Unnamed Thermal Spring
An 80-degree spring rises at 3,200 feet in the Mojave Desert's high country, 15.5 degrees warmer than the surrounding air, accessible by a short 300-meter walk from a remote highway in Kern County.
The terrain surrounding this BLM spring mingles desert and mountains. Pinyon pine and juniper scatter across rocky slopes where the Grand Army of the Republic Highway passes through wild country. The modest warm pool emerges from golden desert earth, surrounded by low brush and scattered stone. Silence dominates this remote location.
This spring sits within The Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Forest region's geothermal belt. The surrounding landscape reflects millions of years of fault-line heating and mineral-rich geology. The elevated location provides views across the western Great Basin toward the Sierra Nevada.
Visit during autumn or spring when temperatures moderate; summer heat can exceed 95 degrees here. The short walk requires sturdy boots and sun protection. No facilities exist at the spring itself. Water sources are limited in this arid terrain.
Is this spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Overnight camping trips
Chimney Creek Campground is located within Chimney Peak Recreation Area and is cherry stemmed out of Owens Peak Wilderness. The campground contains 36 sites and is nestled among beautiful pinyon pines, grey pines, and oaks along Chimney Creek at 5,700 feet in elevation. Each site in the campground has a picnic table and fire ring. Potable water is available during the summer months near the very end of the campground loop at site 36. During the summer, days can be warm and dry. The Pacific C...