Just outside the city of Mammoth Lakes is a small oasis with geothermally- heated water and panoramic views known as The Rock Tub hot springs. Visitors who make the short drive out are rewarded with a mineral-rich soak they will not soon forget.
This small tub is one of the most popular in the Long Valley Caldera region of California due to its proximity to town, ease of access, and stunning vistas. It is also often mis-referred to as “Whitmore Hot Springs” so do not be confused or you may end up on a long dirt road to nowhere!
In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know for a fun, successful, and environmentally responsible visit to The Rock Tub hot springs. Before you begin though, be aware that this is just one of several nearby soaking tubs! Be sure to queue up ur comprehensive guide to EVERY hot spring in Mammoth Lakes so you do not miss any!
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🌅 About Rock Tub Hot Springs: Overview
Rock Tub Hot Spring is the first of many hot springs in Mammoth Lakes that you’ll likely encounter. Set at the edge of a meadow and with spectacular mountain views, Rock Tub Hot Springs is one of the most popular in the area… and for good reason.
Just a short 15-minute drive from Mammoth Lakes and with the tub conveniently located right next to the parking lot, Rock Tub is one of the most easily accessible hot springs in the Long Valley Caldera.
Hidden down a hill and nestled amongst greenery, Rock Tub provides a feeling of privacy and seclusion despite its proximity to the parking lot. Coupled with spectacular views over California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, it offers one of the most scenic hot tub vistas in the area. At a comfortable 100°F (37.8°c), this hot spring is cooler than some of the others, making it ideal for longer soaks or warmer seasons.
Due to its popularity, you can expect to share this pool with other hot tubbers. With this in mind, it’s also worth noting that Rock Tub, like the other hot springs in the area, is considered clothing optional and many choose to soak in the nude.
We visited late afternoon on a weekday in the summer and the hot tub was being enjoyed by a family with young children. After they left we had the hot spring to ourselves for about half an hour before we moved on. However, during that time there was another very friendly man nearby in an RV who had clearly made Rock Tub his temporary home!
🤷 Is Rock Tub Hot Springs the Same As Whitmore Hot Springs?
Short Answer: Yes, Rock Tub Hot Spring is often referred to as Whitmore Hot Spring.
Long Answer: No, Whitmore is actually the geothermal spring that provides heated water to the entire Mammoth Lakes region. In other words, there is no other TUB known as Whitmore Hot Spring but people often inaccurately use the names “Rock Tub” and “Whitmore” interchangeably.
The search for Whitmore Hot Springs caused us a lot of confusion! We popped “Whitmore Hot Springs” into Google Maps only to find ourselves on a dirt road that seemingly led nowhere with a sign saying “no access to hot springs” making it clear we were not the first to mistakenly end up here.
To ensure you end up in the right place, you’ll want to put Rock Tub Hot Springs into Google Navigation or follow the directions below.
If you search for “Whitmore Hot Springs” in Google Maps, you may arrive at Whitmore Pools (a public swimming pool) and despite having a “Whitmore Tub” listed, it is disappointingly not a hot spring.
Many of the hot springs in the area have more than one name locally, and Rock Tub Hot Springs is no exception. It is often referred to as Whitmore Hot Springs in blogs and online articles, but it is also a name commonly applied to the entire region outside of Mammoth Lakes!
For a complete answer and breakdown, we have created this complete guide to explaining and unraveling the Whitmore Hot Springs confusion.
🛁 Rock Tub Hot Springs Quick Facts
Open: Year-round
Size: Fits 4-6 people
Rock Tub Hot Spring Temperature: Approximately 100°F (37.8°c)
Development: Primitive
Clothing: Optional
Services: None
Rock Tub Hiking distance: None
Road Access: Any vehicle
Rock Tub Fees: None
Elevation: 7,000 ft (2,134 m)
Location of Rock Tub Hot Springs: Off Whitmore Tubs Road, about 10 miles east of Mammoth Lakes, California
Coordinates for Rock Tub Hot Springs: 37°38’51.4″N 118°48’28.9″W (open in Google Maps here)
📍 How to Get to Rock Tub Hot Springs
Of all the hot springs in Mammoth Lakes, Rock Tub is the easiest to get to, with the majority of the drive being on paved roads. However, as mentioned above, confusion often occurs when looking for Whitmore Hot Springs.
Ensure you put Rock Tub Hot Springs into Google Nav or follow the directions below to ensure you arrive at the correct location.
You do not require four-wheel drive nor high clearance to access Rock Tub, however, you may need to take it slow for the last 0.1 miles of dirt road.
Additionally, although the drive is fairly straightforward, cell service is limited in the area and the hot springs are not signposted. Therefore, I recommend downloading offline maps or saving the section below with driving instructions.
🚗 Directions to Rock Tub Hot Springs
Rock Tub Hot Springs is located along a dirt road off of Whitmore Tubs Road. GPS: 37°38’51.4″N 118°48’28.9″W
- From Mammoth Lakes take the US-395 S, or from Bishop take the US-395 N.
- Turn left if coming from Mammoth or right if coming from Bishop onto Benton Crossing Road. You will see a small green church at the junction.
