Sespe Hot Springs
- Free
- 9.5 mi hike
Remote hot springs and a hot creek at about 2,600 feet in the Sespe Wilderness, reachable only on foot or horseback. The Forest Service describes three routes: the Sespe River Trail from Piedra Blanca, the Alder Creek Trail from Dough Flat near Fillmore, and the Johnston Ridge Trail from Mutau Flat. It recommends spring visits, since summer temperatures can top 100F.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Ojai
- Hike (one way)
- 9.5 mi
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
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|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
Rules
| Dogs | Yes |
|---|
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
What's here
- Sespe Wilderness
- remote: about 9.5-17.5 mi one way
- hot springs and hot creek
- foot and horse travel only
- elevation about 2,600 ft
- little shade or water on some routes
Getting there
| Elevation | 3,127 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Hike | 9.5 mi one way |
| Trail |
|
| Parking |
|
Things to do near Ojai
Piedra Blanca Trailhead
Hub for the Sespe River, Middle Sespe and Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca trails off Rose Valley Road.
Sespe Wilderness
219,000-acre wilderness around Sespe Creek, the last undammed river in Southern California.
Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center
Ojai district maps and Adventure Passes on Hwy 33; weekends 9am-3pm.
Campgrounds
- Shady Camp3.1 mi
- Oak Flat Camp4.6 mi
- Halfmoon Campground5.5 mi
- Dutchman Campground5.7 mi
Trailheads
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Willett Hot Springs
Primitive hot springs in the Sespe Wilderness, about 9 miles east of Piedra Blanca Trailhead on the Sespe River Trail and then 0.6 mile past Willett Camp. The area is open only to foot and horse travel, and parking at the trailhead requires a recreation pass. The Forest Service lists it among the four hot springs on Los Padres open to visitors.
Big Caliente Hot Springs
A day-use hot spring in the Upper Santa Ynez area of Los Padres National Forest, and the only spring on the forest modified with a small concrete retention structure. It sits beside the Big Caliente Picnic Area at the end of a long dirt-road drive from San Marcos Pass. The picnic area is closed under a storm-damage order through September 15, 2027.
Little Caliente Hot Springs
A primitive, undeveloped hot spring on the Santa Barbara Ranger District, a short walk from Mono Campground beyond Pendola Station. The Forest Service treats it as day-use only, with no camping at the springs. The Little Caliente Picnic Area and Mono Campground are closed under a storm-damage order through September 15, 2027.
Willett Hot Springs: 3 mi · Big Caliente Hot Springs: 32 mi · Little Caliente Hot Springs: 35 mi
Sources (9)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.
- Official site: Hotsprings3 07.pdf
- Official site: Sespe hot springs2007.pdf
- Official site: Sespe wilderness
- Official site: Piedra blanca trailhead
- Official site: Johnston ridge trailhead 20w12
- Official site: Dough flat trailhead
- Official site: Sespe condor sanctuary closure 0
- Official site: Alerts
- Official site: Wheeler gorge visitor center