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    Wild Willy's Hot Spring

    4.5 (163 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Springs

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    Vivian W.

    Found this place by google, and decided to check it out since whether is nice. Driving is okay, a little over one mile of unpaved road, but okay. Then walk a little bit, i guess less than half miles, you will see the hot spring pond. Checked the water, probably at 102 Fahrenheit not very hot. I bet it might be feel cold in winter. There are people walk out of the hot spring with smile. It's free and great place to enjoy the Mountain View and everything around you.

    Linda L.

    There's a small parking lot by the entrance. There's also a small space by the road that you can park at too. There is a 1.5 mile walk to the hot springs which can take about 30 minutes. There are 2 main hot springs with smaller pools. The water is really nice and warm. It's shallow enough to stand in but be careful walking around as it can be muddy and slippery. There's no entrance fee, it's completely free and open to the public.

    Sharon B.

    One of the better natural hot springs that we've visited. A short dirt road that accessible with any vehicle to a small parking lot. From the parking lot, you take a nice boardwalk over to the hot springs. The water temperature differs in each of the shallow pools. The closer you are to the source, the hotter the water. It's like sitting in a natural hot tub and enjoying the gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains and meadow with cows in the distance. Wear bathing suits. And water shoes if you have them but the sandy pebbles at the bottom aren't too bad on bare feet. Bring water and make sure you stay hydrated. Definitely worth the trip!

    The path..
    Marcus F.

    It's definitely a hot spring and one of the larger ones in the area, but it's not really a place to relax. Honestly, this is more of a novelty, but don't let that stop you from coming. The views of this area along the boardwalk are great and worth the short walk to the hot spring.. The water temperature is like a hot bath. Note: Some locals suggest that this is a clothing optional hot spring. I didn't see any of that, fortunately. Also, I can confirm that it appears that a few people do live in their RVs in the parking lot. Just keep valuables hidden. It's a long walk to the hot spring.

    Ted C.

    When I went to Mammoth I was expecting a lot of hiking, the gondola and lakes. What I didn't know until I got there was that Mammoth Lakes has a bunch of natural hot springs, some of which are unsafe for bathing, some are small and hard to find. Wild Willy's while a little off the beaten path is still easy to find and safe and large enough to visit. After a long day of hiking I thought a nice soak would be a welcome change of pace. Google Maps kind of knows where it is-the parking lot isn't where it says but it's actual before where the route tells you so you can always double back. The walkway is pretty easy to navigate and the springs are naturally divided. The larger one is the cooler one and the smaller, heart shaped one is hotter. During my visit there was one person there just soaking so it was pretty private.

    Adam S.

    Amazing views and calm springs. The connections and friends we made there were special. It's something else to visit a timeless place.

    Beautiful day for a swim!
    Perlie P.

    We have been here twice and had a great time, every time! The area is kept clean and the walkway is good condition. We have been here during the week both times so it was never crowded and always pleasant. We will be back again for sure!

    Nisha P.

    One thing many people don't realize is that Mammoth Lakes actually has natural Hot Springs that you can swim in. The largest and probably most famous is Wild Willy's! It's a relatively large, natural Hot Springs, that you can dip in, with different pools with varying temperatures. This place is really popular so I would highly recommend going either around sunrise or sunset to avoid the crowd. And make sure to have a car that can off-road, because the road to these Hot Springs is quite bumpy/ rocky! Be sure to go the next time you plan to visit Mammoth Lakes!

    Jake B.

    One of my new all time favorite places. Hard to describe how surreal it is taking a bath heated by the Earth, surrounded by a mountain view in the sunrise. The area was mostly clear, with some trash left over from the night before. It's clothing optional, but you can do whatever you're comfortable with. Will definitely be back!!

    Corinne G.

    We visited the rock tub hot springs. It was absolutely the most relaxing and romantic little spot. We got lucky and had it to ourselves this day but we have visited on other occasions and other visitors were there too. We highly recommended this cute little spot and many others around the area as well. We have yet to visit with snow on the ground yet, but I can only imagine the beauty that would be with the snow.

    Kimberly I.

    This was the most beautiful hot springs I've ever been to. Being from the city, it is beautiful to escape it all and just be one with nature. If you are near the area, this is a great spot to camp and enjoy the hot springs. It does get a bit busy so I would recommend coming in the morning so you can enjoy the true sounds of nature.

    PSA: It's clothing optional people. Be aware, don't be a prude, and let people just vibe and enjoy themselves :) That being said it's GORGEOUS! A bit sludgy on the bottom of the pools but u get over it ‍

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    2 years ago

    So much fun with multiple pools to explore. The springs were the perfe temperature and really easy to find

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    2 years ago

    Great spot to stop by after spending the day on the mountain. Temperature of the water felt great and helped to ease sore muscles!

