State guides

Mammoth Lakes Hot Springs: Hilltop, Crab Cooker and Wild Willy's

Last updated October 22, 2026 · 2 min read

Popular searches:Wild Willy Hot Spring · Willy Hot Springs · Willys Hot Springs Mammoth · Whitmore Tubs · Whitmore Tubs Road · Whitmore Hot Springs Mammoth

The hot springs near Mammoth Lakes, California, sit in one of the most active volcanic areas in the United States: the Long Valley Caldera. Within a short drive of town you can soak in a concrete tub with a view of the Sierra crest, a boardwalk pool in open sagebrush, or a creekside pool where hot and cold water mix.

Hilltop Hot Springs, Mammoth

Hilltop Hot Springs is a single built tub on a low rise above a meadow, reached by a short boardwalk from a dirt parking area off Benton Crossing Road. It holds four or five people and has a wide view of the mountains. Water flows in through a pipe, and visitors can divert it to cool the tub. It is free and busy at sunset, so arrive early or late.

Crab Cooker Hot Springs

Crab Cooker is a small concrete tub fed by water that is far hotter than the tub itself. The source has been recorded well above safe soaking temperature, so feel the water and adjust the inflow before you get in. Access is on rough dirt roads; a high-clearance vehicle helps after rain.

Wild Willy’s Hot Springs

Wild Willy’s, also called Shepherd Hot Spring, is a large natural pool at the end of a quarter-mile boardwalk. It is the easiest of the group to reach and the most crowded. A smaller heart-shaped pool sits nearby.

Rock Tub and Little Hot Creek

Rock Tub is a small built tub close to the others, good when Hilltop is full. Little Hot Creek has pools fed by very hot water; test carefully.

Whitmore and Hot Creek

People searching for “Whitmore hot springs” usually mean the Whitmore pool, a public outdoor swimming pool near the airport that uses geothermal heat. It is a pool with lifeguards and fees, not a natural spring. Hot Creek Geological Site is a spectacular canyon of boiling pools, but soaking there is banned.

Directions and safety

From Mammoth Lakes, take US 395 south, turn onto Benton Crossing Road, and follow the dirt spurs signed or mapped for each spring. Every spring page above has GPS coordinates and map buttons. There are no toilets or trash cans at most sites, and cell signal is patchy. Do not soak alone after drinking, keep your head above water, and leave the springs as you found them.

Nearby trips

Bridgeport, about an hour north, has Travertine Hot Springs and Buckeye Hot Springs. To the south, Keough’s Hot Springs near Bishop is a developed pool. See our California hot springs guide and the full California map.

Springs in this guide

Frequently asked questions

Where are the hot springs near Mammoth Lakes?

Most are 10 to 15 minutes southeast of town in the Long Valley Caldera, off Benton Crossing Road near the airport. Hilltop, Crab Cooker, Wild Willy's and Rock Tub are all on public land in this area.

Is Hilltop Hot Springs in Mammoth free?

Yes. Hilltop, Crab Cooker and Wild Willy's are free, undeveloped soaks on public land with no staff, fees or set hours. Pack out everything you bring.

Can you swim at Hot Creek near Mammoth?

No. Swimming and soaking in Hot Creek Geological Site have been banned since 2006 because of sudden temperature surges and boiling upwellings. You can walk the viewing trail.

Are the Mammoth hot springs open in winter?

The springs stay hot all year, but Benton Crossing Road and the dirt spurs are often snowbound or muddy. In winter, check road conditions and expect to walk the last stretch.