Iva Bell Hot Springs (Fish Creek Hot Springs)

What to expect

Iva Bell Hot Springs, also called Fish Creek Hot Springs, is one of the best-known backcountry soaks in the Sierra Nevada, and one of the hardest to reach. The springs sit on a forested hillside above Fish Valley, just inside the John Muir Wilderness, about 12 miles south of Reds Meadow near Mammoth Lakes. There is no road, no building and no staff. You walk in, carry a tent and stay a night or two.

Hot water seeps out at several points on the slope, and visitors have built a series of small rock-and-mud pools to catch it. Backpacker counts six small pools. Each pool higher on the hill runs warmer than the one below, so you choose your temperature by choosing your pool. The top pool is small, shallow and, by most accounts, close to too hot to sit in, but it looks out across the valley. There are no official temperature readings. One long-time visitor’s notes put the upper spring at roughly 98 to 104°F37 to 40°C.

Below the springs is a marshy meadow with scattered campsites tucked into the trees. Sharktooth Creek and other cold streams run nearby for water. In early summer, the meadow is known for heavy mosquitoes.

Getting there

The usual approach is the Fish Creek Trail from Reds Meadow, which is inside the Inyo National Forest next to Devils Postpile National Monument, west of Mammoth Lakes.

Reaching the trailhead. In summer, you park at the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center (Main Lodge) and ride the mandatory Eastern Sierra Transit shuttle down Reds Meadow Road. The Forest Service lists two starting points: near Reds Meadow Resort (shuttle stop 10) or the Rainbow Falls trailhead (stop 8). 2026 fares were $15 for an adult day pass and $30 for a pass covering 3 days out of 5, which suits a backpacking trip. The last bus leaves the valley at 7pm.

The route. From Reds Meadow, the trail crosses the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail and passes the spur to Rainbow Falls at about 1.1 miles. It then descends gradually toward Crater Creek, passes granite slabs with long views around the 4 mile mark, and climbs before a steep set of switchbacks drops you down to Fish Creek and a wooden bridge. From there the trail follows Fish Creek upstream into Fish Valley. Near the 12 mile mark, bear toward Fish Valley, cross Sharktooth Creek and look for the unsigned use trail up to the pools. The Forest Service warns the trail can be hard to follow in places because of overgrown brush.

Modern Hiker notes that the trail never rises above about 7,750 feet, but the long descent to Fish Creek means a real climb on the way out. Plan on a full day each way.

Reds Meadow Road in 2026

This is the biggest planning issue right now. Reds Meadow Road is being rebuilt, and access in 2026 has been limited:

• From early June to July 1, the road opened on weekends only. It was fully open over the Fourth of July and then open Thursday to Sunday through early September, with construction delays on Thursdays.
• From September 21 to November 1, the road is open only from 7am Saturday to 11pm Sunday.
• No overnight parking is allowed in Reds Meadow Valley or Devils Postpile after October 15.
• The shuttle’s final day for 2026 was October 11.
• From November 2, the road closes to vehicles and pedestrians for construction and winter.

The Sheet reported that overnight wilderness permits are not issued for periods when the road is closed, and that foot access stays open via the Starkweather Trail from Minaret Summit while the road is shut. That means as of mid October 2026, an overnight trip to Iva Bell from Reds Meadow is effectively over for the year. The road work is expected to wrap up by the end of the 2026 season, with some paving possibly spilling into 2027. Check the Inyo National Forest and Devils Postpile alerts pages before planning next summer.

When to go

The practical season runs from when Reds Meadow Road opens (usually June) until it closes in fall. Snow lingers on the upper trail in early summer, creeks run high, and the mosquitoes around the meadow can be fierce. Late summer and early fall bring drier ground and fewer bugs. Weekends are when permits sell out first, so a midweek start gives you a better chance at a permit and a campsite near the upper pools.

Rules and etiquette

• Permits: Required for every overnight trip, all year. From May 1 to November 1, the Fish Creek trailhead quota is 15 people per day. Reserve on Recreation.gov. The permit does not cover the John Muir Trail north of Devils Postpile.
• Group size: No more than 15 people, day users included.
• Food storage: Reds Meadow is active bear country, and the trailhead has no bear boxes. Carry a bear-resistant canister for all food, trash and scented items.
• Campfires: None in the Fish Creek fire closure area or above 10,000 feet. Stage 1 fire restrictions were in effect on the forest in 2026.
• Water: Treat all water from creeks, lakes and springs.
• Pools: Keep soap, sunscreen and food out of them, and camp well back from the water. Pack out everything, including toilet paper.

Where to stay nearby

On the trail, you camp. There are established sites in the trees around the meadow below the springs, plus a backcountry site with a fire ring about 4.5 miles in, which suits a late start (check fire rules before using it). Before or after the hike, Reds Meadow Campground sits near the start of the trail and opens in summer, and the town of Mammoth Lakes has hotels, motels, groceries and gear shops, and is where the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center (760-924-5500) can update you on road and permit conditions.

Safety notes

• Remoteness: You are a full day’s walk from help. Carry a map, a satellite messenger if you have one, and enough food for an extra day.
• Heat: The top pools run hot. Test the water, keep soaks short and drink plenty after a long day on the trail.
• Creek crossings: Fish Creek and Sharktooth Creek can run fast and cold in early summer. Use the bridge where there is one.
• Bears: Store food in your canister day and night, even while you soak.
• Weather: Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Sierra in summer. Avoid exposed slabs when storms build.