After staying put for two weeks, it was exciting to get on the road again on 30 May 2019 and to see new sights. Just a few miles north of where we had camped at Crowley Lake Campground, is this fascinating geothermal area—Hot Creek Geologic Site. Margaret found out about this area from the ebook, California Boondocking: The Desert and Eastern Sierra—A Frugal Shunpiker’s Guide by Marianne Edwards, which has been an invaluable guide for us. Hot Creek begins mostly from snow melt as Mammoth Creek in the eastern Sierra Nevada. It flows east through the Long Valley Caldera, where the water is warmed by geothermal springs at the Hot Creek State Fish Hatchery. The geothermal springs come up through two faults as scalding hot calcium-rich water into several pools along the creek at the bottom of the Hot Creek Gorge. Parts of the creek were actually fenced off due to the “geysering” of the hazardously hot water back in 2006.
The view from the top of the gorge in the parking area is impressive, but walking down to the creek on the paved trail is the best way to see the creek and geothermic pools. We walked west beyond the paved part of the trail to the end of the dirt path where the clear and cool creek water rushes over large river rocks. People are allowed to fish in this area. The views in every direction left us awestruck and led Margaret and me to take lots of photographs and videos. We spent an enjoyable hour-and-a-half there. We are very glad we visited this out-of-the-way geological gem on our West Coast States Adventure!
Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail, and the weather was cool; so Margaret brought Peaches along. [Margaret's text for the rest of this paragraph.] After we walked from the parking lot to the trail, Peaches decided she needed to go poop. Well, I always carry her poop bags on her Flexi Leash, so no problem. All I would have to do is either carry the filled bag on the tour (she has tiny poopettes, no surprise) or walk back to the first trash can I found. As I was bending down, I was startled by a young man from a tour group approaching me suddenly. He graciously offered to take Peaches' used poop bag back to a trash can so I wouldn't have to or have to carry it with me on the trail. Wow! What a knight in shining armor. I never expected such a thing. I was very grateful for his kindness and thanked him profusely when he left and when he returned to his tour group. Doesn't that little act just make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
Driving east on Hot Creek Hatchery Road. Photo by Virginia.
Hot Creek Geothermal Site is about 3-1/2 miles east of Highway 395. Photo by Virginia.
The Roadtrek with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. Photo by Virginia.
A three minute movie by Virginia.
[If you have trouble viewing this embedded movie,
[If you have trouble viewing this embedded movie,
you may view it directly here: https://youtu.be/cx8ZOfBH7cE]
The view from the top of the gorge in the parking area is impressive, but walking down to the creek on the paved trail is the best way to see the creek and geothermic pools. We walked west beyond the paved part of the trail to the end of the dirt path where the clear and cool creek water rushes over large river rocks. People are allowed to fish in this area. The views in every direction left us awestruck and led Margaret and me to take lots of photographs and videos. We spent an enjoyable hour-and-a-half there. We are very glad we visited this out-of-the-way geological gem on our West Coast States Adventure!
Hot Creek Gorge with the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. Photo by Margaret.
The Hot Creek geothermal pools. Photo by Virginia.
Hot Creek Gorge and Creek. Photo by Margaret.
Hot Creek to the east. Photo by Margaret.
Hot Creek to the west. Photo by Virginia.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail, and the weather was cool; so Margaret brought Peaches along. [Margaret's text for the rest of this paragraph.] After we walked from the parking lot to the trail, Peaches decided she needed to go poop. Well, I always carry her poop bags on her Flexi Leash, so no problem. All I would have to do is either carry the filled bag on the tour (she has tiny poopettes, no surprise) or walk back to the first trash can I found. As I was bending down, I was startled by a young man from a tour group approaching me suddenly. He graciously offered to take Peaches' used poop bag back to a trash can so I wouldn't have to or have to carry it with me on the trail. Wow! What a knight in shining armor. I never expected such a thing. I was very grateful for his kindness and thanked him profusely when he left and when he returned to his tour group. Doesn't that little act just make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
Peaches in the creek (before it gets hot)! Photo by Virginia.
Virginia on the trail above the creek. Photo by Margaret.
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