for a dip in one of the hot springs. The road is closed and you have to walk 1,5 miles so take this timing into account.nice canyon. Very easy to access I have a honda civic and it makes it with no problem the dirt road is super mellow. Very beautiful place to visit outside of mammoth. Dangers and recent activity You will then proceed 2 miles on paved road and 3 miles on gravel road. When he's not adventuring with a camera in hand, which is rare, Dakota enjoys time spent with friends exploring the Sierra on foot or skis. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Drive right up, hike around the 2.5 mile trail that loops around the lake, and grab a bite at the Convict Lake Restaurant. The trail to Hot Creek geological site is a unique place for dramatic Sierra views, a great half-day excursion from Mammoth Lakes in spring, summer or fall. If you are looking to explore a little bit of Yellowstone on Highway 395, then look no further then Hot Creek Geological Area off Hot Creek Hatchery Road. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20414. Tons of mosquitos so come prepared. alexmartinezuci. Boiling water bubbling up from the creek bed, fumaroles and periodic geyser eruptions at Hot Creek attest to the chamber of hot magma which lies about three miles below the surface of the earth in this area. You can smell a slight sulfur smell. Not a long trail but awesome fly fishing... really pretty area and lots of parking. You can park in the main are next to the bathroom for easy access to the marked trail. Not sure where to start when planning your trip? Hot Creek Geologic Site See what volcanic forces have made in the Eastern Sierra: boiling pools and frothing geysers, a pristine trout stream, and a skier’s paradise Mammoth Lakes is the Eastern Sierra’s busiest resort destination and an unbeatable spot for year-round outdoor fun. Was a bit hot when I went so be sure to bring some water. First time seeing hot springs very cool road a little rough on my rental, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/inyo/alerts-notices. The water is heated and pressurized before it rises to the earth's surface. In winter, this area is often snowbound and is popular for snowmobiling (stay on trails as ground can be unstable). Very interesting area and geography. Worth the visit for sure Read Full Story. As the location requires few miles of dirt road driving off of the 395, it really wasn’t worth the … Hot Creek Hot Creek, starting as Mammoth Creek, is a stream in Mono County of eastern California, in the Western United States. Hot Creek is a scenic wonderland containing dozens of natural hot springs bubbling up within the rocky walls of a river gorge and in the shadows of towering Eastern Sierra mountain peaks. the hot springs were worth the hike plus some great views. Website Get Directions. Bring your long camera lense. Hot Creek Geologic Site is located near Mammoth, Lake just off the 395 Highway in Mono County, California. What remains of the ancient Long Valley Caldera blast is a region of fascinating geologic wonders: hot springs, fumaroles and craters. Check out my trip details here! Toll free phone: 888-466-2666. It was a gorgeous day and great hike. It didn’t smell bad at all. From the parking lot, follow the paved trail past the restrooms until you come back up to the dirt road (Hot Creek Hatchery Rd). Field Stop Location: Hot Creek. This is a easy hike, and I've recorded videos to help you find it. The first mile up was a lot ;) then it was easy and beautiful at lake Sabrina. … This super pretty hot creek is located in the heart of the Eastern Sierras. One used to be able to bathe here but it gets closed off because of hot activity. Along Hot Creek geology in action can be observed with steam vents and bubbling blue pools. This causes interesting mineral and rock formations. More interesting geology is located just south of Mammoth Lakes at the Hot Creek Geological site. You can great rather close to the geothermal area for some nice photos. The water is boiling hot but if you go down the stream you can find spots where there water meet the creek and you can enjoy the hot springs. Cruise up & down the creek. Direct flights from major airports mean getting to the unbelievable is now unbelievably easy! The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Operated in conjunction with... Just south of Mammoth Lakes, Hot Creek Trout Hatchery is a historic site of trout production and a major supplier... Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, a Designated California Welcome Center. The stream originates from Twin Lakes in Mammoth and continues on to Lake Crowley. Great view from the geological area. Amazing site. Hi Everyone! use your best judgement and don't be an idiot. On the hike down you will see much of the geothermal features and at the bottom there is a dirt trail you can travel along to view the entirety of the Hot Creek Geological Site. Turquoise color. Hot Creek is located on the left hand side. #waterfall #secret #firstcreek #redrockcanyon #hike #hiking #trail #lasvegas #nevada. Hot Creek Geological Site is centrally located to several popular destinations along Highway 395. Hot Creek Geological Site. © 2020 Mammoth Lakes Tourism. Hot Creek starts as Mammoth Creek in the Mammoth area west of the Long Valley Caldera. An easy 0.4 mile interpretive trail leads to the formation. Hot Creek Interpretive Trail is a 0.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Mammoth Lakes, California that features hot springs and is good for all skill levels. Easy enough hike. Public access then picks up again two-miles down stream, below Hot Creek Ranch. You can park in one of the lots & hike down. A few 4x4s tried to drive the 1.5 mi and got stuck. The springs are 30 miles from Mono Lake and only 8 miles from Mammoth Lakes. Can get quite busy on weekends. ... Secret waterfall at First Creek. Boiling water bubbling up from the creek bed, fumaroles and periodic geyser eruptions at Hot Creek attest to the chamber of hot magma which lies about three miles below the surface of … In winter, beyond the road closure, access is by snowmobile, cross-country skis, or on foot. SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURE: Roads leading to this trailhead are subject to seasonal closure. When Mammoth creek flows eastward into the Caldera much of the cold water seeps into the ground and is heated by the magma underneath … If you are need a break from hiking there are plenty of good day trips around the Mammoth area. Another short trail climbs to the top of the formation. Imagine standing inside an ancient volcano! Quadrangle: Whitmore Hot Spring, California 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle Coordinates: 37°39.620' N, 118°49.661' W Approximate Elevation: 7,093 ft (2,162 m) Directions to Hot Creek: Hot Creek Geologic Site is accessible by a 3.4 mile dirt road off of U.S. 395 near the Mammoth Lakes airport. Accessibility: .4 mile (.64 km) round-trip walk on a steep, paved,dirt path. Easily accessible throughout most of the year, a well-maintained trail descends into the heart of the geothermal activity. Family-Friendly Rock Climbing in Mammoth Lakes, Family-Friendly Horseback Riding in Mammoth Lakes, 5 Days of Sightseeing in the Eastern Sierra. Hot Creek is in a narrow gorge which one hikes down to get to the creek. Cool short hike to some interesting geology! Or you can continue on to do the Hot Creek Trail as described on AllTrails before heading back. Sunset and sunrise are best. Hot Creek is a popular wild trout fishing site - catch and release only. It is just West of Highway 395 and only minutes form the town of Mammoth Lakes, which has great food, a ski resort, world class mountain biking, and a brewery. Exploring Hot Creek Geologic Site Hot Creek is a scenic wonderland containing dozens of natural hot springs bubbling up within the rocky walls of a river gorge and in the shadows of towering Eastern Sierra mountain peaks. There are beautiful blue hot pools and steaming water. The Hot Creek Geologic Site which is 8 miles east of Mammoth Lakes, California is an interesting place to explore. Would recommend for astrophotographers! What remains of the ancient Long Valley Caldera blast is a region of fascinating geologic wonders: hot springs, fumaroles and craters. The earth’s surface is in flux, too. Swimming is illegal at this location due to the rapid fluctuation of water temperatures, as changes of 200 degrees (F) over mere seconds have been recorded within the stream. The Hot Creek Hatchery originally opened in 1941, but local clubs started raising trout at Hot Creek in 1928. Hot Creek Geologic Site, Long Valley, California Hot Creek is the lower reach of Mammoth Creek where several vigorous hot springs discharge hot water to the surface; the largest springs discharge subaqueously into the stream. Need to drive on gravel roads to get to the trailhead. Hot Creek is a place to marvel at geology in action. Hot Creek lies at the bottom of a 100-foot deep gorge that cuts across the southeastern flank of the resurgent dome in the Long Valley Caldera. It is believed this journey takes around 1000 years. All Rights Reserved. The steam you see along the Hot Creek drainage is created when water percolates