- In 1.1 miles, turn left at the fork onto Whitmore Tubs Road. This road is gravel but well maintained with the occasional rut.
- After a further 1.1 miles turn right onto an unmarked small dirt road.
- Continue 0.1 miles to reach the primitive parking lot where you’ll park. You will be able to see the hot spring on the left near the end of the road.
The hot spring is open year-round, but the roads may be impassable in snow. During the winter, it is still possible to access the hot springs by cross country skiing, snowshoe, or snowmobile when the roads are closed if you’re feeling adventurous!
🗺 Map of Rock Tub Hot Springs
The map below shows the location of Rock Tub Hot Springs and driving directions from Mammoth Lakes. Click here or on the map above to open the directions in Google Maps.
☀️ When to Visit Rock Tub Hot Springs
The best time to visit The Rock Tub hot springs is at sunrise. Being here as early as possible gives you the best chance at being the first to arrive, meaning you may get some time in the tub to yourself. Additionally, this gives you the coolest temperatures for fully appreciating the superheated water. And, of course, watching the sun rise up over the distant mountains is pretty good incentive as well.
If morning is not your thing, sunset is also a beautiful time to visit. It is far more likely you will be sharing the space with others, but the evening light is beautiful at Rock Tub.
We assume you will be visiting the hot springs as part of a larger trip to Mammoth Lakes, so you may not have much seasonal flexibility in your California itinerary. The good news is that there is no bad season to visit as each offers unique pros and cons. Be aware that the road may be impassable following winter snow storms, however. In these instances, the hot springs themselves still remain open for the adventurous type who choose to visit by snowshoe, snowmobile, or skis.
If you are able to be picky, fall and spring are the best seasons for a visit to any of the Mammoth Lakes hot springs, including Rock Tub. The temperatures have dropped a bit, making daytime soaks more enjoyable, and the mosquitos are mostly gone. Additionally, a bit of snow on the Sierras really adds some magic to the scene.
🏕 Where to Stay near Rock Tub Hot Springs
🏨 Accommodation
You will notice many campers and RV parked throughout the Long Valley Caldera region where the Mammoth hot springs are located. While dispersed camping is popular here, we appreciate that not everyone is traveling by camper and some will simply prefer a solid four walls and proper bed!
Fortunately, Rock Tub Hot Springs is only 15 minutes drive from the city of Mammoth Lakes where ample accommodation options are available. Here you’ll find something to suit all budgets and needs from BnBs to cozy inns, large resorts and everything in between!
Find current prices and availability for accommodation in Mammoth Lakes here.
⛺️ Dispersed Camping
As mentioned, dispersed camping is extremely popular in the area surrounding Rock Tub Hot Springs. Almost the entire Long Valley Caldera is public land managed by the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management (BLM). “Freedom camping” is permitted on most of the secondary roads and pull offs unless otherwise signposted.
It is worth noting that camping in this way is primitive; you will not find any toilets or other facilities, and you are expected to help protect the public lands by packing out all of your trash, including human waste. Please also do not camp in the delicate meadowlands near the hot springs, use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances.
You can find out more about camping on public land on the BLM website and National Forest Service website.
🚍 RV / Developed Camping
The closest developed campsite to Rock Tub Hot Springs is Brown’s Owens River Campground, at just 11 minutes away. They offer both tent sites and RV sites with hook-ups. We cannot personally recommend this site as we chose to stay on BLM land, however it does have excellent reviews.
Within Mammoth Lakes you have many other campsites. Mammoth Mountain RV Park is the nearest facility with hook-ups, showers, and flushable toilets. It is only a 16 minute drive from Rock Tub Hot Springs so is still a good nearby option. We booked in here for one night while staying in town to recharge our water and batteries and found it a little pricey but extremely well-managed.
♨ Hot Springs Etiquette and Tips
Rock Tub Hot Springs and the other Mammoth Lakes hot springs are cherished by locals and visitors alike. They continue to remain open to the public and are ungoverned based on the collective cooperation of visitors.
Please be sure to read the following section carefully and help do your part to protect these natural wonders.
👙 Nudity
You will find that all the hot springs in the area are considered “clothing optional”. It is, therefore, likely that you will encounter other visitors enjoying the tubs in the nude.
While you can absolutely elect to wear a swimsuit, there is something special about experiencing these hot springs in your birthday suit and connecting with nature!
You will find that most people that choose to soak in the nude are respectful and discreet. However, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re visiting with kids or are uncomfortable with nudity.
🚮 Leave No Trace
Please follow all leave no trace principles. Leave the hot tubs as good as you found them… if not better! Local volunteers and visitors will often scrub the tubs and clear trash as they are not officially maintained. When we visited Rock Tub, a scrubbing brush and net had been left on the side and the kids that were in the pool before us had done a great job of removing a lot of algae. If children can help preserve these natural wonders, so can us adults!
Pack out what you pack in. There are no waste collection services so please take all of your trash with you.
Do not bring any glass containers to the springs! With so many rocks around, glass is easily broken and, with even the most thorough clean up, shards are likely to remain which will inevitably end up with someone being injured.
