Mono County, California
Wild Willy's Hot Springs
Wild Willy's Hot Springs is a natural geothermal pool in the Long Valley Caldera near Mammoth Lakes, California — part of the cluster of hot springs along the Hot Creek geological area in the Eastern Sierra.
- Day use
- Geothermal
About this place
Wild Willy's Hot Springs is a natural geothermal pool in the Long Valley Caldera near Mammoth Lakes, California — part of the cluster of hot springs along the Hot Creek geological area in the Eastern Sierra. The main pool sits in an open meadow with panoramic views of the volcanic landscape: the caldera rim, the Mammoth Lakes ski mountain, and the dry Owens Valley to the east. The setting is genuinely dramatic.
The pool reaches about 104°F and is large enough for a dozen people to soak comfortably. Nudity is the de facto standard and has been for decades — management of Eastern Sierra hot springs has historically been permissive. The Inyo National Forest manages the area, and the informal C/O norm is widely known and broadly accepted.
Access is via a dirt road off Benton Crossing Road, east of the Mammoth Lakes resort area, with a short walk (under half a mile) to the pool. The area is accessible year-round when snow conditions permit road access — soaking in the 104°F pool in winter, surrounded by snow, with the Sierra Nevada in the background, is a particular Mammoth experience. The nearby Hot Creek Geological Site (a different geothermal area) is closed to swimming due to extreme temperatures.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Mammoth Lakes visitors, Eastern Sierra outdoor regulars, and hot springs enthusiasts who use the Owens Valley's geothermal resources as a destination in their own right.
How to find it
From Mammoth Lakes, take US 395 south and then Benton Crossing Road east. Look for the unmarked dirt road turnoff that leads to Wild Willy's — it's approximately 1.5 miles east of US 395 on Benton Crossing Road. Short walk from the parking area.
Things to watch out for
Water temperature can be very high (105°F+). Don't soak for extended periods. Test temperature before entering. The dirt road can be impassable after winter storms. No facilities; pack out all waste. Crowded on holiday weekends year-round.
Last updated
Etiquette & ground rules
Clothing optional is the standard norm. Share the pool if others are present. Soak time limits when it's busy — typically 20–30 minutes per session is courteous. Pack out everything.
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