Dawn light flares over Long Valley Caldera as you roll toward the gorge. Steam pillars rise from the creek like campfire smoke, hinting at the magma three miles below the surface.
During this brief hike you will observe a 760,000-year-old caldera, smell sulfur curling off cobalt pools that can hit 199 °F while taking photos of the Sierra skyline from the canyon rim.
The detour adds no cost to your trip and takes only one hour from your Mammoth itinerary so it serves as an ideal “science-meets-scenery” stop.
Quick Map
Check mammoth lakes map here, drive south on US-395 for 5.4 mi. Turn left on Hot Creek Hatchery Road, continue 2 mi paved plus 3 mi graded gravel, and park at the signed overlook lot.
Fast Facts
- Location: Mono County, 8 mi SE of Mammoth Lakes
- Elevation: 7,093 ft
- Trail length: 1.5 mi round-trip (out-and-back 2.4 km, 60 ft descent)
- Water temps: boiling pools measure up to 93 °C / 199 °F
- Hours: Day-use only, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Fees: None
Hot Creek hydrothermal system
The volcanic events in the Long Valley Caldera produced the hot creek geological features directly. The depression formed when a massive volcanic eruption released vast amounts of ash and pumice into the environment about 760,000 years ago.
The landscape developed through the combination of rhyodacite lava flows and fault-fed springs that followed the initial cataclysmic eruption. Faults still crack the crust, letting super-heated groundwater vent along the creek.
Earthquakes trigger changes in the hot creek geological plumbing system which results in sudden temperature increases and unexpected vent formations overnight.
The geothermal power system at Casa Diablo west of the site generates electricity that powers 40,000 homes. (Read More)
Trail & Orientation
The path reveals breathtaking views of the Sierra skyline which reach their peak beauty during golden hour when the light brings out the mineral-rich water colors.
The hot creek geologic site allows visitors to observe the ongoing geological transformations of this area. (Explore more)
Safety & Regulations
- No swimming or soaking. Scalding surges have fatally burned visitors in seconds.
- Quake spikes. USGS notes 93 °C pools often heat further after local seismic swarms.
- Leash pets. Dogs are welcome but must stay on six-foot leashes.
- Drones. Mechanical aircraft are banned in designated Wilderness and within 100 yd of wildlife per Inyo NF policy.
- Winter access. Hot Creek Hatchery Road closes to cars when snow accumulates; reach the site via snowshoe, XC skis, or snowmobile.
Nearby Mammoth Lakes Highlights
Devils Postpile National Monument—a 60-ft wall of columnar basalt reached by shuttle and featuring 8 mi of hiking trails.
Mammoth Bike Park—80+ mi of lift-served XC and downhill flow, open daily mid-June through Labor Day, then weekends to mid-October.
Convict Lake—a glacial bowl backdropped by 12,241-ft Mount Morrison; the 2.5-mi shore trail includes an ADA paved section.
These three stops barely scratch the surface of things to do in mammoth lakes.
Nearby Camping Base
Mammoth lakes camping options ring town:
Lake Mary Campground—8,900 ft; 48 sites near the water. (Check Reservation and Map)
Twin Lakes Campground—8,600 ft under lodgepole pines with a waterfall soundtrack. (Check Reservation and Map)
Sherwin Creek Campground—7,600 ft; best for RVs and early-season arrivals thanks to lower snow load. (Check Reservation and Map)
Arrive a day early, chug water, and stroll around town before pushing higher.
