# Little Hot Creek Spring, California

Little Hot Creek Spring in California. 180°F (82°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Mono County.

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

## Can you soak at Little Hot Creek Spring?

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. It's on US Forest Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 180°F (82°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.8 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 1,230 mg/L |
| Elevation | 7,035 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.6 mi from the nearest road (Antelope Springs Road) |
| Land | Inyo National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Mono County |
| Nearest town | Mammoth Lakes |
| Coordinates | 37.69200, -118.83900 |
| Best months to soak | December, February, January (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | SHERWIN CREEK, 7.0 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 180°F, the source water at Little Hot Creek Spring 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 Little Hot Creek Spring

Little Hot Creek Spring sits in Mono County, nine miles or so from Mammoth Lakes, on Inyo National Forest ground, and OpenStreetMap has it as Little Creek Hot Springs. The water is scalding at the source. Access is open, there is a photo, and the 1993 sample shows heavy mineral content with iron in the list.

The walk from Antelope Springs Road is a bit over half a mile. Elevation is about seven thousand feet, high, dry ground that still gets a snowy winter. Sherwin Creek campground is seven miles or so off. National Forest land, no designation beyond that, and the Forest Service is the owner of record.

OpenStreetMap records the place as Little Creek Hot Springs. A USGS site sits here, with chemistry taken in July 1993.

The best-months figure says winter; weigh that against the snowfall. Water at the source will burn; any soaking depends on finding cooled water, and the record does not say there is any. No fee on file. Chemistry dates from 1993.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1993-07-15 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.8 |
| Total dissolved solids | 1,230 mg/L |
| Calcium | 23 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.62 mg/L |
| Sodium | 390 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 100 mg/L |
| Chloride | 200 mg/L |
| Iron | 35 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)
- [Hot Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-spring-mono-county-1): 68°F source, pH 7.8, TDS 1,230 mg/L, Short Walk, 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
- [Hot Creek Springs, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-creek-springs-1): 171°F source, pH 8.7, Roadside, 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
- [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
- [Hot Creek (Mono County), CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/hot-creek-mono-county): pH 7.7, Short Walk, near Mammoth Lakes, Mono County

## Questions

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

**Where is Little Hot Creek Spring located?**
Little Hot Creek Spring is located in Mono County, California at 7,035 feet elevation, near Mammoth Lakes. Coordinates: 37.6920°N, 118.8390°W.

**How do I get to Little Hot Creek Spring?**
Little Hot Creek Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Antelope Springs Road (0.6 mi from the road).

**Is Little Hot Creek Spring free to visit?**
Little Hot Creek Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Little Hot Creek Spring?**
Yes, Sherwin Creek is located nearby (7.0 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Little Hot Creek Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.8 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 1,230 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Little Hot Creek Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Little Hot Creek Spring 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