In search of hot water…
You’ve come here because you’ve magically stumbled across this nook that is my repository of photos and memories or maybe we ran into each other or maybe your friend met me and recommended you check this out.
Hot Springing is a bug. I’ve seen an uptick of articles and lists of where they are and how to find them. There are far worse things to resign yourself to, but bathing isn’t too bad of a hobby. Your going to end up in some magical places and you will meet some of the coolest, chillest, out-right neat people on your journey. You’re going to meet creeps and perverts, a delightful mix of bikers, vagabonds, mountain folk, old-timers, hippies, hipsters, rockers, celestials, and road-trippers. It’s always best to come prepared for adventure. Some consider themselves a casual hot springer and some make destination vacations to sit in a pool of warm water - often for weeks at a time (the vacation not the sitting in a pool).
1. COVID is real. Treat every encounter with respect and follow the guidelines for where you are. When in doubt, make the correct judgement call and wait it out. (see further down… Don’t hog the tub.) Some of our favorite areas are closed (not just springs) and the effect of it is real and measurable as people funnel into the areas that are open. Check closure and camping restrictions for where you are going, they’re changing all the time.
2. Finding hot springs is a lot of work. There are books on the subject. They are found on maps. Sometimes these two do not overlap. Do your research on the roads and the amenities in the area. With your research go prepared for the situation. Be ready for disappointment; and be ready to turn back if conditions are not advisable. Be ready to bask in some awesome places. Be prepared to put in the work to find the good ones.
3. When you find that awesome spot… don’t share it on your media. Don’t share it without understanding who you are telling. Like, literally… don’t share it with just anyone. If I share where every single one of these are, you’re going to end up telling someone and that’s how it spreads. There are pristine springs out there and there are springs that could use a permanent dumpster or a fire pit full of trash. People are assholes. Don’t be one.
4. Do not park or camp on top of the springs. You should be at least 100 feet from a source or pool. Some springs have drive-up access. You should park away. You should encourage others to do the same. Sure, the road goes right up next to the pool… doesn’t matter it’s still not advisable to park on the springs. Animals use the areas and excessive use deters them from getting to the water. Vehicles can disrupt the sources and in other areas the surface may be poor enough for you to break through the surface. It is wet and muddy - they are springs of course - and you should minimize impact to the areas always. Unfortunately there are many a great spring that are now just okay because they are trampled.
Park away and the lands remain pristine; animals come; and you get views like these.
5. Hot springs are living landscapes. The springs are hosts to many organisms, some in the water some out of the water. Grasses, flowers, bugs, fish (FISH!!), birds, rodents, animals, people. The water you sit in is literally moments old, but they are host to a plethora of organisms that have evolved to enjoy and like that hot water as much as you. Respect the land and the springs.
6. Naegleri fowleri WILL KILL YOU. Yes, it will kill you. Otherwise known as a brain-eating amoeba, it likes to live in warm water, like ponds, rock pits, mud puddles, warm rivers and ponds, untreated swimming pools, aquariums and… yep, hot springs. But it is a simple thing to not catch. Just keep your head above the water. This amoeba takes a natural path through your nasal mucus membranes into your brain. From there it kills you in a matter of days. There is no cure. Keep your head out of the water and water out of your nose. (I know of 2 springs that this has been found tested in recently [update November 2022])
7. Google is your enemy. Actually, search engines are great for finding springs, resources, camping options, and directions. But with the ease of the search engine comes the ease of access. Some of the best places in my catalogue are poorly mentioned or documented - often for a reason. Locals, ranchers, and stewards try their best to keep some springs off of the internet. Some areas are on private land; some areas are so remote that you need to do your own research before going in else you may find yourself in a pickle. Bring a paper map and compass. Know how to use them. Cell service is non-existent at the better springs.
8. Practice self-reliance. Bring what you need. Do some planning. TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU ARE GOING (ideally the general area, remember rule #3) and equally TELL SOMEONE WHEN YOU PLAN TO BE BACK. Rescues are NOT cheap, and you should never be dependent on pressing help on your SPOT beacon. That is an absolute last resort in a real emergency. Being cold or uncomfortable is not a reason to call. Bring a shovel, some extra clothes, and food and water for at least three extra days. The weather changes, road conditions change, or you may find yourself bouncing down a road only to find your 3 hour drive was moot as the springs are now buried… been there… done that; or the road is completely washed out - done that too…
9. Not every mission will be successful. Sometimes you get bunk information. Sometimes you head out only to find that those before you messed things up so bad that the landowner shut things down, or worse, buried it. Be prepared for disappointment. Make it fun, though. Let the next person go on the same path of discovery, it builds character.
10. Bring the right things. You’re going to be springing. Bring clothing adequate for the season. Bring your towel. Bring a bathing suit - some springs are au-natural some are bathing suit required. Bring a robe. Bring a full-size spare (or two). Bring chains in the winter. Always bring a shovel. Bring at least 1 gallon of water per-person per-day. Bring food along. Bring a headlamp. Bring clothes you don’t mind getting trashed in case it gets dirty. Bring a friend. Bring a lover. Just be prepared.
11. Bring multiple shoes. Mucking around in shin-deep mud probably isn’t what you want to do in your daily shoes. Bring an extra swimsuit if your hot spring hopping. Who likes putting on a wet swimsuit?
12. NO SOAP. Save your bathing for the showers. Some springs have showers, rinse off before getting in. Rinse your feet before getting in to a tub or a trough. Keep the sand out. NO SUNSCREEN. Sunscreen changes the pH of the springs, soap changes the pH. It effects the water negatively. Please, save the body lotion for after you’re done soaking. Your skin will dry from the minerals in the springs, but wait until you’re done for the day or plan for at least 3 hours between soaks for body/hand lotion to soak into your skin.