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    Ask the Community - Wild Willy's Hot Spring

    Would I be able to access this spot with a sedan? I read there is dirt road access TIA

    Yes, the terrain is not bad, just dusty.

    Does anyone know if there is a place to rinse off and does it smell?

    It's actually not that bad of a smell

    Does anyone know as of June 2020 if the gate is open? Coming out on a camping trip next weekend. Fingers crossed.

    Does anyone know if it's open tomorrow?

    I don't think it ever closes? There's a gate at the entrance to the dirt road, if that's open it's open. It is open when it snows so I would imagine it is now. (It's super easy to get to so worth it to check it out)

    Is it open year round?

    I assume it is open all year because it's just a natural hot springs located in the middle of a huge field, that you have to hike too.

    Are we able to camp in or around this area?

    You're not supposed to. ?

    Anyone know if it is closed? tried getting there today and found the dirt road barred by a padlocked gate

    Still closed.

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    Review Highlights - Wild Willy's Hot Spring

    The gate to the dirt road was closed, but we were able to walk past the gate and walked 32min in the snow.

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    Hot Creek Geologic Site

    Hot Creek Geologic Site

    4.5(35 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    If you ever visit Mammoth Lakes area, please pay this geologic site a visit!! It's totally worth…read moreyour time! First of all, it's totally free! No parking fee, no entrance fee! And it's just a short 2.5-mile drive from the Wild Willy Hot Spring. Noted that the road leading to this site is unpaved and may require 4WD vehicles. However, my sister's Toyota Corolla did just fine as long as you drive with care and not speeding like 60mph ;) We arrived around 1pm on a Friday. The parking lot looked full but there were spaces for us. There are a few overflow parkings as well. There were restrooms and a few picnic tables there making the place look very inviting. As soon as you stepped out of your car, you'd be greeted with that familiar sulfur smell of hot springs. Step over to the ledges and you'd be wowed by the majestic beauty of the geologic site! Turquoise hot springs ebbs and flows against the silverfish brown volcanic mountain backdrops! A few greeneries here and there and some yellow wild flowers to complete a gorgeous painting by Mother Nature! If you're a nature lover like me, your eyes will be wide opened and your moth will shape into an "O" LOL. Honestly who needs to go to Yellow Stones while we have this mini version at your backyard ? A quick hike down on pave roads will lead you closer to the hot springs. Dogs are welcomed but they must be on leash and not allowed to come close to the hot springs. Spend as much time here to appreciate the majestic beauty of the site! Some of us even tried to touch the water and it was boiling HOT. So not recommended :)! Please don't miss out on this free, dog-friendly, beautiful geologic site if you're ever in the area!

    I got from the Benton side and enjoyed the beautiful views of the mountains on the Benton Crossing…read moreRoad. There is absolutely no internet service. At the Hot Creek Geologic Site, they have restrooms. Then, we can walk down the path to see the hot creek. Very nice views but it smelled so bad. Not the best idea to check it out when you have a stomachache.

    Photos
    Hot Creek Geologic Site
    Hot Creek Geologic Site
    Hot Creek Geologic Site - History

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    History

    The Inn at Benton Hot Springs

    The Inn at Benton Hot Springs

    3.9(150 reviews)
    16.3 mi

    The experience is 10 stars. But if you are looking for anything less than a rustic, quiet, remote…read morelocation to spend quality time with your loved ones. Get a hotel in Mammoth or Bishop and drive to a hot spring. Any bad review is obviously from some city snob expecting room service and an on-site michelin rated dining option. Yes it's cold in the Sierra, even when it's sweltering during the day it's cold at night. Yes it's remote with zero options for walking distance food. Yes there are bugs when you go outside (sometimes even inside). Yes there is no cell service, gasp, you have to bring a book or games or heaven forbid talk to the people you came with. I can't understand how anyone has it in them to come to the middle of nowhere and then complain about being in the middle of nowhere! Or to complain about the temps when we all have a weather app on our phone. Plan people!! Gather up your best survival skills and bring food, water, warm clothes, bug spray, books, games and a desire to bring it back to the days this place was founded. It's not even that drastic folks. There is running water, flushing toilets, food and gas within a couple miles. There is potable water, all the kitchen and bathroom amenities, extra blankets, heated floors, fans and hot spring tubs!! There is even wifi, satellite dishes and TV's if you are a screen junky. What more can you ask for?! Now that that's out of the way. We really enjoyed our stay at the Conway house. Had absolutely everything we needed and some. Very clean and well decorated. We brought games and books expecting to be totally old school for the length of our stay. But were pleasantly surprised when we were able to stream on our laptop in bed one evening. The tub may be too hot when it's hot outside and too cold in the morning if you don't turn up the stream overnight. Plan accordingly. Test it first and adjust the inlet to your liking. It doesn't take long to cool or heat. Don't dive in like a schmuck without testing the water....sound advice for life! Certain times of the year there are more bugs than others. Close the doors behind you and bring bug spray or citronella candles. Don't be a schmuck and complain about bugs outdoors, that's where they live! Do your part in keeping them outside by closing the doors and checking that the window screens don't have tears. Let someone know if you find a compromised screen. We didn't encounter one rude person. Neither staff nor guest. If you are courteous, quiet and respectful you will most likely receive the same treatment. The only complaint is the bed in the Conway house is old, stiff and loud, could use an upgrade. Don't come here looking for some fancy schmancy lively boom town. It's far from that. It's quant, quiet, rich in historical value and a great place for a little quality time with loved ones. Can be extremely romantic too if you aren't a snob. We will definitely be back! Thank you to the family for sharing this wonderfully rich slice of history with us. Absolutely appalled by some of these reviews.

