Iva Bell Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Iva Bell Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Mammoth Lakes, California. Reported soak temperature: 98°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Terraced travertine soaking pools ~11 miles up the Fish Creek Trail from Reds Meadow Valley (Inyo NF) — reachable only in the ~June-October road season, and in summer 2026 Reds Meadow Road is under reconstruction: closed Mon-Wed, shuttle-only Thu-Sun, with wilderness permits required for the usual overnight trip.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 8 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Inyo National Forest — Fish Creek Trail (official trail/permit page).
- 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 98°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: Overnight wilderness permit year-round via recreation.gov (Inyo NF, entry 'Fish Creek'); quota 15/day May 1-Nov 1. No permit for day use. Shuttle fare required for valley access during shuttle hours.
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: July-September after snowmelt (creek crossings lower, road open); midweek for solitude though 2026 midweek road access is closed — Thu-Sun shuttle windows only this season. Mosquitoes worst June-July.
- Clothing reality: No official policy — remote backcountry site. Mixed custom: swimsuits common, clothing-optional soaking also customary at the pools.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — 11-mile wilderness trail each way plus shuttle logistics.
- ~11 mi one-way from Rainbow Falls Trailhead (shuttle stop #8) or Reds Meadow Resort (stop #10) via Fish Creek Trail — realistically an overnight backpacking trip
- Wilderness permit required year-round for overnight trips; May 1 - Nov 1 the Fish Creek entry quota caps at 15 people/day — reserve on recreation.gov. Day use needs no permit
- SUMMER 2026 CONSTRUCTION: Reds Meadow Road fully closed Mon-Wed; mandatory ESTA shuttle runs limited Thu + full Fri-Sun service, ~7:30am-7pm, $15 adult/$7 child — reserve at mammothmountain.com/RedsMeadow; Thursdays have ~1-hr traffic delays and valley departures only every ~2.5 hrs
- Shuttle season June 13 - Sep 20, 2026 (+Labor Day); fall window Sep 20 - Oct 11 'road conditions permitting' — then road closes for construction; winter closure otherwise
- Dogs must be leashed AND muzzled to ride the shuttle; leashed on trail
- Last bus leaves the valley 7:00pm — miss it and you walk out or wait for next service day; tickets non-refundable
- Fish Creek valley mosquitoes are notorious in early-mid summer; creek crossings run high during snowmelt
- Reds Meadow Campground reopened July 2, 2026 — all other valley campgrounds closed for the 2026 season
- Hazard: Creek crossings high during snowmelt (Fish Creek, Cascade Valley crossings)
- Hazard: Heavy mosquitoes in Fish Creek valley early season
- Hazard: Remote 11-mi trail — self-rescue; bears (proper food storage required)
- Hazard: Construction-limited road access 2026 — limited exit windows if you miss the last bus
- Hazard: Upper source pools can run hotter than the lower soaking terraces
About this spring
Cluster of undeveloped soaking pools scattered on a steep hillside above upper Fish Creek in the John Muir Wilderness (Sierra National Forest side), reachable only by a long backpacking approach (~11-13 miles one way). Pools run ~85-104°F. Seasonally accessible roughly May/June-October. Wilderness permit required; seasonal snow closure roughly Oct-June; creek crossings hazardous in high water.
Iva Bell Hot Springs is a scatter of primitive pools terraced across a steep, mineral-stained hillside above upper Fish Creek in the John Muir Wilderness, on the Sierra National Forest side of the Sierra crest south of Mammoth Lakes. Reaching them is a genuine backpacking commitment — roughly 11-13 miles one way from the Devils Postpile/Rainbow Falls trailhead along the Fish Creek Trail, crossing from the Ansel Adams Wilderness into the John Muir Wilderness beyond Crater and Cold creeks. The pools range from small one-person tubs to larger communal pools at varying temperatures beside a meadow camp area at about 7,240 feet; hot water spills visibly across mineral-stained rock above the site. A 1993 USGS field measurement recorded 128.7°F at the source, with mildly acidic, sodium-dominated water (pH 6.7). A wilderness permit is required for overnight stays, and snow typically closes the route from about October through June.
Directions & trailhead access
From Reds Meadow Valley near Mammoth Lakes, hike the Fish Creek Trail ~12 miles south into upper Fish Creek/Cascade Valley; pools are on the slope above the creek. Wilderness permit required for overnight stays.
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 | 98°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 129°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| 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 | Inyo National Forest — Fish Creek Trail (official trail/permit page) |
Iva Bell Hot Springs FAQ
Is Iva Bell Hot Springs open right now?
Terraced travertine soaking pools ~11 miles up the Fish Creek Trail from Reds Meadow Valley (Inyo NF) — reachable only in the ~June-October road season, and in summer 2026 Reds Meadow Road is under reconstruction: closed Mon-Wed, shuttle-only Thu-Sun, with wilderness permits required for the usual overnight trip. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is Iva Bell Hot Springs free?
Iva Bell Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Fresno County, California. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Iva Bell Hot Springs?
Iva Bell Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 98°F and a historical source temperature of 129°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Iva Bell Hot Springs clothing optional?
Iva Bell Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Iva Bell Hot Springs?
Iva Bell Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Inyo National Forest — Fish Creek Trail (official trail/permit page) — official · 2026-09
- Inyo NF — Reds Meadow Road Reconstruction Project order 05-04-52-26-19 — official · 2026-06
- Eastern Sierra Transit — Reds Meadow Shuttle 2026 schedule — official · 2026-09
- Mammoth Mountain — Devils Postpile & Rainbow Falls Shuttle — official · 2026-09
- OutdoorStatus — Iva Bell Hot Springs permits — community · 2026-09
- High Sierra Topix — Reds Meadow-Iva Bell loop trip report — community · 2024
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.gaiagps.com/hike/9765/iva-bell-hot-springs
- www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/fish-creek-hot-springs
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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