# Mud Pots, California

Mud Pots in California. 100°F (38°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Imperial County.

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

## Can you soak at Mud Pots?

No. The water at Mud Pots reaches 100°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 100°F (38°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | -224 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.4 mi from the nearest road (McDonald Road) |
| Land | Salton Sea - Irrigation District, REG |
| County | Imperial County |
| Nearest town | Niland |
| Coordinates | 33.21200, -115.59100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |

## Soaking safety

**Mud Pot: Not a Soaking Spring.** Mud Pots is a mud pot, 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 Mud Pots

The Mud Pots near Niland in Imperial County are a thermal feature where hot mud and water reach the surface below sea level at the edge of the Salton Sea. The recorded temperature is near body heat. Land is listed under the irrigation district, and public access is marked open. This is a thing to look at.

A walk of a bit under half a mile from McDonald Road. The ground sits more than two hundred feet below the level of the ocean at the southern Salton Sea. Three inches of rain is a normal year. No snow. The annual average sits near eighty degrees. The irrigation district holds the land. No campground is listed nearby.

Visit in the cool months. The record names December through February. Summer heat on the Salton Sea floor is punishing. Access is open. Nothing on file about a fee or a campground. The temperature on record is around 100 degrees, a warm-bath number, though the record does not describe a pool, and the name suggests mud, so come to look.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Brawley](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/california/brawley), 17 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in California](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california)
- [Wister Mud Pot, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/wister-mud-pot): 100°F source, Roadside, near Niland, Imperial County
- [Mud Pots, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/mud-pots-1): 100°F source, Short Walk, near Niland, Imperial County
- [Mud Volcanoes, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/mud-volcanoes-imperial-county-5): Warm, Short Walk, near Niland, Imperial County
- [Mud Volcanoes, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/mud-volcanoes-imperial-county-4): Warm, Short Walk, near Niland, Imperial County
- [Mud Volcanoes, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/mud-volcanoes-imperial-county-3): Warm, Short Walk, near Niland, Imperial County
- [Mud Volcanoes, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/mud-volcanoes-imperial-county-8): Warm, Short Walk, near Niland, Imperial County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Mud Pots?**
Mud Pots has a water temperature of 100°F (38°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Mud Pots located?**
Mud Pots is located in Imperial County, California at -224 feet elevation, near Niland. Coordinates: 33.2120°N, 115.5910°W.

**How do I get to Mud Pots?**
Mud Pots has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being McDonald Road (0.4 mi from the road).

**Is Mud Pots free to visit?**
Mud Pots has Open access. It is managed by REG.

## Sources

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