Buckeye Hot Springs

What to expect

Buckeye Hot Springs sits on the north bank of Buckeye Creek in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, roughly 10 miles west of Bridgeport in the Eastern Sierra. It is an undeveloped site with no staff, no fee and no built tubs. What you get is a steaming hillside, a few rock-ringed pools and a fast, cold creek.

The Forest Service describes the main spring as about 140°F60°C where it emerges. That water comes out above the creek and runs over a rock overhang, which has built up a travertine ledge with a small, cave-like pocket underneath. A smaller spring trickles in a little way upstream.

There are two kinds of pools. Up near the trail, a couple of small pools catch the hot flow more directly. They hold only a few people each and can be very hot, so treat them with caution. Down at the creek, rock walls trap a mix of spring water and creek water. Those pools change with the seasons. In late spring and early summer, snowmelt can flood them or make them cold. By late summer and fall, the creek drops and they warm up and become easier to find. Visitors often shuffle rocks to let in more or less creek water.

The setting is open, high country at around 7,000 feet, with the Hoover Wilderness rising up the canyon to the west. It is a popular spot with Bridgeport locals and campers, so expect company on summer weekends.

Getting there

Buckeye is reached from US Highway 395 in Bridgeport, Mono County.

• Via Twin Lakes Road (usual route): In Bridgeport, turn south onto Twin Lakes Road and drive about 7 miles. At Doc and Al’s Resort, turn right onto Buckeye Road (Forest Road). Follow it roughly 3 miles. The hot springs parking area is on the way to Buckeye Campground, which is about a mile farther on after a fork.
• Via Buckeye Road from Highway 395: Buckeye Road also leaves 395 north of Bridgeport and runs about 4.5 miles to the springs. A recent trip report found this northern section closed after a washout. Do not count on it. If it is open, check conditions locally first.

Buckeye Road is dirt. In dry weather it is usually fine for a careful driver in a passenger car, but it is washboarded and bumpy in places, and it is not regularly maintained. Heavy rain or snow can make it rough or impassable.

Parking is a small dirt lot that holds about 10 cars. From there a short path drops toward the creek. It is steep, rocky and loose, with the upper pools near the first switchback and the creekside pools a few minutes farther down. Wear shoes or sandals with grip, not flip-flops. A 2020 Mono County and Forest Service plan proposed consolidating the tangle of user trails into one route, building a new parking area and adding a vault toilet. Expect signage and trail layout to reflect that work, and use the official path where it exists.

When to go

Fall is the pick. The creek is low, the creekside pools are warmer and easier to use, aspens turn, and the summer crowds thin out after Labor Day.

Summer is the busiest season. The campground is full of people looking for an evening soak, and the lot can fill by mid-morning on weekends. Come at sunrise or on a weekday.

Late spring and early summer bring high, cold runoff. The creekside pools may be underwater or chilly, and you will rely on the small upper pools.

Winter is quiet but hard. With more than a few inches of snow on the ground, the road may close or become impassable. If you try, bring four-wheel drive, microspikes for the icy path and a backup plan.

Rules and etiquette

The springs are on national forest land and have no posted hours or fee. The rules that matter:

• No camping in the parking lot. Use Buckeye Campground or legal dispersed sites elsewhere in the forest.
• Clothing is optional by custom. Swimsuits are always fine. Ask before taking any photo with people in it.
• No glass, no soap. Broken glass in a rock pool is a real hazard. Rinse off lotion and sunscreen before getting in.
• Pack out everything, including cans, cigarette butts and toilet paper. Human waste near the pools was one of the reasons the Forest Service proposed a toilet here.
• Share space. The upper pools are tiny. If people are waiting, rotate.
• Respect fire restrictions. Campfire bans are common in late summer. Ask the campground host before lighting anything.

Where to stay nearby

• Buckeye Campground (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest) is about a mile up Buckeye Road at roughly 7,000 feet. Recreation.gov lists 68 single, double and triple sites, all first come, first served, with picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets and trash pickup. There is no potable water, so bring all you need. Fees are paid in cash or by check. It usually runs mid-May to mid-September, depending on weather. Some sites have bear boxes, and the campground host sells firewood.
• Dispersed camping is allowed in parts of the national forest along Buckeye Road, away from the springs and the parking lot.
• Twin Lakes, a few miles south on Twin Lakes Road, has more Forest Service campgrounds and private resorts.
• Bridgeport, about 10 miles away, has motels, a gas station, a small grocery and restaurants.

Safety notes

• Hot water: The source is around 140°F60°C, hot enough to scald. Upper pools near the outflow can be far hotter than the creek pools. Test with your hand, keep soaks short and drink water. Keep your head out of the water.
• Creek hazards: During snowmelt Buckeye Creek runs fast and cold. Do not let kids or dogs play near the current.
• Footing: The path and the travertine around the pools are slick when wet or frosted. Most mishaps here are falls, not burns.
• Altitude and weather: At about 7,000 feet, afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer and nights are cold year-round.
• Bears: Black bears frequent the area. The campground requires all food to be kept in approved containers. Do not leave food in your car at the lot.
• No signal: Cell coverage is patchy once you leave Bridgeport. Tell someone your plans.

Nearby stops worth adding

Travertine Hot Springs, on Bureau of Land Management land just southeast of Bridgeport, is the other well-known soak in the area, and the BLM land around it allows free dispersed camping. Twin Lakes is good for fishing and short walks, and the Buckeye Creek Trail heads up the canyon from the campground into the Hoover Wilderness.