Hot Springs and Water Sites of the High Desert, Mapped

NOAA's federal thermal springs list records about 18 warm and hot springs in the desert within reach of Hesperia and Victorville, ranging from Deep Creek (108°F) to Coso Hot Springs (207°F). As of November 2026, only a few are open to the public, chiefly Tecopa Hot Springs Park in Inyo County and the Zzyzx springs trail in Mojave National Preserve. Deep Creek sits on Forest Service land and is listed as an affected site under an active closure order. Most of the others are on private, military or unconfirmed land.

Where does this hot springs list come from?

The core source is NOAA's Thermal Springs List for the United States, compiled by Berry, Grim and Ikelman. It covers about 1,700 springs in 23 states that reach 68°F (20°C) or more. Each entry gives a name where one exists, the highest recorded surface temperature and map references. NOAA lists USGS Professional Paper 492 as a related resource.

The original publication is dated June 1980. NOAA's data center decommissioned the dataset on May 5, 2025 and says it will not be updated. Each spring carries a single temperature with no reading date. In this post, "recorded" means listed in that 1980 source; we treat current flow as unconfirmed unless a newer official page says otherwise.

Which hot springs are in the High Desert area?

The temperatures below are the highest surface readings in the 1980 list. Coordinates are taken from the PANGAEA copy of the dataset.

We left out springs in the Kern River valley and at Furnace Creek, which fall outside this post's area.

Which hot springs can you visit legally?

Deep Creek Hot Springs

Deep Creek Hot Springs is the nearest hot spring to the Victor Valley. The shortest way in is a 2.5-mile trail down from Bowen Ranch Road, which crosses private land where a fee is charged. The longer option is about 6 miles each way on the Pacific Crest Trail. For trail details, see our Deep Creek Hot Springs guide.

Closure status (checked November 2, 2026): Forest Service Order 05-12-52-25-02 is in effect from July 2, 2025 through June 7, 2027; the alert was last updated September 10, 2026. It closes National Forest land within 50 feet of Deep Creek between the Hooks Creek confluence and Trail 2W01 at the Devil's Hole Trailhead, and it lists Deep Creek Hot Springs among the affected sites. The Forest Service hot springs page (updated January 5, 2026) still shows the site as open, and the exact boundary is drawn on the order's Exhibit A map. Call the Mountaintop Ranger District at (909) 382-2790 before you go.

A violation of the order can bring a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual.

Tecopa Hot Springs

Tecopa Park & Campground is run by Inyo County through a concessionaire on a new 10-year agreement. Its two bathhouses each hold enclosed hot mineral pools, with men and women soaking separately. Fees follow a county-approved schedule, and you book through the operator. To get there, take Highway 127 about 7 miles south of Shoshone, then turn onto Tecopa Hot Springs Road for 3 miles.

Zzyzx (Soda Springs)

The Zzyzx springs lie on the edge of Soda Dry Lake inside Mojave National Preserve. A National Park Service spring inventory (last updated 2015) records a trickle of under 1 liter per minute, classes the springs as not ephemeral, and lists the Mohave tui chub among the fish there. This is habitat, not a soaking spot. Per Cal State Fullerton's Desert Studies Center, visitors may use the short, ADA-accessible Lake Tuendae loop between dawn and dusk; the rest of the campus requires a reservation.

Saratoga Spring

Saratoga Spring lies within Death Valley National Park, one of five parks where NPS scientists track spring conditions. Treat it as protected habitat, not a swimming hole.

Which springs are private or off-limits?

According to a 2012 tribal resolution, the Navy took Coso Hot Springs by condemnation in 1947 as part of what is now Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The resolution asked Congress to move the Coso Hot Springs district out of Navy control and into tribal care. It sits on an active military installation, so do not try to reach it.

For springs marked "not verified," we found no current official page confirming public access. Assume they could be on private land, a military range or a closed area. Check ownership with the county or with the BLM Barstow Field Office at (760) 252-6000. We give no directions to these sites.

Where does the Mojave River come to the surface?

For most of its length the Mojave River runs below ground. The USGS lists the Lower Narrows and Afton Canyon as reaches with flow all year. Only in large flood years does water run the whole way to Silver Lake Playa.

• Mojave Narrows Regional Park: This county park at 18000 Yates Road in Victorville has two fishing lakes, Pelican and Horseshoe. As of November 2026, vehicle entry is $10 on weekdays, $15 on weekends and $20 on holidays, and the park is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 2027.
• Afton Canyon: The BLM counts it among just three spots in the Mojave Desert where the river stays above ground all year. It sits about 35 miles east of Barstow off I-15 and has a 22-site first-come campground at $6 a night.

What about the lakes?

Silverwood Lake is formed by Cedar Springs Dam, and State Parks calls it the State Water Project's highest-elevation reservoir. In its October 18, 2026 update, State Parks said day use and camping remain open but boating is closed because wind damaged the marina docks. Day use costs $10 per vehicle, or $20 on summer weekends and holidays.

Lake Dolores in Newberry Springs is a former water park that has been vacant since 2004. In March 2020, county supervisors approved plans for a waterpark, RV park and office and commercial buildings on the 267-acre property. It is closed to the public. Look from the public road only and do not go onto the site.

How does groundwater work in the Mojave Basin?

Homes and farms here depend mostly on groundwater, and a court judgment sets pumping rights in the Mojave Basin Area. The court named the Mojave Water Agency as Watermaster in 1993. MWA oversees roughly 450 parties and 1,700 wells.

According to the MWA FAQ, the adjudication covers anyone pumping 10 acre-feet or more a year. MWA also brings in State Water Project supplies from the California Aqueduct, and its Mojave River Pipeline can carry up to 45,000 acre-feet of imported water a year. See also our Hinkley post.

How can you see the map yourself?

• Thermal springs data: The PANGAEA table lists each spring with coordinates. The NOAA repository copy holds the 1980 publication.
• Plot the coordinates: Enter any latitude and longitude above in the USGS National Map viewer to view the spot on a topo map.
• Live water data: USGS Water Data for the Nation shows current readings from USGS stream gauges and wells.

Is it safe to soak in a natural hot spring?

The CDC warns that Naegleria fowleri "can cause a rare but almost always fatal infection if the ameba goes up the nose and to the brain." The ameba lives in warm fresh water, hot springs included. The CDC's swimming guidance says to keep your head above the surface in hot springs, avoid stirring up sediment, and hold your nose or use a nose clip if you jump in.

How Pleasant Hill can help

Weighing a home near the Mojave River or a desert parcel with a well? We can help you find the water and access records. Search homes, get a free home valuation, or contact us. In Hesperia, reach Nancy Navarro, or contact broker Dustin Bynum.

General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Rules, fees and rates change; confirm with the agency linked above or ask us. Pleasant Hill Real Estate Group · CA DRE Corp. #01997374 · AZ Entity Lic. #LC694532000 · Equal Housing Opportunity.