Shepherd Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Shepherd Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Mammoth Lakes, California. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free primitive concrete tub (fits ~4-6) on BLM land in Long Valley Caldera ~12 mi east of Mammoth Lakes — valve-controlled flow from a ~135F source, park-adjacent with no hike, clothing optional, no facilities; dirt road bumpy/rutted and can close in heavy snow.
Checked January 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 6 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 — Shepherd Hot Springs guide (temps, BLM land status, access).
- 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 — free BLM land, no fee.
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings; sunrise/sunset for Sierra views. Spring and fall ideal; summer evenings and holiday weekends crowded; winter visits possible when roads are clear of snow.
- Clothing reality: Official: no posted rule on BLM land. Customary: clothing-optional — mixed nude/suited use. Legal: nudity tolerated at traditionally clothing-optional Eastern Sierra springs.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Parking is directly adjacent to the tub — ~30-second walk on flat but unpaved ground; tub edge requires stepping over concrete/rock. Not wheelchair accessible.
- Source water ~135F piped via valve — the inflow is scalding; let the tub cool or throttle the valve before getting in
- Tub is small (4-6 people) — expect to share; packed on weekends/holidays and with van campers
- No camping at the tub, parking area, or adjacent marsh — dispersed camping allowed on surrounding BLM land (14-day limit)
- Last 2.5 mi is rough dirt (Whitmore Tubs Rd + a 0.5-mi spur with deep dips) — high clearance advised; cars do make it slowly when dry
- Road impassable after heavy snow/rain — check conditions in winter (Dec-Mar)
- No toilets, water, or trash — pack out everything; volunteers maintain the tub (sometimes grimy)
- Hazard: Scalding inflow at the pipe (~135F source) — test water before entering
- Hazard: Rough unmaintained dirt road with deep dips/ruts
- Hazard: Winter snow can strand vehicles; remote-ish despite proximity to town
- Hazard: Crowded camping area — noise and packed sites at peak times
About this spring
Single concrete-and-rock soaking tub (fits ~4-6 people) on BLM land in the Long Valley Caldera ~10-12 miles east of Mammoth Lakes. Water is piped from the source spring through a valve soakers use to regulate temperature (typically ~100-110°F). Open meadow setting with unobstructed Sierra and White Mountain views — one of the easiest Mammoth-area springs to reach. Source water is scalding — let the tub cool or partially fill and test before entering. Dirt road can be impassable after rain/snow.
Shepherd occupies open meadow on the marshy floor of the Long Valley Caldera at roughly 6,950 feet, on BLM land reached via Whitmore Tubs Road. A single concrete-and-rock tub — one visitor likened its irregular outline to the shape of Texas — holds four to six people beside the parking area, so no hiking is required. Water arrives through a pipe from scalding source vents about 20 feet away; reported source temperatures exceed 135°F, with one measured visit logging 142°F at the vent and 109°F at the tub's outlet. A valve on the inlet lets soakers throttle flow until the tub settles near 100-110°F, and the water itself is nearly tasteless and odorless.
The marsh-edge setting gives unobstructed panoramas of the Sierra crest and the White Mountains, and a roughly half-mile trail links Shepherd to Crab Cooker Hot Springs. Camping is not allowed at the tub or on the fragile wetland, and high-clearance vehicles are recommended for the final dirt road, which can become impassable after storms.
Directions & trailhead access
From the US-395/Benton Crossing Road junction (green church), go 1.1 miles northeast on Benton Crossing Road to gravel Whitmore Tubs Road; turn left, drive ~2 miles to a small dirt road on the right, and continue ~0.5 miles to the parking area beside the tub.
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) | 135°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 | HotSprings.co — Shepherd Hot Springs guide (temps, BLM land status, access) |
Shepherd Hot Springs FAQ
Is Shepherd Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive concrete tub (fits ~4-6) on BLM land in Long Valley Caldera ~12 mi east of Mammoth Lakes — valve-controlled flow from a ~135F source, park-adjacent with no hike, clothing optional, no facilities; dirt road bumpy/rutted and can close in heavy snow. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked January 2026.)
Is Shepherd Hot Springs free?
Shepherd 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 Shepherd Hot Springs?
Shepherd Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 135°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Shepherd Hot Springs clothing optional?
Shepherd Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Shepherd Hot Springs?
Shepherd 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 — Shepherd Hot Springs guide (temps, BLM land status, access) — community · 2026-01
- The Dyrt — Shepherd Hot Springs dispersed camping (busy conditions, pets permitted, cell service available; review dated Dec 22, 2025) — community · 2025-12
- UponArriving — Shepherd Hot Springs visit report (bumpy road, 30-sec walk, clothing-optional) — community · 2025-09
- AllTrails — Shepherd Hot Spring (leashed dogs, seasonal popularity Mar-Nov, recent conditions) — community · 2026-06
- Hot Springs Guides — Shepherd Hot Springs (valve control, marsh/parking camping ban, BLM/Inyo NF management) — community · 2025
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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