Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) is a primitive hot spring listed near Big Pine, California. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Upper Warm Springs sits ~3 mi east of the main Saline Valley camp (Death Valley NP) — same rules, same clothing-optional custom, noticeably fewer visitors than the lower tubs.
Checked January 2026 · verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via NPS Death Valley — Rules and Regulations.
- Cost: Fees reported — confirm current rates 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; 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: Park entrance pass only
- Best time to go: Any time Oct-Apr; quiet even on busy weekends
- Clothing reality: NPS-recognized clothing-optional area; nudity customary.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Primitive; not accessible
- 3 mi rough side road east of Lower Warm Springs — even fewer visitors venture here
- Park entrance fee required; no services anywhere in valley
- Pets not within 50 ft of springs; source pools closed to bathing
- Burro activity heavier at upper springs — don't leave food/trash
- Hazard: Remoteness
- Hazard: Rough road spur
- Hazard: Wildlife/burros
- Hazard: No water or shade
About this spring
The smallest and least disturbed of Saline Valley's three warm spring areas — a natural sand-bottomed warm soaking pool (~102°F source) in a setting of cattails and grasses with Saline Range views. Will remain undeveloped under the NPS plan. Fee: Death Valley NP entrance fee. Undeveloped natural banks; fragile wetland habitat; extreme remoteness.
The smallest and least disturbed of Saline Valley's three spring areas, Upper Warm Spring emerges at about 102°F into a small sand-bottomed soaking pool plus a separate cool-water pool, set among cattails and grasses with views toward the Saline Range. Unlike Lower Spring and Palm Spring — where visitors piped source water into rock-and-concrete tubs — Upper Spring has no diversions or built facilities, and the Park Service's 2019 management plan keeps it that way: 'Upper Spring would remain undeveloped.' The springs rise from the structural basin between the Last Chance and Saline ranges on land significant to the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. It sits about two miles north of the Lower Warm Springs camp, still roughly 50 miles of unpaved road from pavement inside Death Valley National Park — extreme heat, no services, and a clothing-optional tradition apply.
Directions & trailhead access
Continue past Palm Spring on Warm Springs Road ~2 mi north of Lower Warm Springs — ~50 mi dirt road total.
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) | 102°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Fees reported |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | NPS Death Valley — Rules and Regulations |
Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) FAQ
Is Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) open right now?
Upper Warm Springs sits ~3 mi east of the main Saline Valley camp (Death Valley NP) — same rules, same clothing-optional custom, noticeably fewer visitors than the lower tubs. (Status verified against an official source, last checked January 2026.)
Is Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) free?
Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) is listed with reported fees near Big Pine. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley)?
Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) has a reported soak temperature of 100°F and a historical source temperature of 102°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) clothing optional?
Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley)?
Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley) is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- NPS Death Valley — Rules and Regulations — official · 2024
- NPS Death Valley — Primitive Campgrounds — official · 2024
- erench.com — Saline Valley spring 2025 trip report (Upper Springs location) — community · 2025-03
- Eastside Sports — DV unpaved road conditions — community · 2026-01
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saline_Valley_Hot_Springs
- www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/record-of-decision-for-the-saline-valley-warm-springs-plan.htm
- nevadahiking.org/loc/saline-valley-warm-springs
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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