Grover Hot Springs State Park
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Grover Hot Springs State Park is a developed hot spring listed near Markleeville, California. Reported soak temperature: 103°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
POOL COMPLEX CLOSED for the park’s ~2-week September maintenance window (official page checked 9/2026; it reopens after); when operating, the hot mineral pool + cool pool run Fri-Mon, tickets first-come-first-served at the park ($10 adult/$5 child plus $8/vehicle day use). Park day use and campground remain open.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via CA State Parks — Grover Hot Springs SP official page (pool closed notice, fees, dogs).
- Cost: Reported $8/vehicle — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 103°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: none — pay day-use + pool entry at kiosk
- Best time to go: weekday mornings; summer weekend sessions sell out early
- Clothing reality: Swimsuits required — state-park swimming/soaking pool complex with lifeguard.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: both pools have wheelchair lifts (assistance may be needed on ramp slope); ADA boardwalk on meadow trail
- Pool complex closed RIGHT NOW for annual ~2-week September maintenance (checked 9/21/2026) — call (530) 694-2248 before driving
- Pool schedule Fri-Mon only in shoulder seasons; roughly daily Jun-Aug
- Pool sessions are 90 minutes; $10 adult / $5 child 16&under ON TOP of $8/vehicle day-use fee
- Tickets first-come-first-served at the kiosk; pool reservations also offered via ReserveCalifornia — remaining spots sold same-day
- Pool NOT included in camping fees
- Additional single-day closures in Dec, Mar, Jun + Thanksgiving & Christmas; lightning closes pools any summer afternoon
- Dogs on leash in park but NOT in pool complex
- Bring cash — card/internet at kiosk unreliable
- Bear country: all scented items must go in campsite metal lockers day & night
- Hazard: Summer afternoon thunderstorms force pool closures
- Hazard: Active black bears — food-locker law enforced
- Hazard: Winter chains/AWD may be needed on Ebbetts Pass approach (Hwy 89/4)
- Hazard: Elevation 5,900 ft — cold nights even in summer
About this spring
California state park at 5,900 ft in an alpine meadow on the east Sierra slope — a mineral soaking pool kept at 102-104°F fed by springs emerging near 148°F, plus a cooler swimming pool, campground and lifeguard. Fee: $8/vehicle + $10 adult pool admission. Pools closed Wednesdays Labor Day-Memorial Day; high elevation weather swings.
Grover Hot Springs State Park is a state park of California, United States, containing natural hot springs on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Park amenities include a swimming pool fed by the hot springs, a campground, picnic area, and hiking trails. The park was established in 1959. It was named after Alvin Merrill Grover, who owned a share of the land in 1878 and built a bathhouse and a fence around the springs.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Grover Hot Springs State Park”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
4 mi west of Markleeville at the end of Hot Springs Rd off CA-89.
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 developed site means here
A developed site sits between primitive and resort: improved soaking infrastructure — built tubs, decks, stairs, sometimes changing rooms or vault toilets — often run by a land trust, nonprofit, or small operator. Expect modest fees or donation requests, posted etiquette rules, and more predictable conditions than a wild pool.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across California. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 103°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 103°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $8/vehicle — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | CA State Parks — Grover Hot Springs SP official page (pool closed notice, fees, dogs) |
Grover Hot Springs State Park FAQ
Is Grover Hot Springs State Park open right now?
POOL COMPLEX CLOSED for the park’s ~2-week September maintenance window (official page checked 9/2026; it reopens after); when operating, the hot mineral pool + cool pool run Fri-Mon, tickets first-come-first-served at the park ($10 adult/$5 child plus $8/vehicle day use). Park day use and campground remain open. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Grover Hot Springs State Park free?
Grover Hot Springs State Park is listed with reported fees near Markleeville. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Grover Hot Springs State Park?
Grover Hot Springs State Park has a reported soak temperature of 103°F and a historical source temperature of 103°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Grover Hot Springs State Park clothing optional?
Grover Hot Springs State Park is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Grover Hot Springs State Park?
Grover Hot Springs State Park is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Markleeville
Markleeville is about 4 miles east of Grover on Hot Springs Road. Check the state park’s pool schedule and separate reservation rules before booking a town room.
Check the road and access notes above before you book.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- CA State Parks — Grover Hot Springs SP official page (pool closed notice, fees, dogs) — official · 2026-09
- CA State Parks — Grover Hot Springs Infosheet PDF (pool admission, lifts, FCFS) — official · 2025-09
- CA Travel Times — Grover Hot Springs 2026 guide (annual Sept closure, Wed closures) — community · 2026
- The Cranky Camper — Grover Hot Springs visit report (Fri-Mon, 90-min sessions) — community · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Guides — Grover Hot Springs (102-104F hot pool, source ~148F) — community · 2026-04
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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.