# Hilltop Hot Spring, California

Hilltop Hot Spring in California. 127°F (53°C). Roadside · Public Land. Mono County.

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

## Can you soak at Hilltop Hot Spring?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 127°F, hotter than any hot tub. You can drive right up to it. It's on Bureau of Land Management land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 127°F (53°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.0 (Neutral) |
| Total dissolved solids | 1,260 mg/L |
| Elevation | 6,880 ft |
| Access | Roadside · Public Land, 55 ft from the nearest road (Benton Crossing Road) |
| Land | Bishop Field Office, Bureau of Land Management |
| County | Mono County |
| Nearest town | Mammoth Lakes |
| Coordinates | 37.66700, -118.78100 |
| Best months to soak | February, December, January (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Crowley Lake Campground, 6.8 mi |

## About Hilltop Hot Spring

Hilltop Hot Spring, which OpenStreetMap lists as Alkali Hot Springs, is BLM ground near Mammoth Lakes, around twelve miles out, in Mono County. Access is listed as open. The source runs hot, above body temperature by a wide margin, and the water carries a heavy mineral load. Iron and sulfate both turned up in sampling. There is a photo.

Benton Crossing Road passes within a few dozen feet, so this is a pull-over spot. No walking involved. The Bishop Field Office manages the land. Seven thousand feet up, give or take, winters bring real snow, though the year as a whole is dry. Crowley Lake Campground is about seven miles distant.

OpenStreetMap carries a second name, Alkali Hot Springs. The USGS site here was sampled in January 1990.

Open public land, no fee on record. Winter ranks top for timing in the row, and with six feet of snow in an average year the road may decide for you. The source itself is too hot to soak in straight, so find out where the water has cooled first. Chemistry was sampled in 1990 and may have drifted since.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1990-01-10 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7 |
| Total dissolved solids | 1,260 mg/L |
| Calcium | 24 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.66 mg/L |
| Sodium | 370 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 64 mg/L |
| Chloride | 150 mg/L |
| Iron | 190 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Clovis](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/clovis), 76 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Dehy Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/dehy-hot-spring): 134°F source, pH 7.7, Short Walk, near Mammoth Lakes, Mono County
- [Wild Willy's Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/wild-willy-s-hot-springs): 120°F source, pH 7.0, TDS 1,260 mg/L, Short Walk, near Mammoth Lakes, Mono County
- [The Tub, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/the-tub): 167°F source, pH 7.3, Short Walk, near Mammoth Lakes, Mono County
- [Hot Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-springs-mono-county): 129°F source, pH 7.3, Short Walk, near Mammoth Lakes, Mono County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-mono-county-3): 86°F source, Roadside, near Mammoth Lakes, Mono County
- [Hot Creek Gorge Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-creek-gorge-springs): 199°F source, pH 8.0, TDS 1,170 mg/L, Short Walk, near Mammoth Lakes, Mono County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hilltop Hot Spring?**
Hilltop Hot Spring has a water temperature of 127°F (53°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hilltop Hot Spring located?**
Hilltop Hot Spring is located in Mono County, California at 6,880 feet elevation, near Mammoth Lakes. Coordinates: 37.6670°N, 118.7810°W.

**How do I get to Hilltop Hot Spring?**
Hilltop Hot Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Benton Crossing Road (55 ft from the road).

**Is Hilltop Hot Spring free to visit?**
Hilltop Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

**Can I camp near Hilltop Hot Spring?**
Yes, Crowley Lake Campground is located nearby (6.8 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Hilltop Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.0 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 1,260 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Hilltop Hot Spring?**
With care. At 127°F Hilltop Hot Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals