Kern Hot Spring
- Free
- 115°F
- 36.8 mi hike
A cement soaking tub a few feet from the Kern River, 36.8 miles from Crescent Meadow on the High Sierra Trail in Sequoia National Park. The spring water is 115F, and the tub's runoff mixes with river water to form a cooler pool. Campers must use the designated sites here, and the park asks for no soap in the tub or river.
- Price
- Free
- Water
- 115°F
- Nearest town
- Three Rivers
- Hike (one way)
- 36.8 mi
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
| Booking |
|
Rules
| Dogs | No |
|---|
On site
| Pools | 1 |
|---|---|
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | NPS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with NPS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
1,060 mg/L
Moderately mineralized
- pH
- 8.09
- Temp at source
- 101°F
Lab analysis of the source water at “Kern Hot Spring”, sampled 1993 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
The pools
| Pool | Temp |
|---|---|
| Cement tubCrude cement bathtub fed by 115F spring water. | 115°F |
| River-edge poolTub runoff mixes with Kern River water for a cooler soak. | — |
As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.
What's here
- crude cement tub beside the Kern River
- 115F spring water
- designated campsites nearby
- on the High Sierra Trail
- wilderness permit for overnight trips
- no soap in the tub or river
Getting there
| Elevation | 6,882 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Hike | 36.8 mi one way |
| Trail |
|
Things to do near Three Rivers
Mount Whitney
The High Sierra Trail continues up Kern Canyon to the John Muir Trail and Mt. Whitney.
Campgrounds
- Irene’s Camp9.1 mi
- Trail Camp9.2 mi
- Outpost Camp10.4 mi
- Cold Springs Campground11.7 mi
Trailheads
- Eagle-Mosquito Trailhead10.7 mi
- Farewell Gap - Franklin Lakes Trailhead10.7 mi
- Sawtooth Trailhead10.7 mi
- Tar Gap Trailhead11.7 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Jordan Hot Springs
Backcountry hot springs in the Golden Trout Wilderness, reached on the Forest Service's Jordan Hot Springs Trail from the Blackrock Trailhead. The trail is used from May to November and is open to hikers and horse riders. Overnight visitors need a Golden Trout Wilderness permit.
Saline Valley Warm Springs
A clothing-optional warm springs area with a primitive campground in a remote valley of Death Valley National Park, about 35 miles from the nearest paved road. Reaching it takes a high-clearance vehicle with all-terrain tires over North Pass (7,300 ft) or South Pass (5,997 ft). The Lower Springs have been closed since a September 2026 wildfire, while camping between Lower and Palm Springs stays open.
Keough's Hot Springs
A pool resort south of Bishop, open since 1919, where spring water is cooled by a waterfall into a large swimming pool alongside a smaller hot soaking pool. Day entry is $14 for adults. The property also has RV and tent sites and furnished canvas tent cabins, and Inyo County's visitor site notes that swimsuits are required.
Jordan Hot Springs: 18 mi · Saline Valley Warm Springs: 42 mi · Keough's Hot Springs: 54 mi
Sources (4)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.