Buckeye Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Buckeye Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Bridgeport, California. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free primitive creekside pools on Buckeye Creek in Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, ~10 mi from Bridgeport via Twin Lakes Rd + washboarded dirt Buckeye Rd; open year-round but road is unmaintained in winter (2023-24 winter motor-vehicle closure order); formal parking lot, vault toilet, and one steep designated ~1000-ft trail to pools; day use only, no camping at springs.
verified against an official source · 8 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A US-395 town base for Travertine and the Buckeye turnoff.
Bridgeport is about 5 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF — Buckeye Campground page (140F source, popular year-round; indexed text, fs.usda.gov blocks direct fetch).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: Reported 0.2 mi trail — confirm the route, road, and seasonal access.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — free day use; dispersed camping allowed nearby (14-day limit), Buckeye Campground ~0.25 mi away ~$20-24/night late May-late Sept.
- Best time to go: Weekday fall visits are the sweet spot; arrive before 9am on summer weekends; winter offers solitude if road is passable.
- Clothing reality: Official: no posted policy; CA public-nudity law technically applies. Customary: long-standing clothing-optional custom — nudity common especially morning/evening; suits equally fine. Legal: nudity citable in theory but enforcement reported as rare.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — steep ~1000-ft descent on rough trail to main pools; upper hillside pools slightly easier but still uneven terrain.
- No camping at the day-use area — posted signs; managers have warned parking access could be revoked if abuse continues
- Stay on the single designated trail — user-created trails closed for erosion control/hillside stabilization
- Pools go cold during spring snowmelt when creek runs high (April-early June can be chilly)
- Winter road access unreliable — unmaintained; was closed to motor vehicles Dec 2023-Apr 2024 by forest order; call Bridgeport Ranger District 760-932-7070 Nov-Apr
- Source water ~140F per USFS — scalding where it enters; pools are creek-mixed so temps vary 90-110F
- Steep trail down to creekside pools — wear real shoes
- Pack out all trash; use vault toilet (human waste was a documented problem)
- Unleashed/aggressive dogs reported by visitors — leash yours
- Hazard: Scalding ~140F source water entering pools
- Hazard: Steep eroded hillside trail
- Hazard: High creek flow in spring floods/chills creekside pools
- Hazard: Winter road can be impassable — no plowing
- Hazard: Unrestrained dogs reported
About this spring
Undeveloped geothermal springs on the north bank of Buckeye Creek in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, ~10 miles southwest of Bridgeport. Three rock-lined creekside pools plus a travertine grotto with a small hot waterfall cascading over a cave-like overhang; additional warm pools sit on the hillside near the parking area. Source emerges ~140°F; creekside pools run ~90-110°F. Free, primitive, and popular on weekends. Steep trail can be slippery; dirt road impassable in snow Nov-Apr. No camping at the springs. Black bears active in the area.
Buckeye Hot Springs sits at roughly 6,900 feet in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, where geothermal water emerges from a hillside at about 140°F and spills over a rock overhang, creating the site's signature cave-like grotto with a small hot waterfall. Rock-lined pools on the north bank of Buckeye Creek run roughly 90-110°F, effectively tunable by how much creek water soakers let in; a short but steep, rocky descent of 150-300 feet separates them from the parking area, where a vault toilet is the only facility. The Forest Service's 68-site Buckeye Campground lies about a mile west and is open seasonally. Like most Eastern Sierra springs, these pools were used by local Native peoples — Northern Paiute communities remain in the Bridgeport area — and the site reportedly saw early geothermal-era mining activity. Buckeye Road is washboarded dirt and impassable in snow; camping is prohibited at the springs themselves.
Directions & trailhead access
From the north end of Bridgeport on US-395, turn south onto Twin Lakes Road and drive 7.2 miles; turn right onto dirt Buckeye Road (at Doc and Al's Resort), continue ~2.8 miles, bear right, and go 0.4 miles to the parking area. A short steep trail descends to the pools.
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.
Best time to visit
June – September (Late Spring through Early Autumn)High-altitude mountain access routes and backcountry trailheads can experience seasonal snowpack from November through May. Peak summer and early autumn provide clear trail access and pleasant evening soak conditions.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 135°F |
| Hiking distance | 0.2 miles (easy) |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF — Buckeye Campground page (140F source, popular year-round; indexed text, fs.usda.gov blocks direct fetch) |
Buckeye Hot Springs FAQ
Is Buckeye Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive creekside pools on Buckeye Creek in Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, ~10 mi from Bridgeport via Twin Lakes Rd + washboarded dirt Buckeye Rd; open year-round but road is unmaintained in winter (2023-24 winter motor-vehicle closure order); formal parking lot, vault toilet, and one steep designated ~1000-ft trail to pools; day use only, no camping at springs. (Status verified against an official source.)
Is Buckeye Hot Springs free?
Buckeye Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Mono County, California. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Buckeye Hot Springs?
Buckeye Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 135°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Buckeye Hot Springs clothing optional?
Buckeye Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How far is the hike to Buckeye Hot Springs?
The hike to Buckeye Hot Springs near Bridgeport, California is a 0.2-mile walk (easy) from the designated vehicle access area, per public trail records.
Where to stay in Bridgeport
A US-395 town base for Travertine and the Buckeye turnoff. Check snow and dirt-road conditions before driving to the pools.
Bridgeport is about 5 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF — Buckeye Campground page (140F source, popular year-round; indexed text, fs.usda.gov blocks direct fetch) — official · 2025
- Mono County — Forest Order 04-17-23-20, Buckeye Road winter motor-vehicle closure (Dec 4, 2023-Apr 5, 2024) — official · 2023-12
- Mammoth Lakes Recreation — Buckeye Hotsprings restoration project (parking, vault toilet, designated trail completed 2022) — official · 2022
- Sierra Nevada Conservancy — Buckeye Hot Springs upgrades article — official · 2022
- CA Travel Times — Buckeye Hot Springs updated guide (road condition, winter contact, 2026) — community · 2026
- Treks with Beks — Buckeye + Travertine guide (no-camping enforcement pressure, stewardship warnings) — community · 2024
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- calihotsprings.com/loc/bridgeport/buckeye-hot-springs
- www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/buckeye-hot-springs-california
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
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