Warm Spring
Warm Spring flows at 77°F near Bridgeport in California's High Sierra, rising 33.5 degrees above the 43.5°F annual average in a climate of alpine severity. The modest warmth contrasts sharply with the surrounding glaciated terrain and high-elevation winters.
The spring sits at 7,696 feet on the dramatic eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Accessed by a 900-foot walk through transitional vegetation from sagebrush scrub to whitebark pine forest, it offers views into Robinson Creek canyon with its rushing trout streams and towering granite peaks.
Waters at this elevation are heated by deep crustal circulation in the eastern Sierra's geothermal system, where the pull of Basin and Range extension creates faults tapping hot rock kilometers below. The Twin Lakes area nearby shows similar thermal and glacial activity.
The spring requires a short walk from the road and sits in the Inyo National Forest region near excellent hiking trails. Crags Campground lies 16.6 km away and offers access to Robinson Creek Trail and Twin Lakes recreation opportunities.
Is Warm Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Crags Campground is located just 10 miles from Bridgeport, California, at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The Twin Lakes area is close by, offering boating, fishing, hiking and horseback riding opportunities.Recreation Robinson Creek offers good rainbow trout fishing and can be easily accessed from within the campground. Numerous hiking trails are in the vicinity, including the popular Robinson Creek Trail.Facilities The campground contains one group site that can accommodate up to 45 pe...