4 Day Road Trip in the Sierras: Mammoth Lakes Hot Springs, & Alabama Hills!
The Eastern Sierras is a region of California that boasts some of the most stunning natural beauty in the country. With its jagged mountain peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and miles of pristine wilderness, it’s no wonder that this area has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure-seekers alike.
But there’s more to the Eastern Sierras than just hiking trails and scenic vistas. Tucked away amidst this breathtaking landscape are some incredible hot springs, each with their own unique character and charm.
And what better way to explore these hidden gems than by taking a road trip through Mammoth Lakes? In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to discover some of the best hot springs in the Eastern Sierras and show you why Mammoth Lakes should be at the top of your travel bucket list.
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Planning your trip? Use my favorite resources!
Accommodation – I recommend Booking.com to find the best deals on hotels.
Flights – I recommend Skyscanner to look for the best prices and deals on flights.
Rental cars – I recommend DiscoverCars to shop around at multiple car rental agencies.
Travel insurance – I recommend Safety Wing; keep your trips insured to protect yourself while traveling.
Tours/experiences – I recommend Viator!
4 Day Road Trip Itinerary
- Day One: Drive to & arrive in Mammoth Lakes. Go to Wild WIlly’s Hot Springs. Soak & watch sunset.
- Day Two: Convict Lake for sunrise. Drive 1 hr to Travertine Hot Springs. Drive 1 hr back to Mammoth & explore June Lake on the way.
- Day Three: Hot Creek Geological Site for sunrise. Go to nearby Hilltop Hot Springs. Relax and enjoy a coffee or brew in Mammoth Lakes. Drive to Alabama Hills for sunset.
- Day Four: Alabama Hills for sunrise. Explore Mobius Arch. End!
Location of Destinations & Itinerary Map
I have everything I have listed in this post drawn on this road trip map below.
As you can see, the area is pretty spread out, so allowing time for driving is a must!
The distance from the most Northern to Southern part of this trip is 150 miles & 2 1/2 hours.
Where to Stay
Mammoth Lakes: To explore Mammoth we stayed in Bishop, CA, only about a 45 minute drive away. We stayed at the Eastside Guesthouse and Bivy that had a lovely outdoor space, was very affordable, and clean.
Alabama Hills: We stayed at Quality Inn in Lone Pine that was close to Movie Road and had free breakfast- score!
Camping: There are a lot of dispersed camping options around Mammoth that are easily accessible and a great option to stay for free off grid. Alabama Hills is also all on BLM land and is a very popular camping spot- also free! Since I had heard it gets very windy at night in the winter in Alabama Hills, and I didn’t want to risk being too cold in a tent in January so we opted for a hotel stay. However, coming back to camp is already on my list!
Hot Springs to soak in
Additional hot springs to add to your itinerary
There are a LOT of other hot springs around Mammoth to hit up on your road trip. We tried to go to a few others but unfortunately because some are so small, if there is just one person or small group in the hot spring it’s crowded. Some of these includes Whitmore, Shepherd, & Crab Cooker Hot springs. Another hot spring to check out in Bridgeport, CA near Travertine Hot Springs is Buckeye Hot springs. We were kinda hot- springed out by the end of this trip, so we didn’t go- but it looks awesome!
Clothing optional
Some of these springs are ‘clothing optional’. We did see one person at Wild Willy’s in the nude, so be prepared for that if it’s not your thing or if you are bringing children!
When to visit the hot springs:
I highly recommend going to these early, maybe even for sunrise if you’re up for it. We found that the afternoon brings more crowds, and the evening draws more of a party crowd even on a weekday. If you’re looking for a hot spring to yourself and some peace & quiet in nature- I can’t recommend enough to go early!
Off season will always be best to visit a place as popular as this. However, in winter you will find the skiing and snowboarding crowds so even the cold months can get crowded.
Wild Willy’s Hot Springs
Wild Willy’s is the largest hot spring in the area and the most popular. However, this was my least favorite of the three mentioned because it was so crowded. We did show up in the afternoon so that’s probably why.
There is really two sections to Wild Willy’s: the famous heart shaped hot spring, and a spring that is reminiscent of a creek or river with multiple spots to soak in that could fit 10-15 people comfortably.
How to get there
Take Benton Crossing Rd. from Highway 395. If you put ‘Wild Willy’s Hot Spring’ into Google Maps it will lead you here. There is a large parking area with a pit toilet, and you will see a boardwalk that takes you to the hot springs. It is a flat, 0.25 mile walk one way.
Travertine Hot Springs
Travertine hot springs made all of my wildest hot spring dreams come true! I mean, look at that dreamy view.
