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Dispersed Camping

Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping

Crab Cooker Hotsprings, near Mammoth Lakes, California, is a unique spot for those who enjoy a more rugged camping experience. This location offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature with stunning mountain views and the soothing presence of nearby hot springs.

The area is perfect for tent camping, RVs, or even glamping, though be prepared for a bit of a trek to reach the hot springs. Visitors have shared that the scenery is breathtaking, with one camper noting, “Woke up to the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life.” Just keep in mind that amenities are limited—there's no drinking water or trash service, so plan accordingly.

If you're up for some adventure, the hot springs are a highlight, but they can be a bit tricky to find. Some campers have mentioned that the water can get quite hot, so be ready for that! The peaceful atmosphere is complemented by the occasional friendly cow wandering by, adding a touch of charm to your stay.

For those who love stargazing, the clear night skies here are a real treat. As one reviewer put it, “The hot spring was awesome and so many stars at night!” Whether you're looking to relax in the springs or explore the surrounding wilderness, Crab Cooker Hotsprings offers a memorable escape into the great outdoors.

Description

County

Located near Mammoth Lakes, Crab Cooker Hot Springs is one of several hot water springs in the area that are suitable for soaking in. The pool consists of a manmade cement tub with water piped in from a mineral spring about 30 feet away. Though the water at the source is too hot to bathe in, or even to touch, the tub has been outfitted with a valve that allows for the control of hot water.

Crab cooker is located on land that is owned by the LA Department of Water and Power, which forbids camping. However, camping is permitted on nearby public land.

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Location

Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

The Crab Cooker hot springs are found off of Benton Crossing Road off of Hwy 395 (easy to find as the turnoff to Benton Crossing is marked by an iconic green church.) After turning onto Benton Crossing Road, pass the 3rd cattle gate, and then take a left on the next dirt road. At the end of this road you’ll find a parking area and then a .2 mile path to the hot spring. The dirt road to the hot spring is pretty rough and so a 4WD vehicle is definitely recommended, or in the least a car with high clearance.

Coordinates

37.66276034 N
118.80015327 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Dispersed
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping needs a permit.

Contact

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Reviews

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11 Reviews

Reviewed Mar. 30, 2024

Great spot

We didn’t want to take our camper and trailer combo down the side road to the hot springs but it was only a short bike ride.  We camped in a wide spot on the road, but only 2 cars went by.  It was late March and we woke up to snow. There are many nooks to camp in, but some of the side roads are narrow and rutted.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Cindy L., March 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Cindy L., March 30, 2024
Reviewed Sep. 27, 2023

Easy to find

Was able to easily find this spot using directions from this app. We came on Labor Day weekend, Sunday and easily found a spot. It was right off the main road so not the best spot but it was perfect for the night. The hot spring was awesome and so many stars at night!

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Carrie , September 27, 2023
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Carrie , September 27, 2023
Reviewed Sep. 20, 2022

Absolute bliss

Decided to camp out for a couple days after work, didn’t get there til 3am and apparently missed a huge rainstorm by a couple hours. Needless to say we had the hot springs to ourselves the majority of the trip, parking at the edge of the dirt road with only one other car in sight , which I was told was super lucky. Woke up to the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life. The moon was bright but still being able to sit back and watch the stars in a hot spring in the middle of the night was unreal. Not to mention the friendly cows who came to say hello and decided to hang out.

SiteNo sites just the road
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Issac V., September 20, 2022
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Issac V., September 20, 2022
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Reviewed Oct. 26, 2021

Great spot!

I camped here in October and there was only a small handful of people here. Nice open area with views of the mountains. Watch out if it's windy because there isn't much covering.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Dana W., October 26, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2021

Amazing views

I went here solo camping with my dog in may 2021. Great little spot. Pretty busy on the weekends though. It was also crazy windy which I think cooled off the hot spring a bit.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Alicia , June 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Alicia , June 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Alicia , June 30, 2021
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Reviewed May. 22, 2021

Great vibes, great views

Super cool spot. We set up our tents with a view of the hot springs. The hot spring was kind of broken when we were there so that was a bummer, but you could hike out to the slightly muddy creek for some hot water. Beautiful area, and hopefully the other guys staying there fixed the hot spring by now, they were working on it:)

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Alyssa L., May 22, 2021
Reviewed Mar. 16, 2021

Super Cool, But Too Hot To Handle!

Got here early in the afternoon to find a group of friendly folks repairing the pipe that fills the man-made tub.

Apparently it had recently broken and caused the pool to cool down so much that it was growing all sort of funky stuff.

They repaired the pipe and cleaned up the pool, but informed me it would need at least one overnight cycle to cool off enough to be enjoyable.

Sure enough, I went down and could barely leave my fingers in for much more than five seconds.

So, I gave it a quick stir (see video) and moved on over to Shepherd's Hot Spring just over the hill!

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Reviewed Aug. 14, 2020

Sleep with the Cows

Camped in August. Busy little spot for dispersed camping. Tents and vans were there. Views on one side are mountains. Views on the other are rolling fields / foothills with lots of cutie vocal Moo Moos and Alkali Lake! You can see other hot springs in the distance. No shade. Lots of flies and red ants. Found this spot just driving side roads off of Benton Crossing Rd which is off the 395. Amazing sunsets and sunrises. The crab cooker hot spring was a little confusing to find. Once you find it... it’s TINY. 3 people comfortably. And HOT HOT HOTTTT!

  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Rachel W., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Rachel W., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Rachel W., August 14, 2020
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Reviewed Jul. 9, 2020

Private hotspring with mountain views

4x4 or high clearance coming in. Long dirt road with dips and rocks. Water only flowing in winter months. Lots of tent camping spots along with 8 back in spots. Really amazing views 360 degrees. No service with Verizon.

  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Thomas K., July 9, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Thomas K., July 9, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Thomas K., July 9, 2020
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Reviewed Jul. 8, 2020

Hot spring with Mountain View’s!

Rocking road coming in but worth it for the view. About 8 spots at the end of the dirt road. Only one bar of service. It would be hard to access with anything thing over 22ft.

  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Thomas K., July 8, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Thomas K., July 8, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by Thomas K., July 8, 2020
  • (7) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the elevation of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping?

    Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping is located at 6914 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is available, and T-Mobile is available.