    Relaxing, serene and beautiful. Water is perfectly temperature and the privacy factor is top notch.​read more

    Photos
    The Inn at Benton Hot Springs - Conway house Kitchen

    Conway house Kitchen

    The Inn at Benton Hot Springs
    The Inn at Benton Hot Springs

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    Convict Lake Resort - Spacious bed

    Convict Lake Resort

    4.7(372 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    We just stayed in the newly renovated Shasta. It was fantastic. We've stayed in multiple different…read morecabins and have loved them all. The restaurant was amazing as usual. The food and service always exceed our expectations. We're looking forward to returning in March and again in June. There isn't a season here that we don't enjoy.

    We LOVE everything about Convict Lake Resort, from the ambience, the amenities, the location, and…read morethe convenience to the neat and tidiness of the place! Convict Lake and Mammoth Lakes were on my bucket list for so many years. Living in the Bay Area means it's a rough 5-6 hours of driving through windy mountainous roads. Thus, we wanted to pick a place to stay that could provide us the comfort of home we needed. And Convict Lake Resort delivered! From the booking process to checking in and later checking out, everything was a breeze! We received emails reminder from staff detailing easy steps needed to check in. When it looked like we might arrive late, they promptly sent us instructions for self check in. Luckily we arrived on time before the gift shop close. Each cabin has 1 parking spot for your car. However, there are many parking spaces within walking distance to your cabin if you and your party happen to have more than 1 car. As soon as we opened the door into our cabin, our stress and exhaustion of the long drive melted away! We love the high vaulted ceiling, the warm woody interior and how spacious and clean the inside of our cabin was! It was so welcoming and smells so good! You could tell that the staff did a wonderful job cleaning and preparing for your stay! Thank you ! The kitchen area was another highlights of the cabin! It was big with full amenities! We used it so many times during our stay to cook our meals and everything in between! Microwaves, fridges, freezer, chopping board, plate wares, forks and spoons, etc. You name it, they have it! There's a door by the kitchen area which gave you access to the mini wood behind your cabin. We once spotted some deers here during twilight times . And the BATHROOM!!! We LOVE IT!! Super spacious with nice rain-forest shower head! After a long day being active outside like hiking, kayaking and other stuff, we came home to the cabin, hopped into the shower and let all our fatigue washed away! I swear this shower had some acupuncture magic as it soothed my tired body so well! The sliding door to the bathroom was so modern and chic itself. We love the tiny windows looking out to the wood beside our cabin. We joked to each other that "Number 2 with a great view !" Not only the inside was amazing, the outside porch area with the gas grill was another bonus! Never had we ever seen such a clean grill like this! Kudos again to the staff ! We utilized the grill many times during our visits and enjoyed a dinner or breakfast outdoor with our pup :) And first time in our life, we saw such a dog friendly place! Every cabin seemed to have at least one dog. My puppy Butter had such a wonderful socializing with all his furry friends and neighbors. We enjoyed walking around and checking out the resort on the lovely trails surrounding the resort and looked at all the amazing mountains. Convict Lake Resort is just 10 minutes of walking and 5 minutes of driving from Convict Lake. Location! Location! Location!! There's a lovely restaurant onsite that I'll review in details in another review :) Overall, AMAZING place and words cannot describe how satisfied we were! We'll definitely come back and recommend this place with all our family and friends :)

    Photos
    Convict Lake Resort - Back of Convict Lake

    Back of Convict Lake

    Convict Lake Resort - I loved my father-daughter dance on the spacious dance floor

    I loved my father-daughter dance on the spacious dance floor

    Convict Lake Resort - Horse back riding along convict lake

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    Horse back riding along convict lake

    Wild Willy's Hot Spring - hotsprings - Updated May 2026

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