Finally, the meadow area surrounding Rock Tub Hot Springs is a fragile environment. Please stick to the trails and don’t venture off-trail into the surrounding meadows.
🦟 Bugs
While we didn’t experience any mosquitoes at Rock Tub Hot Springs, we did encounter some aggressive ones elsewhere in the area just after sunset in the summer. There are also fire ants around Rock Tub (which I found out after one bit my bum while I was sat on the ground petting a dog!).
Chemical insect repellants are not recommended as they will pollute the water source! Additionally, they will simply rinse off once you’re in the water. It might be worth applying some natural insect repellant, such as this plant-based option, to your face during the summer (you can submerge the rest of your body into safety!).
If you’re visiting in cooler months or during other times of the day you are far less likely to encounter any pesky bugs.
💧 Hydration
You will be soaking in 100-110°F (38-43°c) water and can easily become dehydrated without noticing. So while we highly recommend taking a few canned beers with you to the tub to enjoy at sunset, do not forget to also take plenty of water with you! It is recommended to take a gallon of water per person.
⛰ Altitude
Rock Tub Hot Springs is located at an elevation of 7,000 ft (2,134 m). While altitude sickness doesn’t typically have an effect until you’re above 8,000ft (2,500m), you may feel short of breath and dizzy at the hot springs due to the higher elevation, particularly in the first few days after you arrive. This will typically pass within a couple of days. It is, however, worth keeping in mind that the heat of the pool coupled with the higher elevation can cause you to feel dizzy sooner than you may expect.
🎒 Packing
You don’t need to bring too much with you to enjoy Rock Tub Hot Springs. However, I would recommend the following:
- A swimsuit if you’re not comfortable going nude or if there are families around!
- Flip flops or sandals that you don’t mind getting wet and possibly a bit muddy.
- A travel towel.
- Warm layers for before/after if it’s cold out.
- Ecofriendly/reef-safe sunscreen, our favorite is Stream 2 Sea sunscreen. As you’re at higher elevation, the UV rays are stronger here.
- Plenty of water! (Ideally in a reusable water bottle to protect the world from unnecessary plastic!). As mentioned, it is easy to get dehyrated due to the heat and elevation. A gallon per person is recommended.
- A small cooler of canned beer or your beverage of choice. Just please do not bring anything in glass.
- A camera! These hot springs are beautiful and you’ll likely want to capture the moment. All our photos were taken with our Sony a7riii.
🧼 Bathing
The Mammoth Lakes hot springs are for soaking, NOT for bathing. They are located within a delicate environment and the water from the pools feeds into this. Therefore, please do not use soaps in Rock Tub Hot Springs or any other of the local springs. Similarly, rinse off any insect repellant or chemical lotions before entering the pools to help protect the environment.
📞 Cell Service
The cell service in the area is extremely limited. Depending on your cell provider, you may get lucky and pick up some service, but be prepared to be without it and download offline maps to ensure you can get about with ease.
📜 More Nearby Hot Springs & Destinations
The two of us work very hard to create these free travel guides to help you plan your dream vacation. If you think we’ve done a good job and would like to say thanks, please consider clicking the donate button below 🙂
If you’re looking to explore more of the local springs, we highly recommend that you check out our thorough guide to the hot springs in Mammoth Lakes. We detail all the hot springs in the area and how to get to them so you don’t miss any!
You may also be interested in our other regional guides:
MAMMOTH LAKES GUIDES
- Hot Springs in Mammoth Lakes – A comprehensive guide to all nearby springs and tubs.
- Shepherd Hot Springs – Another easily accessible tub just 6 minutes away from Rock Tub Hot Springs.
- Hilltop Hot Springs – Another natural hot spring just 7 minutes from Rock Tub Hot Spring.
- Whitmore Hot Springs Explained – Unraveling the confusion about the Whitmore Hot Springs.
OTHER THINGS TO DO NEARBY
- Travertine Hot Springs – A collection of natural hot springs about an hour north.
- Buckeye Hot Springs – A cold water creek meets naturally heated pools along Buckeye Creek.
- June Lakes Loop – Beautiful scenic detour just a few minutes north of Mammoth Lakes.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK GUIDES
- Yosemite One Day Itinerary – The best way to spend limited time in Yosemite Valley.
- Ultimate Guide to Yosemite Firefall – How, where, and when to witness this incredible phenomenon.
- Yosemite Three Day Itinerary – Further insight on how to spend a long weekend in Yosemite National Park.
- Yosemite National Park Photography Guide – The best locations for sunrise, sunset, and daytime photography.
🤔 Final Thoughts on Rock Tub Hot Spring in mammoth Lakes, California
The two of us work very hard to create these free travel guides to help you plan your dream vacation. If you think we’ve done a good job and would like to say thanks, please consider clicking the donate button below 🙂
If you have read this far, you have learned everything you need to know for visiting The Rock Tub Hot Springs! We hope you have an amazing, enriching time during your visit. More than anything, we hope you leave it as good or better than you found it for future visitors.
Should you have discovered anything to be inaccurate or out of date following a visit of your own, please let us know in the comments below. Your feedback is always appreciated whether that be constructive criticism, positive reinforcement, or anything in between.
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