Wild Willy's Hot Springs (Crowley Hot Spring)
- Free
- 5 hr 37 min from Sacramento
- 0.2 mi hike
Undeveloped hot pools on BLM land in Long Valley, reached by a dirt road off Benton Crossing Road and a short boardwalk walk from the parking area. The BLM and Mono County maintain and rerouted the access road, which the BLM says carries more than 500 vehicles on busy days. Mono County notes that natural pools like this are not maintained and asks visitors to pack out what they bring.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Mammoth Lakes
- From Sacramento
- 5 hr 37 min
- Hike (one way)
- 0.2 mi
Plan your visit
Tickets & booking
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | BLM |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
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 BLM before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
1,240 mg/L
Moderately mineralized · Sodium–chloride (salty, brine-like water)
- pH
- 8.1
- Temp at source
- 120°F
- Fluoride
- 5.7 mg/L
- Boron
- 3.4 mg/L
- Iron
- 0.22 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at a USGS sampling site (0.2 mi from Wild Willy's Hot Springs (Crowley Hot Spring)), sampled 1973 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.
What's here
- BLM-managed Long Valley hot springs
- short boardwalk walk from the parking area
- dispersed camping nearby on BLM land
- undeveloped and unmaintained pools
- pack out what you bring
Getting there
- From Sacramento5 hr 37 min242 mi
- From Mammoth Lakes41 min13 mi
- From Mammoth Yosemite (MMH)38 min9 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow, to the closest road point; add the hike.
| Elevation | 6,834 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Hike | 0.2 mi one way |
| Trail | Short walk of about 0.2 mi on a boardwalk from the parking area |
| Parking | Free dirt parking area at the end of the access road |
Things to do near Mammoth Lakes
Hot Creek Geologic Site
Inyo NF overlook of boiling springs and fumaroles; day use 6am-10pm, no fee. Entering the water is prohibited.
Campgrounds
Trailheads
- Convict Creek Trailhead6.3 mi
- Convict Lake Loop Trailhead6.5 mi
- Hilton Creek Trailhead6.8 mi
- McGee Creek Trailhead7.9 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Benton Hot Springs (The Inn at Benton Hot Springs)
A historic ranch and inn in the old mining town of Benton, where spring water rising at about 140°F feeds private hot tubs at numbered campsites, Inn tubs and rental houses. Every tub is booked overnight; the inn offers no day use or hourly rentals. Tub sites take tents or RVs without hookups, and clothing is optional at the sites with discretion required.
Mono Hot Springs Resort
A seasonal High Sierra resort on the South Fork San Joaquin River, reached over the narrow Kaiser Pass Road, with soaks in private bathhouse rooms and an outdoor mineral spa at about 100-104°F. Day bathhouse passes are $25 for adults, and stays in the stone, rustic and tent cabins include bathhouse use. The 2026 season ran May 22 to October 26.
Muir Trail Ranch
A remote guest ranch in the John Muir Wilderness, reached by ferry across Florence Lake and a hike of about 5 miles, whose stays include use of its hot springs baths. Short stays include meals and run about $250-$285 per person per night. Accommodations closed for the season after September 7, 2026, and bookings are closed until 2027.
Benton Hot Springs (The Inn at Benton Hot Springs): 16 mi · Mono Hot Springs Resort: 27 mi · Muir Trail Ranch: 30 mi
Sources (10)
· 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.
- Official site: home
- Official site: Blm temporarily limits road access wild willy hot springs due road construction
- Official site: Blm and mono county conduct maintenance wild willy’s hot spring road
- Official site: Long valley road closure
- monocounty.org: Hot springs
- fs.usda.gov: Hot creek geologic site
- wherearethosemorgans.com: Wild willys hot spring
- activenorcal.com: This free hot spring near mammoth lakes might be californias best natural soak
- monocounty.org: Crowley lake
- monocounty.org: Convict lake