Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) is a primitive hot spring listed near Mammoth Lakes, California. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free primitive BLM soaking tub (Pulky's Pool) in the Long Valley Caldera east of Mammoth Lakes — open year-round, no fee or permit, reached by a short dirt road off Benton Crossing Rd plus a ~0.25-mile boardwalk walk; clothing-optional custom, fits ~6 people, temperature adjustable via valves from a source that can exceed 130°F; dirt road/parking can close in snow, then park on Benton Crossing Rd and walk ~0.5 mi.
Checked January 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Choose town lodging for the Long Valley springs reached from US-395 and Benton Crossing Road.
Mammoth Lakes is about 10 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 Recreation.gov — Recreational Hot Springs (Tubs), BLM, Mammoth Lakes.
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 105°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; 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 — free day-use on BLM land (BLM Bishop Field Office, 760-872-5000)
- Best time to go: Sunrise and weekday mornings for solitude; sunset for views but busiest; late spring and early fall most comfortable; winter soaking good if road is passable
- Clothing reality: No official posted rule (BLM land) — clothing-optional is the established custom at Hilltop and the other Long Valley tubs; most soakers wear suits on busy days, nudity is common at quiet hours. Public nudity is not federally banned on BLM land but local lewd-conduct norms apply.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: 0.25-mi flat walk on gravel trail then raised boardwalk over marshy meadow — not wheelchair grade; minimal elevation change
- No toilets, water, or any facilities at site
- Source water up to ~130°F — test and blend with the valve before getting in
- Pool holds only ~4-6 people; sunset/weekends get crowded
- Dirt access road is rutted; snow can close it in winter requiring ~0.5 mi walk from Benton Crossing Rd
- No camping at the spring site itself; dispersed camping in nearby BLM pull-offs
- No cell coverage reliably in Long Valley — download maps in advance
- Hazard: Scalding source water (~130°F) — verify pool temp before entering
- Hazard: Exposed high-desert site — sun exposure, lightning, cold snaps
- Hazard: Unfenced geothermal ground nearby
- Hazard: Crowded conditions at peak times; occasional broken glass reported at tubs
About this spring
Stone-and-cement soaking tub also known as Pulkey's Pool, on BLM land in the Long Valley Caldera ~10-11 miles east of Mammoth Lakes. Geothermal water is piped from a nearby source with gate valves for temperature adjustment (typically ~100-110°F). Elevated plateau position gives 360-degree caldera and Sierra views — popular for sunset soaks. Source water is scalding; adjust valves and test before entering. No shade on the trail. Dirt road can be rough after storms.
Better known locally as Pulkey's Pool, Hilltop sits on a slight rise of BLM ground at about 6,900 feet, reached by a quarter-mile boardwalk that crosses an alkali flat from the dirt parking area. The stone-and-cement pool is only about two feet deep and holds four to six people, but its elevated position gives the longest sight lines in the Long Valley Caldera — a 360-degree panorama running from the meadow to the Sierra crest, which is why it is the area's favored sunset soak.
Water is piped in from a geothermal source measured as high as ~130°F, and gate valves let visitors blend hot and cold water to roughly 100-110°F; a drain plug allows the pool to be emptied between visits, and etiquette asks that the hot valve be closed on leaving. No camping is permitted at the spring, and in winter the access road can close, adding about a half-mile walk from Benton Crossing Road.
Directions & trailhead access
From US-395 turn east onto Benton Crossing Road at the green church; continue ~2.5-3.5 miles, turn left onto an unmarked dirt road, drive ~0.2-0.6 miles to the parking area, then walk the flat 0.25-mile trail to the pool.
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
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 | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 130°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Recreation.gov — Recreational Hot Springs (Tubs), BLM, Mammoth Lakes |
Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) FAQ
Is Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) open right now?
Free primitive BLM soaking tub (Pulky's Pool) in the Long Valley Caldera east of Mammoth Lakes — open year-round, no fee or permit, reached by a short dirt road off Benton Crossing Rd plus a ~0.25-mile boardwalk walk; clothing-optional custom, fits ~6 people, temperature adjustable via valves from a source that can exceed 130°F; dirt road/parking can close in snow, then park on Benton Crossing Rd and walk ~0.5 mi. (Status verified against an official source, last checked January 2026.)
Is Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) free?
Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) 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 Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool)?
Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 130°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) clothing optional?
Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool)?
Hilltop Hot Springs (Pulkey's Pool) is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Mammoth Lakes
Choose town lodging for the Long Valley springs reached from US-395 and Benton Crossing Road. The pools are outside town on separate access roads.
Mammoth Lakes is about 10 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Recreation.gov — Recreational Hot Springs (Tubs), BLM, Mammoth Lakes — official · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Hilltop (Pulky's Pool) — community · 2025-07
- Where Are Those Morgans — How To Visit Hilltop Hot Springs — community · 2025-03
- HotSprings.co — Hilltop Hot Springs — community · 2026-01
- We Dream of Travel — Hilltop Hot Springs guide — community · 2024
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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