# Fales Hot Springs, California

Fales Hot Springs in California. 180°F (82°C). Short Walk. Mono County.

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

## Can you soak at Fales Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 180°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 180°F (82°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 7,491 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Mono County |
| Nearest town | Bridgeport |
| Coordinates | 38.34800, -119.40000 |
| Best months to soak | December, February, January (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Obsidian Campground, 4.3 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 180°F, the source water at Fales Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Fales Hot Springs

Fales Hot Springs is a scalding spring on private property in Mono County near Sonora Junction, about twelve miles from Bridgeport. The owners live there. Wikipedia says it is not open to the public, even though access is blank on file. The water comes out far too hot to touch.

The spring lies a fifth of a mile from an unnamed road, high in the eastern Sierra Nevada at roughly seven and a half thousand feet. Winter here brings ten-plus feet of snow, most years, and a yearly average temperature in the low forties. Obsidian Campground is on file about four miles away.

Wikipedia places Fales Hot Springs in the Sonora Junction area of the eastern Sierra and gives a slightly lower elevation than the record does. OpenStreetMap carries it in the singular, Fales Hot Spring. The property doubles as a private home.

There is no public soaking here. The property is a private residence and closed to visitors, so the listed best months, midwinter, are academic. The USGS has a monitoring site for the spring. If you are passing through, Obsidian Campground is the nearby camp on record.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Placerville](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/placerville), 80 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Buckeye Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/buckeye-hot-spring): 140°F source, Roadside, near Bridgeport, Mono County
- [Travertine Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/travertine-hot-springs): 180°F source, Short Walk, near Bridgeport, Mono County
- [The Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/the-hot-springs-1): 113°F source, Short Walk, near Bridgeport, Mono County
- [Warm Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/warm-spring-mono-county): 77°F source, Short Walk, near Bridgeport, Mono County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-lyon-county): Warm, Roadside, near Smith Valley, Lyon County
- [Booker Hot Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/booker-hot-spring): 110°F source, Short Walk, near Hawthorne, Mineral County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Fales Hot Springs?**
Fales Hot Springs has a water temperature of 180°F (82°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Fales Hot Springs located?**
Fales Hot Springs is located in Mono County, California at 7,491 feet elevation, near Bridgeport. Coordinates: 38.3480°N, 119.4000°W.

**How do I get to Fales Hot Springs?**
Fales Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Fales Hot Springs?**
Yes, Obsidian Campground is located nearby (4.3 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Fales Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Fales Hot Springs reaches 180°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
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fales_Hot_Springs