Remington Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Remington Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Bodfish, California. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open and free — four volunteer-maintained stone pools on the Kern River in Sequoia NF, reached by a steep ~0.25 mi trail from a small dirt lot on Kern Canyon Rd; the indefinite Feb 2024 USFS closure news covered nearby Miracle, not Remington.
Checked January 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 4 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A Kern River Valley town room before or after Remington.
Kernville is about 14 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 findinghotsprings.com — Remington guide, 'currently OPEN' (updated 9/30).
- 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 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
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings; arrive before 9am for parking on weekends
- Clothing reality: No official rule; nudity customary and tolerated.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Steep quarter-mile descent; not accessible
- Tiny dirt lot (~10-15 cars) fills early on weekends
- Steep, eroded trail — real footwear needed
- No glass rule posted; broken glass has been an issue
- Kern River below runs swift — drownings happen in the canyon
- No facilities, no trash service; volunteers (Kern River Hot Springs Angels) maintain pools
- Hazard: Swift Kern River current, dam-release rises
- Hazard: Steep slippery trail
- Hazard: Broken glass / vandalism history
About this spring
Undeveloped thermal springs on the Kern River in Sequoia National Forest — four volunteer-built stone and cement soaking pools maintained by the Kern River Hot Springs Angels. A steep ~0.25-mile trail drops ~300 ft from the parking area. The only free public undeveloped hot spring remaining in the Kern River valley. No camping at the site since 2020 — rangers patrol. Very crowded weekends; nudity common. Kern River is a severe drowning hazard.
Remington is a cluster of four volunteer-built stone-and-cement soaking pools on the Kern River in Sequoia National Forest — the only remaining free, undeveloped hot spring on the Kern River valley, kept up by the Kern River Hot Springs Angels. A steep quarter-mile trail drops about 300 feet from a small dirt pullout on Kern Canyon Road; reported soak temperatures run around 104°F.
Camping has been banned at the site since 2020 and rangers patrol; the dirt lot holds only about ten to fifteen cars and weekends are crowded — arriving before 9am is the realistic weekend plan. Nudity is common at the pools. The serious hazard isn't the water but the river beside it — the Kern has a documented drowning history, so soak, don't swim the river. The steep eroded trail needs real footwear.
Directions & trailhead access
From Bakersfield take Hwy 178 toward Lake Isabella, Borel Rd, then south on Kern Canyon Rd ~3.4 miles to the dirt pullout; quarter-mile trail descends to the riverside 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
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| 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 | findinghotsprings.com — Remington guide, 'currently OPEN' (updated 9/30) |
Remington Hot Springs FAQ
Is Remington Hot Springs open right now?
Open and free — four volunteer-maintained stone pools on the Kern River in Sequoia NF, reached by a steep ~0.25 mi trail from a small dirt lot on Kern Canyon Rd; the indefinite Feb 2024 USFS closure news covered nearby Miracle, not Remington. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked January 2026.)
Is Remington Hot Springs free?
Remington Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Kern County, California. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Remington Hot Springs?
Remington Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Remington Hot Springs clothing optional?
Remington Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Remington Hot Springs?
Remington Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Kernville
A Kern River Valley town room before or after Remington. The pools are downriver on a separate approach; check river and road conditions.
Kernville is about 14 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- findinghotsprings.com — Remington guide, 'currently OPEN' (updated 9/30) — community · 2024-09
- AllTrails — Remington Hot Spring Trail (reviews into 2025) — community · 2025-01
- hotspringsguides.com — Remington Hot Springs (only free spring left in Kern River Valley) — community · 2025
- catraveltimes.com — Remington guide 2026 — community · 2026
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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