters. The camp on record is Tuttle Creek Campground, nineteen miles or so away.

Wikipedia lists this as a formerly developed hot spring near Death Valley. The name most likely comes from the sulfur odor, which someone at some point compared to smelly socks. The ground is city property, owned by Los Angeles through its water and power utility, LADWP.

Winter is the listed season, December through February. Under four hundred feet of walking from the road. No fee is on record. Expect no maintained pool; the record calls it formerly developed, and the water is often discolored.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Lone Pine](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/lone-pine), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/springs-inyo-county): 86°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
- [Jordan Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/jordan-hot-springs): 124°F source, Hike, near Lone Pine, Inyo 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
- [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
- [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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Dirty Socks Hot Spring?**
Dirty Socks Hot Spring has a water temperature of 93°F (34°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is Dirty Socks Hot Spring located?**
Dirty Socks Hot Spring is located in Inyo County, California at 3,603 feet elevation, near Lone Pine. Coordinates: 36.3300°N, 117.9480°W.

**How do I get to Dirty Socks Hot Spring?**
Dirty Socks Hot Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Dirty Socks (395 ft from the road).

**Is Dirty Socks Hot Spring free to visit?**
Dirty Socks Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by CITY.

**Can I camp near Dirty Socks Hot Spring?**
Yes, Tuttle Creek Campground is located nearby (19.0 miles away).

## Sources

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