Last updated on December 8th, 2025
Looking to soak at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs in California? We’re sharing everything you need to know before you go!
California’s Eastern Sierra is home to the 760,000-year-old Long Valley Caldera. This is one of the Earth’s largest calderas, at 20 miles long, 11 miles wide, and a depth up to 3,000 feet. And because of this, the area is loaded with natural hot springs!
After visiting a handful of hot springs across North America, Wild Willy’s Hot Springs may just be our favorite. Seeing the sunrise illuminate the Sierra Nevada Mountains with a pink hue, while soaking in a steamy pool, is a memory we will never forget!
And in this guide we’re sharing how to visit Wild Willy’s Hot Springs. Including the proper etiquette, what to expect, and tips to beat the crowds!
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Wild Willy’s Hot Springs Etiquette
Before we share all of the details for visiting Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, please re-familiarize yourself with hot springs etiquette, so not only you have a fun and safe visit, but others can as well.
Leave no trace
PLEASE leave no trace! Hot springs are notorious for litter. So please, please, please pack out EVERYTHING you brought in! And if you can, bring a trash bag to pick up any trash you find, so you can leave it better than you found it.
Don’t bring glass
Glass and hot springs do NOT mix. Even if you’re being careful and accidentally drop a beer bottle, it will be impossible to clean up all the glass. And having broken glass both on the ground and in the water could injure others.
You may see some nudity
Nudity is very common at hot springs, especially at Wild Willy’s! In fact, you will very likely see a wild willy while there…👀
Be respectful of others
Please respect others at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs. This includes being kind to other visitors (you will see other people), not being loud, blasting music, or throwing parties, and not taking photos or videos with others in them. Not only could there be some people soaking nude, but not all people want to be photographed in their swimsuits.
Prepare to share
While there are a handful of pools at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, you may have to share with others. So please be welcoming and remember that you do not own that specific pool. If you want the best chance at avoiding sharing, we’re sharing some tips of when to visit further down in this guide.
Do not pee in the hot springs
We think this one is a bit self explanatory. But please, do not pee in the hot springs. There is a toilet at the trailhead if you need to go before you get there.
Where is Wild Willy’s Hot Springs?
Wild Willy’s Hot Springs is located about 20 minutes from Mammoth Lakes, California and is the perfect stop along a Highway 395 road trip! To get here, you’ll drive Highway 395, before turning onto Benton Crossing Road, which is paved. You’ll follow Benton Crossing Road for about 3 miles, before turning right onto a dirt road.
The dirt road can be a bit rough in spots, but is doable in any vehicle. We saw quite a few small cars there!
Logistics for visiting Wild Willy’s Hot Springs
Parking
There is a good sized dirt parking lot that can fit 20 cars or so. This parking lot is also a popular spot to sleep at in camper vans and vehicles. So when we rolled up and saw a dozen cars already at the hot springs before sunrise, we panicked a bit. Thankfully, most of these people were just sleeping here and the hot springs weren’t as busy as the parking lot looked.
Hours
Wild Willy’s Hot Springs is open 24/7. So if you want to arrive before sunrise (like we did!) it is totally doable. It is also sometimes popular to visit at night, so even if you come in the dark, be prepared to see others.
Restrooms & trash cans
There are porta potties at the trailhead, but they may not be in the best condition. We were also surprised to find trash cans. Which means there is ZERO excuse to not pack out your trash!
Cost
Wild Willy’s is FREE to visit!
Is Wild Willy’s dog friendly?
Technically, dogs are allowed on leash. However, we would advise not bringing your dog to the hot springs for a couple reasons. One, they should not go into hot springs to begin with, as it could be too hot for them. And since they won’t be able to join you in them, they’ll just have to stand around, which wouldn’t be fun for them. Not all people like dogs and having your dog close to them could make them uncomfortable. Also, no one wants to hear barking while trying to relax at a hot spring.
Camping
If you want to camp nearby before or after visiting Wild Willy’s, there are tons of FREE dispersed camping areas near Wild Willy’s and Hot Creek Geologic Site. This spot was our favorite!
As we mentioned above, people stay in the parking lot as well. Which is very convenient! But there are better spots in the area.
When to visit Wild Willy’s Hot Springs (& how to avoid crowds)
Wild Willy’s Hot Springs are accessible year-round, but the season, day of the week, and time of day all play a role into what your experience will be like. Here’s a quick rundown of when to visit, plus our top tips to avoid crowds!
What to expect by season
The winter is an extra magical time to soak, with a snowy landscape. Plus the frigid temperatures make the water feel even better! However, the roads could be snowy or icy, so make sure you’re prepared. Crowds can also be decent in the winter due to how popular the area is for skiing and snowboarding.
