Dirty Socks Hot Springs – Incomplete Resort in Eastern California

• Dirty Socks Hot Springs is a large concrete pool filled with hot mineral water
• The water is cloudy because of algae growing in it

A large concrete pool filled with hot mineral water, Dirty Socks Hot Springs is located in the Owens Valley desert, at the southeast edge of Owens Lake, 5 miles from the town of Olancha.

The hot mineral water was found in 1917 when a well was drilled in an effort to find freshwater. In 1927, a concrete pool and a few buildings were built to create a hot spring resort. After 10 years, the idea was abandoned, and all buildings were finally demolished.

The legend says that prospectors and miners from the nearby Cero Gordo Mine used the pool to wash their dirty clothes, and thus gave the water its unpleasant smell. In reality, volcanic sulfur is what gives water the specific "dirty socks "odor.

Dirty Socks Hot Springs Experience

The round-shaped pool is fed by underground hot springs emerging at 90°F from a depth of 12,000 feet (3,657 m). The pool is 78 feet wide and 4-5 feet deep.

The hot water is rising through a vertical pipe into the pool at about 200 gallons per minute. Minerals in water consist mostly of sulfates, magnesium, and calcium. The pool's water overflows into an adjusted pond.

The water is cloudy because of excessive algae growth, making the pool look unappealing to bathers.

Broken glass has been found in the dirt around and in the pool, so please be careful and wear shoes. This location is pet-friendly and open year-round. Parking is right by the spring, so no need for a long walk to get there.

The best time to visit is spring, fall, and winter. The summer is too hot.

There are no services on-site, and overnight camping is not prohibited.

You can also stay at the Keough Hot Springs Resort nearby. The resort has rustic tent cabins, RV sites, and tent campgrounds.

Additional lodging is available in Bishop or Big Pine.

Lodging in Bishop or Big Pine Hotels