Tecopa Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Tecopa Hot Springs is a developed hot spring listed near Tecopa, California. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
County-owned bathhouses now run by concessionaire Flippin-Hamrick (since Oct 2025) — no longer free: $15/person day pass; gender-segregated indoor pools where nudity is REQUIRED by house rule.
Checked November 2025 · verified on the operator’s site · 4 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Inyo County — Tecopa Park & Campground (concessionaire notice).
- Cost: Reported $15 — confirm current rates 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; 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: None — buy pass at office
- Best time to go: Winter weekdays; snowbird season Nov-Mar is busiest
- Clothing reality: Official/house rule: NO swimsuits or clothing in the baths — 'all bathing is conducted in the nude' per Inyo County Code §12.16.350(D); separate enclosed men's and women's bathhouses make this legally workable.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Developed bathhouse facility with a small 'invalid pool'; paved site — the most accessible option in this batch
- Was free for decades — now $15/person day pass, $75 weekly, $250 monthly
- Locals: $35/yr pass w/ Tecopa-address ID; tribal members free w/ Tribal ID
- Camping $40 tent (incl. 2 soak wristbands) / $45 dry RV / $55-65 electric RV; book via RoverPass
- Bathhouse soak included for overnight guests
- Mandatory shower before soaking; quiet hours 10pm-8am
- Separate private Tecopa Hot Springs Resort nearby is guests-only, open Oct-May — don't confuse the two
- Hazard: Summer desert heat >110°F
- Hazard: Remote — nearest services in Shoshone (~10 mi)
About this spring
Desert hot-spring field on the Amargosa River floodplain at Tecopa, ~7 miles south of Shoshone near Death Valley's southeast entrance. Free primitive clothing-optional pools sit along Tecopa Hot Springs Road (~95-110°F), while the Inyo County park at the end of the road offers gender-separated nude bathhouses (~$15 day pass) and a campground. Long-established sulfur-scented mineral soaking community. Natural pools have tested positive for E. coli — avoid submerging your head or open wounds. Summer air temps regularly exceed 100°F. No soaps — water drains to the Amargosa River.
Tecopa is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Mojave Desert in southeast Inyo County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, Tecopa had a population of 120. Originally occupied by the Koso and Chemehuevi Indians, pioneers began populating what would become the CDP in the late 19th century to support nearby mines. It is now better known for the natural hot springs in the northern part of the CDP.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Tecopa, California”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
From CA-127 about 7 miles south of Shoshone, turn southeast on Tecopa Hot Springs Road and continue ~3 miles; primitive pools are beside the road and the county bathhouse is at the end.
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 developed site means here
A developed site sits between primitive and resort: improved soaking infrastructure — built tubs, decks, stairs, sometimes changing rooms or vault toilets — often run by a land trust, nonprofit, or small operator. Expect modest fees or donation requests, posted etiquette rules, and more predictable conditions than a wild pool.
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 $15 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Inyo County — Tecopa Park & Campground (concessionaire notice) |
Tecopa Hot Springs FAQ
Is Tecopa Hot Springs open right now?
County-owned bathhouses now run by concessionaire Flippin-Hamrick (since Oct 2025) — no longer free: $15/person day pass; gender-segregated indoor pools where nudity is REQUIRED by house rule. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked November 2025.)
Is Tecopa Hot Springs free?
Tecopa Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Tecopa. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Tecopa Hot Springs?
Tecopa Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Tecopa Hot Springs clothing optional?
Tecopa Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Tecopa Hot Springs?
Tecopa Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Inyo County — Tecopa Park & Campground (concessionaire notice) — official · 2025-10
- tecopahotspringsandcampground.com — operator site (passes, nude-bathing notice) — operator · 2025-10
- TecopaCabana — county approves rates; Flippin-Hamrick concessionaire — news · 2025-11
- TecopaCabana — Flippin-Hamrick takes over (rate sheet PDF) — news · 2025-10
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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.