Summer is a popular time in the Eastern Sierra for hiking, so you can expect more crowds during the summer. We personally visited Wild Willy’s Hot Springs in mid June. The mornings were still pretty cold (in the 30s!), which made the water feel amazing. However, it did start to warm up a bit in the following weeks and the afternoons were a bit too warm for hot springs soaking.
The shoulder seasons of fall and spring will give you perfect hot spring temperatures and less crowds. While the rest of the area may not be as ideal for exploring, you may have more solitude here.
Go early in the morning!
We personally enjoy a more secluded hot springs experience, so beating the crowds was our top priority. And one of our top tips for beating the crowds at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs is to arrive early!
We arrived at the hot springs about 30 minutes before sunrise. Normally that tactic gets us places all to ourselves, but there were a couple people already in the hot springs. Thankfully, we found an empty pool to enjoy just the two of us. But right after sunrise, more groups started to arrive. We imagine sunset would be more crowded, since it doesn’t require an early wake up call.
Even if you don’t care about crowds, we HIGHLY recommend going at sunrise! Watching the sunrise at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs is one of the best things to do in the Eastern Sierra. Sunset would be beautiful too, but sunrise is even better, since the sun casts a pink alpenglow on the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Visit on a weekday
Our top tip for beating crowds anywhere is to go on a weekday. While there will still be people around, it will be better than the weekends. We visited Wild Willy’s Hot Springs on a Tuesday and nothing in the area was that busy.
What to expect at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs
After parking at Wild Willy’s Hot Springs you will need to make a short (about 0.3 mile) walk along a pathway and boardwalk to get to the actual hot springs. It’s a super easy walk and very obvious where to go!
Once at the hot springs area, you’ll notice a handful of pools. There is one pool area over on the left side of the trail, which could fit a good amount of people.
On the right side of the path you’ll see a few different pools, which are in different levels. These range in temperature, as well as in depth. A couple of them seemed too shallow to soak in. We opted to soak in the second level, as the first level was occupied already.
The temperature of the pools ranges from 95ºF-105ºF. We thought our pool was perfect! It was a very cold morning, so after the initial burning feeling of getting in the water, our bodies adjusted and it was the ideal temperature.
In terms of privacy, the hot springs area is very vast and open, with zero trees, so there isn’t a ton of privacy. The hot springs on the left side of the trail have some large rocks around one side, giving it some privacy. On the right side, the pools are in levels and you do get a little bit of privacy from the walls of your pool. Despite having someone in the pool right above us, we didn’t see him while sitting down.
Overall, we had an amazing experience here! We were a tad worried about crowds, but despite there being a few others there with us, it was still peaceful and relaxing. And you can’t beat the scenery!
What to bring to Wild Willy’s Hot Springs
To see everything we take hiking, check out our hiking gear as well as our guide about how to make a 10 essentials kit.
Trash bag & gloves
Thankfully Wild Willy’s wasn’t as trashed as some other hot springs we have been to (we’re looking at you Fifth Water Hot Springs). But it’s always a great idea to bring a trash bag to pick up any trash you find. Plus gloves, so you don’t have to touch it with your bare hands.
Swimsuit
Don’t forget to wear (or pack) a swimsuit. Unless you’re up for a nude soak!
Towel
We highly recommend bringing a light, small towel when visiting Wild Willy’s. Not only will this be good for drying off, but it can also help you shield yourself to change. There is not a changing area for the hot springs, only a few rocks you can hide behind. This is another reason to arrive early!
Layers
If visiting Wild Willy’s Hot Springs in the winter, it can be VERY cold. Make sure to bring layers, beanies, and gloves. You can see all of our go-to winter hiking gear here!
Dry clothes
We highly recommend bringing some dry clothes to change into after you’re done visiting Wild Willy’s Hot Springs. Especially if you plan to explore more of the Eastern Sierra afterwards!
Flip flops
It’s a good idea to bring a light pair of flip flops or Chacos for walking around the hot springs area so you don’t get your shoes wet. Plus it will protect your feet from any broken glass.
Headlamp
If you visit Wild Willy’s Hot Springs for sunrise or close to sunset, make sure to pack a headlamp (and extra batteries)! It is very dark out there and despite the boardwalk being easy to follow, it may be hard to see in the dark.
Water
Hot springs can dehydrate you, so make sure to pack lots of water! Since Wild Willy’s Hot Springs doesn’t require much of a hike, carrying a hydroflask is a good option!
Toilet paper
Make sure to bring some toilet paper, just in case there is no toilet paper at the trailhead.
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