Mono Hot Springs - Hot Springs in California

Like a department store of wild hot springs.

Many remnants of bathhouses from the Great Depression era also remain.

Crossing the Log Bridge

The road through the Sierra Nevada Mountains seems to climb all the way to the heavens.

It's a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the nearest major city, Fresno.

While mostly paved, the road conditions are, as you can see, quite challenging.

Just north of the green bridge crossing the South Fork San Joaquin River lies the Forest Service campground.

This campground is operated by the different entity than the adjacent Mono Hot Springs Resort.

The campground is open only from June to September.

This is a somewhat primitive campground with vault toilets, but online reservations are available.

Scattered throughout the wide area south of the South Fork San Joaquin River, accessible by crossing a log bridge from this campground, are wild hot springs.

Alpaca

It's more like a log than a bridge.

It's hard to find at first glance.

Capybara

Old Pedro

Just across the river on a small hill stands the tubs known as Old Pedro.

The slightly cloudy water was at a perfect temperature of 104 degrees.

Among the wild hot springs, they were the most well-maintained and cleanest tubs.

The Big Creek Project, a large-scale hydroelectric power initiative launched in 1910, made the region accessible by automobile by 1927.

The beautiful scenery and hot springs began attracting large numbers of visitors from across the state.

In 1934, development began by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal's unemployment relief efforts.

Before World War II, Japanese Americans reportedly stayed here throughout the summer because the water resembled that of their homeland's hot springs.

The bathhouse was demolished in 1963, and since then the southern area of the South Fork San Joaquin River has been left as wild hot springs.

The numerous structures left behind in the grassy fields are relics of the Great Depression era.

The sign that reads Deep Spring.

Some hot springs naturally bubble up from the ground, while others feature the remains of old bathhouses, creating a rich variety.

As I continued further upstream, the hills became increasingly rocky.

Between the rocks, several small hot springs intermittently spew gases.

My favorite spot was this pool nestled between the giant boulders.

From the deepest part, gas was gushing out like a natural jacuzzi, and the smell of sulfur was noticeable.

At this point, you've walked back to the green bridge you saw first.

You could have used the boulder as a parking spot and set out on a wild hot spring tour without passing through the campground.

Summary

Official website