Saline Valley Warm Springs

This is a little hidden campground in a remote corner of Death Valley National Park. Getting here is not easy but it is well worth the effort.

This is inside Death Valley National Park so while the camping doesn't have a nightly fee you must pay to be in the Park or otherwise have an annual pass. There is no way to pay upon arrival at the springs so make sure you either buy a pass ahead of time or swing by the visitor center on your way.

My understanding of this place is that a bunch of nudists came out here back in the 60's or 70's when it was still BLM land, found the springs, built hot tubs, piped in water, planted palm trees, and pretty much lived here. When Death Valley was expanded and promoted to a National Park in the 1990's the Park Service tried to ticket people for nudity, kick them out, and bulldoze the site back into the desert. Cooler heads prevailed and the site is still there, although today one has to obey NPS camping limits. I've heard that nudity in the tubs is unofficially tolerated, or maybe the rangers just don't come out here much.

The Lower Warm Spring has a large stone patio surrounding hot tubs shaded by palm trees. Overflow water from the tubs maintains a lush green lawn fenced in to keep the wild burros out. Other amenities include an outhouse, a library, a shower with hot and cold running water gravity fed from the springs, and a caretaker.

The Middle Warm Springs also has a few tubs and some palm trees but is nowhere near as developed as the Lower Spring.

There are Upper Springs as well but they have not been developed at all.

The military uses this area for high speed/low altitude flight training. If you hear something that sounds like thunder rumbling off the mountains it's just the jets playing. There is also a rough civilian airstrip a little ways to the west of the springs.

There are a few ways to get here, some much rougher than others. I've seen lots of truck campers and a few small trailers out here but nothing big. As with all remote desert roads, conditions can change rapidly; a wise traveler will inquire as to current conditions before setting out and be prepared to turn around in deteriorating conditions. This is a very remote spot and you definitely want to be well equipped with maps, spare tires, parts, and lots of water and fuel before heading out. Don't expect any cell service here. Nearest fuel is in Big Pine to the north and Panamint Springs to the south.

Usually the easiest way in is from the North. Turn south off of CA-168 about 2.3 miles east of the town of Big Pine, CA onto Death Valley Road. The intersection is well marked. Follow the road for about 45 miles over the mountains and down into a large valley (Saline Valley). Eventually you will find yourself on the edge of a dune field where you will turn east onto Warm Springs Road, also known as Bat Rock Road.

If you're coming from Death Valley National Park you can take the more direct route from the South. Just outside the Park's western boundary on CA-190 you'll turn north onto Saline Valley Road which is also well marked. You'll pass over mountains and drop into the southern end of Saline Valley. After 45 miles you'll end up at the same intersection with Warm Springs/Bat Rock Road as described coming from the north. It's been a few years since I used this route but I remember some rough high clearance 4wd sections shortly after starting the descent into the valley. I've heard it has gotten better since then but be prepared. There are also some spots of deep sand on the valley floor.

Whether you came from the north or south you should now be at the intersection with Saline Valley/Bat Rock Road on the edge of the sand dunes. Head east across the valley floor and along the edge of the dune field. You'll know you're in the right place when you see the weird Bat Rock Road sign. After about 7 miles you'll be at the Lower Warm Springs where most of the infrastructure is. Less than a mile further up the road are the Middle Warm Springs, also known as Palm Springs.

Both routes traverse higher elevations on their way into the valley and may be snowed in during the colder months. Keep an eye on the weather so you don't get trapped in here.

There are too many intersections with various other backcountry roads along both routes to describe here and which way you should go will not always be obvious. Bring maps and know how to use them.

There are 2 other ways into this valley (Steele Pass Road and Lippincott Mine Road) but they are both very technical 4wd trails so I will not describe them here. If you play that game then you should already know where to look for the information you'll need.

There’s also a dirt airstrip for those wanting to fly in ( brush up on your STOL skills first ) & join the Saline Preservation Association for more information!

Things may have changed in the last nine years but on my visit this was an informal nudist camp. The only place a fully clothed person would have felt ill at ease was in the area shown in the photo labeled "Entering the Oasis".

You want to soak? There's lots of old naked, wrinkled hippies in dirty pools gawking at you. Go to the hot spring if that's your thing!

It's a 3-hour long, dusty drive on horribly wash-boarded roads. If you don't have good tires, i.e. at least C-rated truck tires, the sharp rocks could slice your tires open. God forbid if you run out of gas because the nearest gas station is hours away. There is no cell service pretty much anywhere in the valley. Even if you could call a tow truck it will cost you over $1000.

Don't visit the hot springs in the summer. Who wants to soak in a hot spring when it's 120 degrees. If you go in the spring/fall/winter....there is at least a 50% chance the regular roads to the springs will close due to snow or falling rocks. The other two roads (Steel pass and Lippicott Road) are treacherous unless you have a high clearance 4x4. The campsites are dusty with very little shade. The winds usually pick up around sunset to at least 20 mph. Very hard to get a good night sleep.
There is burro poop all over the campground. The burros harass you for food.

Skip the place. It's not worth the 3 hours drive down the bone jarring, tire-shredding roads. There are lots of better hot springs off of highway 395.