If you’re heading out from Mammoth Lakes, Hilltop Hot Springs (also called Pulkey’s Pool) is one of the easiest and most scenic soak options nearby. It’s tucked into the Long Valley Caldera, just a short walk from the parking area, and offers warm, comfortable water with sweeping mountain views—perfect after a hike or as a sunrise soak.
The spring is an intimate, single tub with steam rising into the open sky and the Eastern Sierra all around. It’s the kind of spot where you sink in, let the warmth settle into your muscles, and watch the light shift across the peaks.
Hilltop Hot Springs essentials
- Location & access: About 15 minutes from Mammoth Lakes via US-395 and Benton Crossing Road. From the dirt road parking area, it’s a short walk to the pool.
- Walk-in: Roughly a quarter-mile on a defined, fairly flat trail.
- Pool & structure: A rock-and-cement tub, about three feet deep, fed by a pipe from a nearby geothermal source. Very slippery when entering.
- Temperature: Usually between 100–105 °F. The flow is controlled by a valve, so you may be able to adjust the heat.
- Clothing: Clothing-optional, like most of the Long Valley springs.
- Facilities: Primitive—no restrooms, no running water, no official maintenance.
- Best timing: Early mornings, weekdays, or spring and fall for fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures. Sunset is especially beautiful.
- Road conditions & tips: The dirt road can be bumpy and muddy but we didn’t have any issues.
- Etiquette: Follow Leave No Trace. Don’t use soaps, pack out everything you bring, share the space, and leave the valve slightly open when you depart so the next visitors have warm water.
Arrival
Hilltop is one of the easier hot springs to reach in the Eastern Sierra.
From Mammoth Lakes, just plug it into your GPS and follow the route. You’ll head out on Highway 395, turn left onto Benton Crossing Road (look for the small green church as a landmark), and then make a quick left onto a short dirt road.
The dirt stretch isn’t long, though it can be a little bumpy depending on conditions.
When you arrive, you’ll find plenty of space to park—there are actually two parking areas to choose from. From there, the trail to the spring is about a quarter of a mile. Despite the name Hilltop, don’t worry about a climb; the elevation gain is so slight you’ll hardly notice you’re walking uphill.
The path is a mix of sturdy wooden planks and a well-kept dirt trail, making it easy to follow in just about any season. As you go, the views open up across the valley, and before long you’ll reach a broad, open wash. Tucked near the stream at the edge of this clearing, you’ll spot the soaking tub, quietly waiting with steam curling into the sky.
We arrived about half an hour before sunrise and were surprised to find someone already soaking in the tub. As it turned out, it was a familiar face—we’d run into this same person a week earlier at Shepherd Hot Springs. Encounters like that make you realize there’s a bit of a community among early-morning soakers in the area.
The tub at Hilltop is on the smaller side, built to comfortably fit about four to six people. When we visited, there were a maximum of five of us in the water. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was right on that line where “cozy” starts leaning into “crowded.”
The Soak
When we slipped into the water, the temperature was just right—around 103°F.
The gentleman who’d been soaking ahead of us mentioned he had spent about half an hour cooling it down. Someone had left the valve wide open overnight, and the water had gotten too hot to enjoy. By the time we arrived, though, it had balanced out perfectly, holding steady before slowly easing down toward 101°F.
Like many other hot springs built like this, the inside is very slick so be careful. There are mats and a step to help you get in, but I highly recommend gripping some of the rocks on the side as you slip in.
The views from Hilltop Hot Springs are often said to be the best of all the nearby pools—and it’s easy to see why. On clear mornings, you can soak with the Sierra Nevada stretching out in every direction.
When we visited, though, the valley had its own twist. A heavy wall of fog had rolled in, shifting and curling across the open landscape. At times it swallowed the mountains completely; then it would thin out, revealing the peaks again before drifting back. The effect was both breathtaking and slightly eerie—beautiful to watch from the tub, though admittedly less fun to drive through on the way in.
Even with the fog muting the backdrop, the experience was remarkable. That’s the thing about this part of the Eastern Sierra—you really can’t go wrong with any of the springs, because the setting always brings its own kind of magic.
I’d heard that Hilltop can sometimes have more bugs than the other springs since it sits right in the middle of a marshy area. Fortunately for us, the morning air was in the low 40s, and the chill seemed to keep mosquitoes and other pests at bay. Not a single buzz to be heard—just steam rising and the occasional bird cutting through the fog.
After soaking for a while, a few more people arrived, making it a bit busier than expected for a weekday morning. It was fun to watch them gradually emerge from the fog, steam rising around them like a scene from a dream.
Most of the people soaking that morning were either naked or topless, which was a first for me at one of these springs. Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal at all—I’ve come to believe that soaking without clothes is probably the ideal way to experience it.
Everyone we met was friendly, and we ended up having some great conversations. While I’ll probably always prefer solitude in a hot spring, I’ve started to appreciate running into others too. There’s something fascinating about hearing where people have come from and the stories that led them to this same quiet corner of the Eastern Sierra at sunrise.
After about 45 minutes in the water, a couple more people arrived, so we decided it was a good time to pack up and give them some space. The walk back to the car was a chilly one, moving through the lingering fog. With the sunrise mostly past, the marsh’s beauty was harder to see, but the atmosphere itself—a quiet, misty valley—made for a memorable departure.
Final Word
Hilltop Hot Springs is easy to reach, with a short walk that leads to a cozy tub and some of the best views in the Long Valley Caldera. Whether you’re there for sunrise, solitude, or a chat with fellow early-morning soakers, it delivers.
The trail, warm water, and shifting mist create a simple, memorable experience. Even the little quirks—slippery rocks, morning chill, or fog—add to its charm. From Mammoth Lakes, it’s a quick escape with a big payoff, leaving you refreshed and already thinking about your next soak.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
