For me , every trip through the Eastern Sierra has to start or terminate with a raging spring . In a former lifespan , I call back I was a balneologist — one who studies the sanative effects of thermic baths . Now I just wish to pretend I ’m one !
I have my favourite , like the Long Valley Caldera classics off Benton Crossing Road , but I also jazz to discover new leaping , specially one that take me a few improper turns to find .
That ’s what happened with Travertine Hot Springs , a cluster of pools near the little - known town of Bridgeport . Or rather , it ’s a well - known town if you often shlep through the Sierra , despite a population of just 575 . You pass the whole town by the time you nictitate , but just in the south of it exists a somewhat surreal spring . There are no signs for Travertine until you actually strive the parking caboodle — a mile after the stain route round - off .
Walk past the concrete - lined tubful in the parking quite a little — the lazy man ’s puddle , as it ’s screw — and you ’ll reach a short trail with C - capped perspective of the Sawtooths .
If you goup — rather than down — the trail , you ’ll find yourself on a rocky , calcified ridge about split in half by a geothermal fissure .
Down below , five crude pools glimmer in the middle of a clay field .
A narrow public treasury carved by nature into the minuscule rooftree above the pools bring thermic weewee from its underground root up to the surface , where it trickles down an alien - like tufa — a rock and mineral establishment compose primarily of travertine ( a case of limestone for which the springs are name ) and a rainbow of alga .
The weewee from the source is piping raging , making the first tiny pond right below the tufa a toasty 105 ° F or so . As the water filters down into the remaining pools , it cause more and more cool . The very last pool , furthest from the tuff , is also the shallowest and feels like a lukewarm bathing tub .
There ’s a passel of mud in these pools . Slightly sulfuric and comfort on the skin … this is the case of stuff salons charge big money for . And you do n’t even get the view .
In fact , the whole area is so geothermally participating that natural spring have ignite everywhere , give the primer coat a soft , squishy feel as you take the air over mounds and volcanic crater of lily-livered - gray stiff . At times I was afraid I ’d step in quicksand !
A little past the principal syndicate are a few other spring deserving exploring , especially if you need privacy .
Though Travertine is a fairly well acknowledge and democratic slur for hot natural spring “ tourist , ” as I care to call them , there are times when you ’ll find the thermal baths and mountain views yours alone . Those are the wizardly times .
Surprisingly , I find that wizardly time in good order before sunset , when I thought the pools would be their busiest . As masses in varying degrees of cause and birthday case start out emptying out , the area took on a serene and otherworldly atmosphere with the sky mold reflections in the glassy water .
After a long hebdomad of mountain biking , kayaking and camping on the border of California and Nevada , a good soaking did me good .
Next prison term , I might just have to visit on a full synodic month night .
