There’s nothing like taking a dip in a natural hot spring after a long, grueling day or two hiking in the wilderness. Luckily for us, there are many hot springs located within the Sierra Mountains but there’s one in particular we’re going to cover in this article; Travertine Hot Springs.

~ Getting There ~

Here’s the good news; Travertine is super easy to access. Here’s the bad news; Travertine is super easy to access. No, that wasn’t a typo. It can be both a good or bad thing depending on your preference.

The dirt road leading to the springs can be rough depending on which season it is but overall, most vehicles will be able to get through it. My Chevrolet Cruz made it just fine so having a high clearance vehicle isn’t necessary (unless a winter storm recently hit).

Due to this, Travertine sees its fair share of visitors and quickly fills up in the summer months (hence why it could be a bad thing). There are, however, a few things you could do to avoid the crowds which we’ll cover in the next section.

If you’re coming from Bridgeport: Get on Highway 395 south. Shortly after leaving town and just before the Ranger Station, turn left on Jack Sawyer road. Keep heading straight up over the hill and continue until you reach the terminus.
If you’re coming from Lee Vining: Get on Highway 395 north for about 25 miles. Shortly after passing the Bridgeport Ranger Station, turn right onto Jack Sawyer road and follow the same directions above.

As stated in the directions, you just keep following the dirt road until it ends at the parking lot. There’s a restroom available for use on the right. It’s of the vault variety and as far as cleanliness is concerned, it’s been hit or miss in my experience. Better than nothing, right?

~ The Pools ~

From the lot, it isn’t much of a hike to get to the pools. In fact, if the main pools are too crowded, there’s a small man-made pool right in the parking lot. This one could get especially hot, though. As in, you could boil in it. So dip your least favorite toe in first just to be safe.

You’ll find the four main pools after a short walk along the trail leaving the lot. By short, I mean around 2-3 minutes. The first pool you’ll see is the largest and hottest. From there, they get progressively smaller and cooler.

There’s an additional pool further down the trail that, if you’re lucky enough to get there first, you’ll enjoy relative seclusion. It is much smaller (can fit 3-4 and that’s assuming you’re comfortable with one another), but has an unobstructed epic view of the mountains before you.

~ When to Go ~

Soaking in the hot springs at Travertine Hot Springs.

Honestly, any time is a good time but largely depends on your preferences. If your goal is to enjoy some relative peace and be alone, you’ll want to get here pre-sunrise (as in, still dark) or come during the winter time.

The summer months are the busiest. No matter what time of day you arrive, you’ll likely be sharing the pools with at least one or two others. Though I have had luck getting here during the week in August and managed to have it all to myself for a couple hours.
During winter you’ll have better luck avoiding crowds. However, it’s also possible that the road will either be closed or difficult to pass due to heavy snow or rain. High clearance vehicles may be necessary during this time.

If you arrive during the day in the summer, you WILL arrive to a full lot and pools full of bodies. As mentioned above, arrive pre-sunrise to increase your odds. This is what I always do and I almost always have it to myself for a while. You’ll be cold at first but that won’t matter once you’re in the spring.

~ Additional Info ~

The springs are located on California park land. While not a state park, it is state park land and is managed by local rangers. A bonus feature to this is there is free, dispersed camping along the road leading to the springs. It is primitive and there are no showers, restrooms, etc. Also, there is no fee to access the springs.

Travertine is clothing optional. While families and singles alike are welcome here, do keep in mind that you may see some nudity. The people that come here are usually respectful about it but if it’s something that you’d be uncomfortable with, you may want to visit a different hot spring.

These are natural springs, not man-made. Aside from the pool in the parking lot, the springs are nature made over thousands of years and the bottom of the pools are muddy, not made of concrete like established springs. So be sure to rub some of that mud on your body for some natural healing.

Be sure to watch for debris. While most who come here respect nature, unfortunately, there are some that couldn’t care less. It isn’t uncommon to find beer bottles and other trash in and around the pools. It would probably be wise to wear water shoes to avoid possible broken glass.

*Please, be sure to pack out whatever you brought in.