deep into the ground and enters a complex underground plumbing system. Shifting turquoise pools and unpredictable geysering events with waters reaching up to … Hot Creek is a place to marvel at geology in action. A professional photographer for seven years, including four years shooting in Yosemite National Park, Dakota now works as the staff photographer and digital marketing coordinator for Visit Mammoth. Great spot for the doggies - just watch out for the parts of the creek that are super hot ! Hot Creek Geological Site is a must see when you are in the Mammoth Lakes area. Imagine standing inside an ancient volcano! There are also scenic vistas to behold. Not much to do around there but definitely worth checking out. It is within the Inyo National Forest. small hike to see some amazing geological features.. The Write Hike is at Hot Creek Geological Site. Anything but extinct, the Long Valley Caldera’s subterranean presence is evidenced by evolving geothermal activity at Hot Creek Geological Site. Roads were open. Stay out of scalding hot water... People we know went up after we told them about this place and ended up with third degree burns after falling in. For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/inyo/alerts-notices Story Details. From Hwy 395 take the Hot Creek Hatchery Road, located 15 mins South of Mammoth Lakes. Visitors can visit the interpretive site from sunrise to sunset. New hot pools appear overnight, and boiling geysers erupt without warning. The GPS coordinates … There are several places to shoot along the ridge. Hot Creek Interpretive Trail is a 0.6 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Mammoth Lakes, California that features hot springs and is good for all skill levels. Beautiful views! Amazed it was a The more down steam you go the better and more shallow the hot springs are. County Wise 4 Kudos ... We took a short hike along this river that has hot spots along it. While in the area you can also take an easy 5 miles round trip hike to Rainbow Falls, a 101-ft. waterfall on the San Joaquin River. Lots of fly fisherman. To creek and hot water and very intertwined. First parking was open. There is a well-marked parking lot with 20-30 parking spaces. It is off the Hwy.395 down a few miles of gravel road to the Geological site.where there are a parking lot with picnic area and toilets. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail ran parallel to the creek which was running fast from the snow melt. For snow lovers, Hot Creek Geological Site can be visited by cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and by using snowshoes to see these amazingly blue pools of potentially deadly water. 13. It resides in the Inyo National Forest. The area is closed from sunset to sunrise. Walked the fishing trail from the first parking lot on Hot Creek Hatchery Rd. Explore the ever-changing wonders of the earth at Hot Creek. End of march. The walk down to the creek is a bit steep but not difficult and the trail along the stream is easy. Mammoth Lakes, CA, United States ‎05-08-2019 01:51 AM. There are no details yet for this story. Really beautiful ! Tons of deer, duck, and other fauna. Has a few places to drop in for the more adventurous. It’s very muddy and rocky. This famous site is home to two turquoise hot springs that are surrounded by a full beautiful mountain landscape. Park at the top of the canyon and walk down to the creek. The Hot Creek Regional Park is like a tiny "Yellowstone". What a beautiful day. you're technically not allowed to get close to the water but no one listens. My first hot springs. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Only 15 minutes south of Mammoth Lakes and right across the road from Convict Lake, this is an easy and free area that you absolutely must visit, especially at sunset. Hard packed snow over a gravel road. Nice, easy walk from the car down to the creek trail from the lot. This is a beautiful spot to enjoy the hot springs and the creek. We attempted to follow the trail and got stuck in marsh on private property. It is a breathtaking place where boiling, bubbling water rich in dissolved minerals emerges in turquoise pools rimmed by layers of travertine rock and shrouded in veils of steam. Earthquakes can cause sudden geyser eruptions and overnight appearances of new hot springs at Hot Creek. The short, asphalt trail descends into the gorge from the parking area and is lined with interpretive markers and signs. As a geothermal site it was pretty cool. The trail down to the creek was easy and nice to see. Toilets were closed. 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