Rock Tub Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Rock Tub Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Mammoth Lakes, California. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free rock-lined soaking tub (~100-104F, fits 2-4) on BLM land in Long Valley Caldera ~15 min SE of Mammoth Lakes — sits steps from a dirt parking area off Whitmore Tubs Rd/Benton Crossing Rd; open year-round but access dirt roads become impassable in snow/mud. Often mislabeled 'Whitmore Hot Springs.'
Checked January 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Choose town lodging for the Long Valley springs reached from US-395 and Benton Crossing Road.
Mammoth Lakes is about 9 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 hotsprings.co — Rock Tub Hot Springs updated 2026 guide (Benton Crossing/'Green Church' Rd access, dirt roads impassable after snow).
- 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 100°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 — free BLM land. Dispersed camping allowed on adjacent public land (check current BLM rules/fire restrictions).
- Best time to go: Sunrise/weekdays to have it to yourself; winter is magical but check road conditions after storms.
- Clothing reality: Official: none (BLM dispersed site). Customary: clothing-optional is common at the Long Valley tubs; suits equally fine. Legal: no federal prohibition; use discretion — this tub is roadside and visible.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Steps-from-parking soak — closest thing to drive-up accessible among primitive tubs, though ground is uneven dirt.
- Name trap: searching 'Whitmore Hot Springs' in Google Maps sends you to a long dirt road / a public swimming pool with NO hot spring — the tub you want is 'Rock Tub' off Whitmore Tubs Rd
- Coordinate discrepancy: published tub coords (~37.629,-118.811) sit ~1.2 mi south of our record's coords (37.64765,-118.8095) — our pin may be off; follow Benton Crossing Rd -> Whitmore Tubs Rd directions, not the raw pin
- Unpaved final roads with potholes — fine for most cars dry, impassable after heavy snow/rain
- No facilities, no fee, no staff; tub holds only 2-4 people
- Limited/no cell service — download offline maps
- Part of the 'BLM tubs' cluster (Wild Willy's, Hilltop, Shepherd, Crab Cooker etc. all nearby off Benton Crossing Rd)
- Crowded at sunset/weekends year-round; winter soaking popular but roads dicey
- Hazard: Dirt roads impassable when snowy/muddy — vehicles get stuck
- Hazard: Tub inflow side can run hotter than the pool body — test water
- Hazard: No services; hypothermia risk changing in winter wind
- Hazard: Crowded conditions — petty theft from cars reported at popular Mammoth-area tubs (lock up, take valuables)
About this spring
Small rock-and-cement soaking tub on BLM land in the Long Valley Caldera ~12-13 miles east of Mammoth Lakes — often the first spring encountered on the Whitmore Tubs Road circuit and among the most accessible in the area. Water flows directly from a source bog ~400 ft away (typically ~90-105°F). Open meadow setting with panoramic Sierra views; commonly called 'Whitmore Hot Springs.' No facilities. Recent reports of cattle trampling the fill pipe — check current conditions. Snow can block the access road in winter.
The Rock Tub is the small rock-and-cement pool most people mean when they say 'Whitmore Hot Springs' — a name that properly belongs to the broader geothermal source area feeding several Long Valley Caldera tubs, and that is separately attached to a public swimming pool on Benton Crossing Road. The single tub holds two to four people at roughly 100-104°F and sits immediately beside a BLM parking pullout off Whitmore Tubs Road, making it the most drive-up-accessible natural soak in the Mammoth Lakes cluster and usually the first stop on the dirt-road circuit.
The springs here draw on the same geothermal system that feeds the Hot Creek Geological Site, heated by the magma body left from the caldera-forming eruption more than 760,000 years ago. Clothing-optional use is the established norm, and free dispersed camping is permitted on adjacent BLM land — so the tub is often shared with overnighting van and RV travelers rather than offering solitude.
Directions & trailhead access
From US-395 turn east onto Benton Crossing Road at the green church; after ~1.1 miles turn left onto gravel Whitmore Tubs Road, drive ~1 mile, turn right onto the small dirt road, and continue ~0.1 miles to the parking area — the tub is immediately beside it.
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 | 100°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 | hotsprings.co — Rock Tub Hot Springs updated 2026 guide (Benton Crossing/'Green Church' Rd access, dirt roads impassable after snow) |
Rock Tub Hot Springs FAQ
Is Rock Tub Hot Springs open right now?
Free rock-lined soaking tub (~100-104F, fits 2-4) on BLM land in Long Valley Caldera ~15 min SE of Mammoth Lakes — sits steps from a dirt parking area off Whitmore Tubs Rd/Benton Crossing Rd; open year-round but access dirt roads become impassable in snow/mud. Often mislabeled 'Whitmore Hot Springs.' (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked January 2026.)
Is Rock Tub Hot Springs free?
Rock Tub Hot Springs 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 Rock Tub Hot Springs?
Rock Tub Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 100°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Rock Tub Hot Springs clothing optional?
Rock Tub Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Rock Tub Hot Springs?
Rock Tub Hot Springs 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 9 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- hotsprings.co — Rock Tub Hot Springs updated 2026 guide (Benton Crossing/'Green Church' Rd access, dirt roads impassable after snow) — community · 2026
- nevadahiking.org — Whitmore Tub/Rock Tub listing (BLM Bishop Field Office, ~100-104F, coords ~37.6291,-118.8107) — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Whitmore/Rock Tub (BLM land, 2-4 person tub, road conditions, no cell) — community · 2025
- We Dream of Travel — Whitmore explained ('Whitmore' is the geothermal source area, not a tub; Google Maps misdirection warning) — community · 2023-12
- Top Hot Springs — Rock Tub (Whitmore) directions from Mammoth Lakes via Benton Crossing Rd + Whitmore Tubs Rd — 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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