These hot springs are located in Bridgeport, CA an hour north of Mammoth. But 100% worth the trek. We arrived here on a weekday at around 8 AM and were completely alone for a half hour- score!
There are two major hot spring areas, one is located right at the parking area that is more just like soaking bath tubs with no view, and the other area has fantastic mountain views. You will walk up a dirt path to the left behind the first hot spring area you see. Follow the steam and mountain views!
How to get there
Get off Highway 395 onto Jack Sawyer Rd. and follow signs the lead to the hot springs. After that, you’ll find a 1 mile dirt road that ‘s in pretty good condition. My AWD Honda CR-V made it just fine.
Hilltop Hot Springs
We also made it to Hilltop Hot Springs very early after catching the sunrise at nearby Hot Creek Geological Site. In the winter, the road to get to Hilltop Hot Springs is closed. However, you can park at the gate and walk 0.5 miles along the dirt road and boardwalk to the hot spring. This all meant.. no crowd! We literally didn’t encounter one soul the hour we were there. It was pure hot spring bliss!
The view at this hot spring also has Wild Willy’s beat. The mountains feel much closer and it offers a more panoramic view.
How to get there
Hilltop Hot Springs is almost right across the road from Wild Willy’s on Benton Crossing Road. If you put in ‘Hilltop Hot Tub’ into Google Maps it will take you right there!
Convict Lake for Sunrise
Convict Lake was a show stopper for sunrise. If you’re lucky enough to have a bright, cloudless sunrise you should be able to see Alpenglow on the mountains above the lake. If you’re doubly lucky to have a still morning, you can capture a perfect reflection of the mountains in the lake too! This morning, we got a little bit of both!
There is a large parking area and the lake is a very short walk from it. We only went here for sunrise and left, but there is a 2.5 mile hike you can do around the perimeter of the lake to soak up more of its beauty if you’d like!
How to get there
The lake is located just a few miles off of Highway 395 on Convict Lake Road just 15 mins South from the town of Mammoth Lakes.
Hot Creek Geological Site for Sunrise
This is an absolute must if you are in the area and want an EPIC place for sunrise. Just like Convict Lake, if you are here for a clear, cloudless morning you may get a spectacular Alpenglow on the mountains.
This place is just SO picturesque. The symmetry of the background of the mountains with the hot creek flowing through the middle, and the steam rising in the morning. I swear you couldn’t conjure up a more beautiful scene.
Warning: You can not soak in these springs. They are far too hot! Also, like you can see in the pictures, the area right next to the hot creek is fenced off and it is important to not cross the fence and stand near the creek. There is geothermal activity and unstable ground here. I saw a picture on Instagram of a girl standing right at the creek and when I got there in person I wondered what on Earth she was thinking walking down there!
How to get there
The geological site is off of Highway 395, a few miles down Hot Creek Hatchery Road. The road is easily accessible and has a large amount of parking.
Exploring the cutest mountain town of June Lake
We stopped in June Lake coming back from Travertine Hot Springs. June Lake is a short 25 minute drive from Mammoth Lakes. Here we got breakfast and coffees at The Lift coffee shop and took it to Gull Lake to sit and eat outside. Then we drove around the area above June Lake and got some really cool photos!
Unfortunately we were visiting during Covid and in the winter, so the town of June Lake was pretty shut down, but it was a really cute mountain town that I would recommend checking out if you are in the area!
Alabama Hills
Ah, Alabama Hills. I had been wanting to check this spot out for a long time. The endless Movie Road pictures on Instagram just ignited my desire more! The drive in is just a dirt road, any car can make it. However, there are some offshoot roads that have deeper sand and would require higher clearance. Here’s what we did in Alabama Hills.
Give a visit to Miss Alabama!
You can’t miss her on the drive in. And she is really a beauty isn’t she!
Movie Road: Sunrise & Sunset
No road trip to Alabama Hills is complete without the infamous Movie Road shot.
To get the shot, keep driving on Movie Road until what I can only describe as when you reach a hill. You’ll notice on your right there will be a large dirt parking area; there was someone camping there when we went but still plenty of room for other cars to park. The legendary shot is just right down this hill. But don’t be afraid to climb on some rocks surrounding the road to get your own unique take!
Mobius Arch
Mobius Arch makes the perfect picture frame for Alabama Hills. We took the Arch Loop Trail, where you can hit a few other arches and rocks as well, such as Heart Arch. It’s not a hard trail, at less than a mile roundtrip and relatively flat. There is a large dirt parking area here as well.
When I go back to this area, I’d love to check out sunrise through this arch and the surrounding area. I think it would be a really cool, unique shot!
Check out the trail map here.
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And that concludes my 4 day Eastern Sierras road trip! After this, we packed up and headed South to Joshua Tree National Park! 🙂
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