A Hidden Pocket called California’s own Yellowstone

You probably know by now that California is also home to a number of volcanoes, a volcanic national park, several geologic attractions that can be attributed to volcanic activity and even some hydro-thermal pockets. And the ones you’ve heard of are probably on the western side of the Sierra Nevada. Today, you’re going to the Eastern Sierra to see a some hot springs in the Hot Creek Geologic Site.

If you can go over that mountain range — which, I’m hoping you will, now that you know of this area — you can actually see some hot springs and even some of those travertine decks with a couple of pretty blue pools that remind one of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. A trip to the Hot Creek Geologic Site is alike a visit to a mini-Yellowstone right here in CA.

Hot Creek and Hot Creek Geologic Site

When you are here in this area, you are in the Long Valley Caldera, a basin created by a volcano that can be dated back to over 700,000 thousand years.

Now, among the many creeks and rivers  that collect the snowmelt from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada is one called Mammoth Creek. And Mammoth Creek in its course eastward becomes Hot Creek as its water passes through some faults and get heated.

Follow Hot Creek further east and you’ll find yourself looking at site where it’s flanked by hot springs and blue pools throwing some steam into the air.

Things to do at this geologic site in the Eastern Sierra:

1. Take in a birds-eye view of the hot springs
If you just want an aerial view of Hot Creek and its hot springs, there are a couple of vista points flanking the main site. If you want views from all three points, make sure to first stop at the point that spurs off the main road before the ‘geologic site.’ Then there are the points on the edge of the site’s parking lot that treats you to a grand view of the creek and the springs.

2. Hit the Interpretative Trail
If you’d like to get close to the water, take the Hot Creek Interpretative Trail down to the gorge and you can see the creek, the pools and the stem rising from them, up close.

The trail is 1.6 miles long and there is an elevation gain of around 145 ft. And a good part of it is paved.

Hot Springs

3. Hike the Gorge Trail
If you’d like a longer hike, look for the sign that says ‘Gorge Trail access’ a little over half mile before the main Geologic Site. There is small parking lot by the trail access. And if you get onto the trail you can walk beside Hot Creek. If you walk northeast (to the right, after you get down the gorge,) you can even get onto the Interpretative Trail.

4. Take in the view from Brees Point
For a long-ish view of the site, head further down the road to Brees Point. From this overlook that faces the southwest, you see another view of the creek and the hot springs in the foreground and the Sierra Nevada in the background.

5. Catch a sunrise or sunset
This site is even said to make a pretty dramatic golden-hour destination.

How to get to Hot Creek Geologic Site

This site is situated east of Mammoth Lakes and east of Highway 395. To be more precise, it is behind the Mammoth Airport.

What to know before you go:

• Hot Creek Geologic Site is around a 10-minute drive from Mammoth Yosemite Airport. You can set your ‘destination’ to the site or to Brees Point.
• An important point to note: A good part of the way there (Hot Creek Hatchery Road) is through a dirt road so be prepared for a muddy or dusty ride.
• There aren’t any services around here but there are restrooms.
• If it is the summer/fall that you are going down to the trail in beside Hot Creek, make sure to carry enough water. The landscape is quite hot and dry, and provides hardly any little shade.
• When you are near the hot springs, refrain from getting too close to it or trying to touch the water. The water here is supposed to be scalding; you do not want to fall into it.
• Note: This site would be more attractive to those who are yet to visit Yellowstone National Park, which would no doubt outshine this ‘little Yellowstone.’
• This is not the only place in the region that sees hydrothermal activity. If you explore the area you’ll find more hot springs and extinct hot springs.

You might also like:
Old Faithful Geyser of California
Volcanic Sites on Tipsy from the TRIP
Coming soon: Yellowstone National Park

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