This is by far the largest of natural hot springs in Long Valley Caldera.
A boardwalk on the muddy plain leads soakers to the hot springs.
You can enter anytime
Numerous hot springs that exist inside the Long Valley Caldera, California, are generally small, and people may be hesitant to soak if there is a prior soaker.
The only exception could be Wild Willy's.
Even if the hot spring you are looking for is packed, it is a great place to adjust your time because it is large enough.
From Benton Crossing Road, enter the dirt road to the east.
The road was well maintained and easy to pass.
Once the small rocky hill comes into view, it is impossible to miss the large parking lot.
Park your car and start the short hike of 0.2 miles one way.
Inside the caldera, the ground was loose as it grazed by Crowley Lake, which was a low marsh.
A fine, easy-to-walk boardwalk led to the hot springs.
On a windless day, a spectacular mirrored view can be seen on the right.
Right hot springs
The boardwalk came to an end at the hot springs.
Large pools were formed on the right side of the path.
Let me call this the right hot springs for convenience.
Looking across the boardwalk from the right hot springs, I found a small rocky hill.
There was another pool at the foot of it, which I would call the left hot spring.
Active geothermal activity was observed in the right hot springs.
Water temp here was 106 degrees F.
The water was tasteless and odorless.
The surrounding area was terribly muddy.
If you are not careful, you will not only get your shoes covered in mud, but also fall over and get covered in mud all over.
Even if the area is pool-like and suitable for soaking, be prepared to get a little dirty as the bottom is natural mud.
This is a drawback that differentiates it from other wild hot springs in this area.
Still, the experience of soaking in a huge pool in the great outdoors was irreplaceable.
The hot water flowed out as a stream.
There were many small fish swimming in the waterways in this area.
Left hot spring
The left hot spring was small and can hold around 5 people.
The geothermal activity here was calm and quiet.
The water appeared to be cloudy.
Among the always crowded hot springs in the Long Valley Caldera, Wild Willy's seemed to be the most soaker-friendly of them all.
Summary
Wild Willy's (Crowley) Hot Springs, Mammoth Lakes, California, U.S.
My rating
Type: Undeveloped
Rule: Clothing optional
Chemical use: No
Water temp: Up to 106 degrees F
