Kern Hot Spring
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Kern Hot Spring is a primitive hot spring listed near Lone Pine (backcountry), California. Reported soak temperature: 110°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Sequoia National Park backcountry spring at ~mile 37 of the High Sierra Trail in the Kern River canyon — a crude cement tub fed by a 115F source a few feet from the cold Kern River (tub runoff plus river water makes a warm pool); reachable only by multi-day backpacking, wilderness permit required, essentially July-September season.
Checked July 2026 · verified against an official source · 4 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via NPS — High Sierra Trail page (Kern Hot Springs at ~36.8 mi, 115F, cement tub, designated camp).
- 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 110°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Clothing policy unknown — verify locally; 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: SEKI wilderness permit via recreation.gov — rolling reservations ~6 months out for the summer quota season; permit fee plus per-person fee. A 'High Sierra Trail' permit specifically covers the Seven Mile Hill-Kaweah Gap segment (an Alta Trail permit does NOT).
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: July-September (snow-free high passes); the spring is a standard HST waypoint so expect company mid-season; early September is quieter.
- Clothing reality: No official policy; remote wilderness tub where customary nude soaking occurs — but it sits right on the HST corridor so other hikers pass through; discretion advised.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: None — strenuous multi-day wilderness backpacking with major elevation gain/loss.
- ~37 miles one way from Crescent Meadow on the High Sierra Trail — multi-day backpacking only (shorter ~20-mi option via Rattlesnake Creek/Mineral King)
- WILDERNESS PERMIT REQUIRED — reserve via recreation.gov (SEKI quota season ~late May-late Sept); a High Sierra Trail-specific permit is needed for the Seven Mile Hill-Kaweah Gap segment
- 115F source — let the tub cool or mix; runoff plus river water forms a warm pool (your choice of temps)
- Season limited to roughly July-September: Kaweah Gap/Great Western Divide hold snow and are dangerous-to-impassable in spring
- Designated camp at the spring — camp only there; bear canister required throughout SEKI backcountry; no soap in tub or river
- As of 7/24/2026 NPS trail report: downed trees and a washout leaving a narrow boot track between Mehrten Creek and Bearpaw Meadow — foot passable but not stock passable
- Generals Highway/Crescent Meadow Road trailhead access is seasonal — roads close in winter
- Hazard: 115F scalding source water
- Hazard: Kern River alongside — strong, cold current; Sierra rivers claim swimmers most years
- Hazard: High-altitude exposure, snow-held passes (Kaweah Gap 10,700 ft) outside summer
- Hazard: Bears — canister required; remote, no rescue nearby
- Hazard: Trail washout/downed trees reported July 2026 (Mehrten Creek-Bearpaw segment)
About this spring
A genuine backcountry hot spring on the Kern River inside Sequoia National Park, ~mile 36.8 on the High Sierra Trail. A crude cement soaking tub sits beside the river (~115°F source) plus a warm mixing pool; a trail camp with bear box is nearby. Fee: Free; Sequoia NP entrance + wilderness permit required. Extremely remote. High passes snowbound most of the year — best July-Sept. Bears active. No soap in river or tub.
One of the Sierra Nevada's few genuine backcountry soaking springs, Kern Hot Spring sits at the bottom of the deep Kern Canyon inside Sequoia National Park, 36.8 miles from the Crescent Meadow trailhead on the High Sierra Trail. The National Park Service describes it as a crude cement bathtub beside the cold, rushing Kern River: the spring issues at about 115°F, and runoff from the tub mixes with river water to form a warm pool, so bathers can choose their temperature. The spring lies in a small meadow beneath the canyon's towering walls — the Kern River canyon runs roughly 25 miles north–south along the Kern Canyon fault — and a heavily used designated trail camp with a bear box and pit toilet sits nearby. Beyond the High Sierra Trail, the spring can be reached from Mineral King over Franklin Pass (about 20 miles) or via roughly ten miles up the Lower Kern Trail from the Golden Trout Wilderness side. Wilderness permit required; no soap in the tub or river; high passes are snowbound outside roughly July–September.
Directions & trailhead access
Via the High Sierra Trail (~37 mi from Crescent Meadow) or ~20 mi from Mineral King over Franklin Pass. Wilderness permit required for overnight use.
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 | 110°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 115°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Unknown — verify locally |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | NPS — High Sierra Trail page (Kern Hot Springs at ~36.8 mi, 115F, cement tub, designated camp) |
Kern Hot Spring FAQ
Is Kern Hot Spring open right now?
Sequoia National Park backcountry spring at ~mile 37 of the High Sierra Trail in the Kern River canyon — a crude cement tub fed by a 115F source a few feet from the cold Kern River (tub runoff plus river water makes a warm pool); reachable only by multi-day backpacking, wilderness permit required, essentially July-September season. (Status verified against an official source, last checked July 2026.)
Is Kern Hot Spring free?
Kern Hot Spring is listed as free to access in Tulare County, California. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Kern Hot Spring?
Kern Hot Spring has a reported soak temperature of 110°F and a historical source temperature of 115°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Kern Hot Spring clothing optional?
Directory records do not confirm the clothing policy at Kern Hot Spring — verify current rules before visiting.
How do you access Kern Hot Spring?
Kern Hot Spring requires permission, a permit or advance booking — confirm the terms with the site manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- NPS — High Sierra Trail page (Kern Hot Springs at ~36.8 mi, 115F, cement tub, designated camp) — official · 2026
- NPS — SEKI Trail Conditions (7/24/2026: washouts/downed trees on HST segment) — official · 2026-07
- TheRoamWild — Kern Hot Springs / High Sierra Trail backpacker guide — community · 2024
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
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