Wild Willy's Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Wild Willy's Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Mammoth Lakes, California. Reported soak temperature: 102°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free BLM pools in Long Valley reached by ~1.5 mi dirt road off Benton Crossing Rd and a flat boardwalk; open year-round but the unplowed road can be gated shut or impassable in snow/mud.
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 11 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 BLM — Recreational Hot Springs (Tubs), Long Valley.
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: Reported 0.3 mi trail — confirm the route, road, and seasonal access.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 102°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: Sunrise or weekday; pools small and fill up fast on weekends
- Clothing reality: No official rule; nudity customary and tolerated on BLM land; legal gray area as with other BLM springs.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Flat ~0.3 mi boardwalk is wheelchair-friendly to the pool edge; step-down into pools
- BLM may lock the access-road gate in heavy snow — park on Benton Crossing Rd and walk ~1.5 mi in
- Dirt road has big potholes; impassable after storms — avoid when wet
- No camping at the springs/parking area; dispersed camping allowed elsewhere in Long Valley
- Vault toilet at trailhead; no water or trash service
- Periodic short maintenance closures of the access road announced by BLM/Mono County
- Hazard: Unplowed dirt road — snow/mud closures
- Hazard: Two cattle guards and unsigned turn easy to miss
- Hazard: Hotter second pool can exceed safe soaking temp
About this spring
Also known as Crowley Hot Springs — two naturally fed pools in the Long Valley Caldera on BLM land ~13-15 miles east of Mammoth Lakes. The larger heart-shaped pool holds a crowd; a smaller, hotter pool sits ~50 ft away. Reached via a wooden boardwalk across open meadow with panoramic Sierra views. Source ~112°F; pools ~95-105°F. Dirt access road can be gated/impassable in winter storms. No facilities. Free-roaming cattle — keep dogs leashed. Stay on boardwalk; meadow habitat is sensitive.
Wild Willy's — also called Crowley Hot Spring — is the best-known of several geothermal seeps on BLM land in the Long Valley Caldera, the roughly 20-by-11-mile volcanic depression in Mono County formed 760,000 years ago by the eruption that produced the Bishop Tuff. Two unimproved, mud-bottomed pools are fed by a small thermal creek: a heart-shaped pool about 10 feet across and 3 feet deep that holds 10-15 soakers, and a smaller ~102°F pool beside a rock outcropping. A flat 0.3-mile wooden boardwalk crosses the alkaline meadow to the pools at roughly 6,800 feet elevation; stepping off it risks deep mud and damages fragile habitat. The BLM's Bishop Field Office administers the site and periodically regrades the unsigned dirt access road with Mono County — the agency reports more than 500 vehicles on busy days. Free and clothing-optional; dispersed camping is allowed on surrounding BLM land but not at the pools.
Directions & trailhead access
From US-395 turn east onto Benton Crossing Road at the landmark green church (~13 mi south of Mammoth Lakes). Drive ~2.5-3 miles through two cattle guards, turn right onto the unsigned dirt road, follow ~1.5 miles to parking, then walk the 0.3-mile boardwalk to the 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
June – September (Late Spring through Early Autumn)High-altitude mountain access routes and backcountry trailheads can experience seasonal snowpack from November through May. Peak summer and early autumn provide clear trail access and pleasant evening soak conditions.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 102°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 105°F |
| Hiking distance | 0.3 miles (easy) |
| 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 | BLM — Recreational Hot Springs (Tubs), Long Valley |
Wild Willy's Hot Springs FAQ
Is Wild Willy's Hot Springs open right now?
Free BLM pools in Long Valley reached by ~1.5 mi dirt road off Benton Crossing Rd and a flat boardwalk; open year-round but the unplowed road can be gated shut or impassable in snow/mud. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked January 2026.)
Is Wild Willy's Hot Springs free?
Wild Willy's 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 Wild Willy's Hot Springs?
Wild Willy's Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 102°F and a historical source temperature of 105°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Wild Willy's Hot Springs clothing optional?
Wild Willy's Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How far is the hike to Wild Willy's Hot Springs?
The hike to Wild Willy's Hot Springs near Mammoth Lakes, California is a 0.3-mile walk (easy) from the designated vehicle access area, per public trail records.
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 11 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- BLM — Recreational Hot Springs (Tubs), Long Valley — official · 2024
- BLM press release — Wild Willy's Hot Spring Road maintenance — official · 2019-07
- californiagirltravels.com — Wild Willy's guide incl. winter gate — community · 2025
- catraveltimes.com — Wild Willy's updated guide — community · 2026
- hotspringsguides.com — Crowley (Wild Willy's) Hot Spring — 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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