Fales Hot Springs
Fales Hot Springs reaches 180°F in the high Sierra Nevada, flowing 137°F hotter than the surrounding air at 7,491 feet elevation. This powerfully thermal system sits on private property and remains closed to the public, though its intensity exemplifies the geothermal vigor of eastern California's volcanic region.
The spring occupies high-elevation terrain in Mono County near Sonora Junction, where winter snow accumulates to 139 inches annually and average air temperatures hover around 43°F year-round. Rugged Sierra landscape surrounds the site: dense forests of pine and fir, cold streams, and dramatic elevation changes. The private residence nearby restricts casual visitor access.
The spring sits on private property and is explicitly not open to public visitation. Nearby Obsidian Campground (6.9 km away) offers a base for exploring surrounding wilderness trails and the Little Walker River area. Visitors should respect private land boundaries and seek public alternative thermal springs in the region.
Fales Hot Springs formed through deep geothermal circulation within fractured bedrock of the Sierra Nevada batholith, where crustal heat sources drive groundwater to the surface. The unusual combination of extremely high temperature and private ownership reflects both the geological richness and land tenure patterns of eastern California's backcountry.
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Obsidian Campground offers opportunity to get away from crowds amidst shade of aspens and pines. Campground is close to Molybdenite Creek and Little Walker River. The river is stocked with trout. Area trailheads offer several interesting hikes. The trail from Molybdenite Creek trailhead splits, with one branch heading south into the Hoover Wilderness, and one looping north along Wheeler Creek to connect with the trail along the Little Walker River. This can be hiked as a loop from Burt Canyon...
Fales Hot Springs sits at 7,491 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 30% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Fales Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot — bring water shoes and test pools carefully. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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