Hot Spring
Hot Spring near Bridgeport emerges at 151°F just 130 feet from the road, making it perhaps the most accessible high-temperature thermal feature in the Eastern Sierra, with a robust 102°F rise above the area's cool alpine air.
This roadside thermal sits at 6,452 feet elevation on Inyo National Forest land, ringed by Jeffrey pine forest and the dramatic topography of the Sierra crest's eastern slope. The spring delivers measurable heat into cool mountain air, a sensory landmark in an otherwise temperate landscape.
Park at roadside pullouts along the access road. The spring is immediately visible and safe to approach; water temperature drops with distance downstream. Winter snow and ice may limit road access December through March. No facilities exist on-site.
The spring's accessibility reflects its proximity to a maintained road—likely a historic route connecting desert communities to high Sierra passes. Its emergence along the forest boundary suggests the presence of fault zones or fractures that allow deep thermal water to reach the surface.
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Rustic campsites with fire rings in Jeffrey Pine Forest. There is no trash service please pack out your trash.
Hot Spring sits at 6,452 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 26% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Hot Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot — bring water shoes and test pools carefully.
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