Buckeye Hot Springs - Hot Springs in California

Two types of outdoor pools with different atmospheres, one on a hill with a great view and the other along a stream.

You can also enjoy a natural steam bath along the stream.

Hillside Pools

This wild hot spring is as famous as Travertine Hot Springs in Bridgeport.

On the way to Buckeye Hot Springs, there was a historic site of an old sawmill.

There are two ways to get there from Route 395, with Twin Lakes Road extending from Bridgeport being easier to drive to.

Both are basically reachable by ordinary passenger cars, although the latter half is on unpaved mountain roads.

There was a large parking lot and no charge for use.

Camping is not allowed around the hot springs, but Buckeye Campground is just a few minutes' drive away.

Open from late May through late September, this pristine campground charges $20.00 per night.

Due to concerns about environmental damage at the popular hot springs, measures were taken in 2022 to install a vault toilet and improve trails.

A notable feature of Buckeye Hot Springs is that there are two different types of pools not far apart.

I first found the Hillside (Upper) Pools.

There were two pools a short distance down from the parking lot.

One place was under a large tree and the other was on a slope.

These pools had a low volume of gushing water and allowed for a long, tepid soak.

On the other hand, I was somewhat concerned about the fine mud on the bottom.

The location was great and the sense of openness was outstanding, as if I was soaking in the sky.

Creekside Pools

Those who value fresh water quantity should not miss the Creekside (Lower) Pools.

These are at the bottom of a V-shaped valley and require careful descent with non-slip shoes.

Two sources were found halfway up the slope.

The 140 degrees F boiling water, accompanied by a slight metallic smell, falls to the bottom of the valley, turning the ground surface reddish brown.

Alpaca

Don't fall in with it.

It's slippery with precipitates.

Capybara

The process formed a huge travertine dome that was rounded and raised.

There were three or four rock pools along the stream.

In one of them, the hot water from earlier was poured in a cascade.

The waterway was brightly colored with algae.

Behind the waterfall was a small cave that people could enter, which was like a natural steam bath due to the humidity of the geothermal water.

This one had an abundance of water and the pool was kept clean.

The mixing of river water was moderate, making it a truly comfortable soaking experience.

Summary