# Fumarole, California

Fumarole in California. 203°F (95°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Kern County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/fumarole-2
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Fumarole?

No. The water at Fumarole reaches 203°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 203°F (95°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, 0.3 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Department of Defense |
| County | Kern County |
| Nearest town | Inyokern |
| Coordinates | 36.03100, -117.83300 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Chimney Creek Campground, 17.7 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Fumarole: Not a Soaking Spring.** Fumarole is a fumarole, not a traditional hot spring. These geothermal features can be extremely dangerous. Boiling water, toxic gases, and unstable ground are common hazards. Do not attempt to soak.

## About Fumarole

A fumarole is a steam vent, and this one sits on the Navy's China Lake weapons station in Kern County, about 26 miles from Inyokern. The public is not admitted. The recorded temperature is a few degrees shy of boiling, and a water sample from 1964 came back extremely acidic, with iron and sulfate among the minerals measured.

About a third of a mile out from an unnamed road, on ground listed as military. The directions stop there, since the base is not open. Desert elevation, middling. Snow comes to roughly eleven inches in a year and rain is scarce.

Do not plan a trip. The site is closed and inside an active weapons station. Chimney Creek Campground, about eighteen miles away, is the closest camp listed. The midwinter best months on record describe the area's weather and nothing more. The water is scalding and the chemistry is from 1964.

## 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), 4 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [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
- [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 Fumarole?**
Fumarole has a water temperature of 203°F (95°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Fumarole located?**
Fumarole is located in Kern County, California at 4,280 feet elevation, near Inyokern. Coordinates: 36.0310°N, 117.8330°W.

**How do I get to Fumarole?**
Fumarole has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).

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

**Can I camp near Fumarole?**
Yes, Chimney Creek Campground is located nearby (17.7 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Fumarole?**
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 Fumarole?**
No, not at the source. The water at Fumarole reaches 203°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