Bat Pool (Saline Valley 'bathtub')
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
One of the concrete soaking tubs at Lower Warm Springs in Saline Valley (Death Valley NP) — a September 15, 2026 fire burned the Lower Springs area, destroyed the volunteer host site, and melted piping to the pools; NPS reopened parts of the campground Sept 17 but the burned Lower Springs area — including the Bat Pool vicinity — remains CLOSED by superintendent's order until hazards are cleared.
Field notes — checked September 2026
- Hazard: ACTIVE CLOSURE: burned Lower Springs area — fire debris, hazmat from destroyed battery bank/shed
- Hazard: Extreme remoteness — 40 mi of rough dirt road, no services
- Hazard: Vehicle-eating rocks/washouts on Saline Valley Road
- Hazard: Extreme summer heat
- Hazard: No cell service
- CLOSED NOW: the 9/15/2026 fire burned most of the ~80 nonnative palm trees at Lower Springs, destroyed the camp host site (hazardous-materials concerns), and melted piping to the Lower Springs pools — tubs appear undamaged but the burned area is closed to entry pending debris removal
- Palm Spring section and camping between Lower Springs and Palm Spring reopened 9/17/2026 — Upper/Palm tubs may be usable even while Lower is closed; confirm with NPS
- Extremely remote: ~40 miles of rough dirt road (Saline Valley Road via North Pass or South Pass) from pavement; high-clearance recommended, washouts and washboard common; Inyo County was grading North Pass route as of 9/18/2026
- No water, no fuel, no services; carry extra fuel/water/spare tires — tire-shredding rock
- NPS rules for Saline Valley: no glass at pools, no pets in pool areas, camping limits; check current compendium
- Summer brutally hot; winters cold at the passes — North/South Pass can ice over
- No cell service anywhere in the valley
Current status
One of the concrete soaking tubs at Lower Warm Springs in Saline Valley (Death Valley NP) — a September 15, 2026 fire burned the Lower Springs area, destroyed the volunteer host site, and melted piping to the pools; NPS reopened parts of the campground Sept 17 but the burned Lower Springs area — including the Bat Pool vicinity — remains CLOSED by superintendent's order until hazards are cleared.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 7 sources ↓
About this spring
Small soaking feature at Lower Warm Springs, Saline Valley — corresponds to the historic 'bathtub': a water tank installed by the CCC in the 1930s, later cemented in as a permanent 1-2 person soaking tub next to the communal shower. Fee: Death Valley NP entrance fee. Tiny tub (1-2 people); extreme heat/remoteness.
The Bat Pool is the historic 'bathtub' at Lower Warm Springs, the largest of three thermal spring areas in remote Saline Valley inside Death Valley National Park. The tub began life as a metal water tank set in place by the Civilian Conservation Corps during 1930s construction of the Saline Valley Road under WPA-era public works, presumably to give road crews a place to bathe. Originally above ground, the tank was gradually buried by flash-flood sediment and later cemented into a stable, permanent soaking tub beside what is now the communal shower — for decades it and the open source were the only soaking options in the valley. The springs flow at roughly 98–112°F at the source, and the Lower Warm Springs area today includes volunteer-built rock, concrete, and tile pools, a shower and dishwashing station, and NPS vault toilets. Reaching it requires about 50 miles of rough dirt road with no services; the site has a longstanding clothing-optional culture, and a Death Valley entrance fee applies.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
California geothermal context
California spans several geothermal provinces: the volcanic Cascades and Modoc Plateau in the northeast, Sierra Nevada granite seeps along the eastern front, Mojave and Colorado Desert springs in the south, and the famously mineral-rich Big Sur coast. Fire season (roughly June–November) closes access to many backcountry springs without warning — always check for current fire restrictions.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | 112°F |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Fees reported |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | NPS Death Valley — 'Saline Fire Update' (partial reopening 9/17; burned Lower Springs area closed; piping melted, tubs undamaged) |
Bat Pool (Saline Valley 'bathtub') FAQ
Is Bat Pool (Saline Valley 'bathtub') open right now?
One of the concrete soaking tubs at Lower Warm Springs in Saline Valley (Death Valley NP) — a September 15, 2026 fire burned the Lower Springs area, destroyed the volunteer host site, and melted piping to the pools; NPS reopened parts of the campground Sept 17 but the burned Lower Springs area — including the Bat Pool vicinity — remains CLOSED by superintendent's order until hazards are cleared. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Can I soak at Bat Pool (Saline Valley 'bathtub')?
One of the concrete soaking tubs at Lower Warm Springs in Saline Valley (Death Valley NP) — a September 15, 2026 fire burned the Lower Springs area, destroyed the volunteer host site, and melted piping to the pools; NPS reopened parts of the campground Sept 17 but the burned Lower Springs area — including the Bat Pool vicinity — remains CLOSED by superintendent's order until hazards are cleared.
Where can I check access to Bat Pool (Saline Valley 'bathtub')?
Check NPS Death Valley — 'Saline Fire Update' (partial reopening 9/17; burned Lower Springs area closed; piping melted, tubs undamaged): https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/saline-fire-9-18-2026.htm
Sources & references
- NPS Death Valley — 'Saline Fire Update' (partial reopening 9/17; burned Lower Springs area closed; piping melted, tubs undamaged) — official · 2026-09
- NPS Death Valley — 'Saline Valley Warm Springs Fire 9-15-2026' — official · 2026-09
- NPS Death Valley — Alerts & Conditions / road status — official · 2026-09
- Gaia GPS — Saline Valley Lower Warm Springs (Bat Pool listed among pools) — community · 2024
- Eastside Sports — Death Valley unpaved road conditions (Saline Valley North Pass/South Pass reports) — community · 2026-01
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction