The California Hot Spring Locals Love—but Most Travelers Completely Miss

If you’re exploring this corner of California, there’s a hot spring that’s surprisingly easy to reach and even easier to fall in love with. Set in a wide open valley with mountains in every direction, the warm and silky water makes it the perfect place to unwind after a hike or kick off your morning.

The pool is small and simple, but the steam, scenery, and quiet make it feel unforgettable.

Before you go, here’s what you need to know, including water temperature, how to get there, and what to expect once you slip into the tub so your visit goes smoothly.

Shepherd Hot Springs facts

• Location: 20 minutes from Mammoth Lakes, California.
• Temperature: Water emerges at around 135°F (57°C) but cools to a comfortable 98–105°F (38–41°C) in the soaking pool.
• Mineral Content: Rich in calcium, magnesium, and silica, contributing to soothing and skin-friendly waters.
• Accessibility: Easy to reach via a bumpy dirt road with some surprisingly deep dips—nothing too extreme, but you’ll definitely feel the bumps. Once you park, it’s just a quick 30-second walk to the spring.
• Clothing: Clothing-optional (most of the springs out here are this way)
• Facilities: Primitive — no restrooms, no running water, no official maintenance.
• Best Time to Visit: Can’t go wrong with mornings; late afternoon into sunset for golden light; spring and fall offer ideal temperatures and fewer bugs.

Arrival

Shepherd Hot Springs is very easy to find. You can find it on Google Maps and your GPS should take you right to it.

It took us about 20 minutes to get there from Mammoth Lakes. The last stretch of road is pretty bumpy, with some big dips that make you slow down. Our Grand Cherokee L handled it fine, but if you’re in a smaller car, you’ll want to take it easy and watch for the deeper spots.

There are a couple of parking areas right by the springs, and when we arrived, a handful of vehicles were already there. Most of them looked like they belonged to people spending the night, probably van camping. Once we found a spot, it was just a very short walk to the spring. The hot spring itself is small but intriguing, with a pipe feeding in the steaming water. It had an interesting shape.

We found one person already soaking in the spring. I greeted him and made sure he was okay with us sharing the tub (I would’ve entered anyway but it’s just a courtesy thing). It’s a bit small, but it could comfortably fit a handful of people, depending on their size, of course.

The Soak

I stepped into the tub and immediately noticed how slick it was, so you definitely want a firm grip. There’s a small step in one corner to help you get in, and built-in seats along the sides. The pool was deep enough for me to submerge up to my neck, which I really appreciated.

It didn’t take long for the soak to start melting away my tension. I shut my eyes and sank into the silky water, letting it all go—but it’s hard to stay with your eyes closed in these hot springs because the mountain views are absolutely stunning.

That morning, clouds were rolling in from the western mountains, and as the sun rose, it lit them up a brilliant pink. The whole scene was just spectacular, like the sky was glowing.

To the northeast, a marsh stretched out toward the mountains, with steam rising from several spots, giving the landscape a wild, untamed look that was pretty amazing. From beyond the horizon, we could hear cows bellowing—loud enough to carry across the valley and add to the strange mix of sounds in the stillness.

While I love having springs to myself, it’s also cool meeting people. We had a nice little chat with the guy who was soaking, and he told us it was his annual trip. From what I’ve heard, a lot of Californians make a yearly trek to the Mammoth Lakes area, and I don’t blame them—this place is beautiful.

After he eventually left, we had the tub to ourselves.

I stepped out to snap a few photos of the golden-hour peaks and quickly felt the chill, so I made my way back to the tub and slipped in again. In late September, the air was around the low 40s, but I didn’t even need a beanie or anything—being in the warm water was plenty.

After I got back in, since we were still alone, I went for a little skinny dipping which was relaxing. But then I noticed a lot of tiny, black particles suspended in the water as it started to get a little bit brighter. I’m not sure exactly what those were and it was a little bit of an uncomfortable feeling to have those in such a high concentration floating around my naked body. At the end of the day, I expect to have to deal with some of those things when soaking in such a natural setting so not the biggest deal but I did feel the need to slip the trunks back on.

I guess because people had been soaking before, the water temperature was just perfect. My watch showed about 98°F, though the water coming straight from the pipe was around 110°F. Even then, it didn’t feel too hot, and I stayed perfectly warm even on the opposite side of the pipe. Whatever “setting” it was on, it was spot-on, and we didn’t have to adjust anything at all.

If the water feels too hot, you can adjust the flow from the pipe to cool it down. It’s best to turn it down to about a quarter of the flow so it’s comfortable for the next people who come in.

This was my first hot spring in the Mammoth Lakes area, so it felt like a gentle introduction to what the region has to offer. I was happy to see the area free of litter—let’s all keep it that way so these spots stay beautiful for everyone.

Final word

After such a relaxing and scenic soak, I’m definitely excited to explore some of the other springs nearby. Shepherd Hot Springs offered the perfect mix of warmth, quiet, and stunning views—an easy escape from the everyday. If you visit, take a moment to soak it all in, leave the area as pristine as you found it, and let yourself fully enjoy the simple magic of these natural hot tubs. It’s experiences like this that make the Mammoth Lakes region feel truly special.