Springs
This 86-degree spring emerges at 3,601 feet in the arid Owens Valley, where the City of Los Angeles owns vast tracts of land for water rights. It flows 22 degrees warmer than the ambient 64-degree air in a high desert landscape receiving just 9.6 inches of annual precipitation.
The spring sits on land acquired by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, just 192 meters from Old State Highway in a sagebrush-dotted valley backed by the eastern Sierra. The water emerges gently into a basin surrounded by sparse desert vegetation, providing a warm refuge in a landscape where temperatures regularly dip below freezing in winter.
The spring exists within the controversial infrastructure of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system, which fundamentally reshaped Southern California's water supply in the early 20th century. This geothermal feature represents one of the region's natural hot water sources in the otherwise cool, high-elevation basin.
Open year-round on city-owned land, the spring requires only a short walk from the road. Winter snows (16.7 inches annually) and cold air temperatures make spring and fall the most comfortable seasons to visit. Tuttle Creek Campground, 22 kilometers away, offers nearby lodging options.
Is Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Overnight camping trips
Overview $10.00 per site per night. No reservations. Open all year. Tuttle Creek Campground offers 83 RV/tent sites, with ten pull-through trailer spaces, maximum recommended RV length is 30 feet. All sites include a fire pit, picnic table and a lantern holder. No hook-up. Potable water is available seasonally. Dump station fee is $10.00, no passes accepted, closed in winter. Closest amenities are 5 miles northeast in Lone Pine. Tuttle Creek Campground SignTuttle Creek Campground siteTuttle...