13. Don’t hog the hot tub. Don’t be a spring hog. If a queue is forming, be polite and allow others to get in. Limit your soaking to 15-30 minute blocks. This is especially important at busy springs. Set the tone and others will follow; don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s unwritten, but most people will be polite and rotate. You will always need more water, or adult sodas. Sometimes I’ll sit next to the spring and join in on the conversation, you’re polite, personable, and eventually someone needs to get out to pee…
14. Don’t pee in the springs. Don’t leave Baby Ruth bars in the pool. It’s unsanitary. Get out to do your business. Pack out your toilet paper. No one likes to see white flags everywhere. If there isn’t a dedicated toilet be sure to walk far away before you poop. Dig a hole at least 6” deep (deeper is better). If you wouldn’t be comfortable sitting on the spot after you’re done, it’s not deep enough.
15. When it comes to gates and private property, leave it as you found it. Gates are meant to be left in the position you found it. Mostly they are closed on ranch land; to keep the cows from getting out or in. Ranchers get pissed when they have to chase cattle; BLM or National Forest Service gets pissed. Springs get closed or worse. Obey no camping signs, and PLEASE STAY ON THE ROAD - community trails damage areas and land owners have full right to shut things down.
Spencer Hot Springs (Platform), Nevada.
(This one is well known, it’s a good stopping point on a middle-of-nowhere adventure.)
16. Leave it better than you found it. If you’re new, please enjoy yourself. But please don’t trash a place out. No one is going to clean up after you. Seasoned springers can see a project or a chore that is needed at a place. Watch them, learn from them. Valves don’t repair themselves. Decks don’t get built on a butterfly fart. It is work from people who love the area to keep the springs in good working order.
17. Use common sense before plunging in. Springs are living (see #5). This also means temperatures fluctuate. Natural bottom springs are more prone to temperature surges, but so can tubs. A spring that was cool a few months ago may have been affected by an earthquake or just might have a natural cycle. If there is a tub then you know that they are frequented often - tubs often have a way to control the flow of water and hence the temps. Natural springs can fluctuate and if you’re not careful they can hurt, maim, or kill you - the Hot Creek by Mammoth, CA is a prime example of dangerous temperature swings and also why it’s closed for soaking. People have died there. Check the temps before easing on in.
18. At many springs, the first ones in set the precedent. This is certainly an unwritten rule. When it comes to dress code at a hot spring, it is entirely dependent on local customs. It’s the norm to come up on a spring and find everyone in the nude; just be ready to deal with it. We all have bodies and they’re all in different shapes. People who are there before you earn the right to set precedent and overall vibe, and the same goes if you’re the first in. There’s nothing sexual implied by bathing in the nude. That being said, if you show up and people are nude and you don’t want to be, no one will ever force you to strip down, but definitely don’t expect everyone else to put clothes on. And, if you show up and other people are in suits but you have your heart set on rocking that birthday suit, ask if everyone is okay with it first. A good rule of thumb is to bring a suit, just in case. I will say that getting naked in a hot spring is basically a rite of passage. Deep down, you know you want to do it, so just go for it!
19. If the spring is occupied ASK before taking photos. Else leave your camera or cell phone in the car. Unless someone else instigates it just let it be. You’ll have other moments or another time to take that photo. Do not, under any circumstance, take photos of naked people. You’re bound to start a conflict. At most places you can wait long enough to snap a photo of the pools without anyone in them.
20. Leave the glass at home. (I write this with a cut on my foot…) No glass at a pool is the same reason for no glass at a spring. Bring cans or use your starbukz mug. If your beer is in a glass growler leave it at the car and go for refills. Draining a swimming pool or Jacuzzi is easy. You can’t empty a dirt hole. Just don’t bring your glass.
21. Leave the tubs in good order for the next people. Some tubs will be empty when you find them, leaving you to fill them for your soak and for you to empty them when you leave. Another practice is to drain and refill after you’re done, but you’re always best inquiring into local custom. Others will have the flow abated a bit to leave them usable for the next crew. If a source is super hot, remember that it takes a few moments to heat things up but often hours to cool down. Tubs named Lobster Pot, Crab Cooker, Hot Pot, or anything alluding to heat are most likely always scalding at the source. If you drain them and fill them they’re going to be unusable for hours; best to regulate the flow back to low for the next people to adjust to their temperature.
22. If you must post the shot, leave out the name and most certainly do not geotag the spring. Yeah, I enjoy sharing the stoke as much as you do. And often I do post up an incredible shot on social media, but I most always leave out the name and always leave out the location. If your friends are inclined they will ask. Trust me, they will ask. There is no reason to share publicly where most springs are. Now, some are well known and are known enough that they are everywhere on the internet. There’s enough information for pretty much every soak out there.
23. Be a steward. Pick up trash. Pitch in for tub maintenance. Don’t answer the question “where is this?!” when you see it asked about your photo. Don’t bleach springs without knowing the local etiquette. The springs are living (number 5); bleach kills ecosystems.
Have fun. Springs are a wonderful place. Whether there alone to just relax and unwind, read a book, enjoy the scenery, and select company; or there with a group of friends to chill out they are there to enjoy. People have been flocking to hot water sources for thousands of years. It’s not a new thing - maybe new to you - but others have come before you. Take the time to soak it all in, learn a bit, share some insight with others, and do things at your pace.
The author in full “chill” mode.