Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping

Free dispersed camping along a dirt road network, Crab Cooker Hotsprings requires high clearance or 4WD access due to dips and rocks in the route. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power manages this open camping area that draws visitors primarily for the natural hot spring and expansive mountain views.

Campers set up in various spots along the main road and side routes, with some pull-in areas accommodating both tents and vans. The landscape offers views of mountains on one side and rolling fields with Alkali Lake on the other, plus grazing cattle that occasionally wander through the camping area. Rachel W. notes "Views on one side are mountains. Views on the other are rolling fields / foothills with lots of cutie vocal Moo Moos and Alkali Lake!" No shade exists in this open terrain, and campers report issues with flies and red ants during warmer months.

The hot spring itself sits small and runs quite hot, accommodating about three people comfortably. Water flow varies seasonally, with winter months providing the strongest flow. Reviews indicate the spring occasionally needs repairs to maintain proper temperature and cleanliness. Several nearby alternatives include Shepherd Hot Springs and Crab Cooker Hot Springs within walking distance.

Weekend crowds increase significantly, while weekday visits offer more solitude. Wind exposure can be intense without natural windbreaks. Cell service varies by carrier, with some reporting no Verizon coverage. The area serves as a base for exploring other hot springs visible in the distance and provides access to camping spots around Mammoth Lakes for additional options.

Road conditions and spring functionality can change, so campers should prepare backup plans and bring adequate water supplies.

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Location

Dispersed Camping

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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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 16 users
    Last on 3/30/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 15 users
    Last on 3/30/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 24 users
    Last on 3/30/26

Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 16 users
    Last on 3/30/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 15 users
    Last on 3/30/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 24 users
    Last on 3/30/26

Access

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

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • 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

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Contact

General Info

Drive Time


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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted spectacular mountain views and hot springs access, though several guests reported maintenance issues with the springs themselves. Numerous reviews referenced challenging 4x4 road access and weekend crowds, making weekday visits preferable for solitude.

Reviewed Oct. 30, 2025

Crab Cooker Hot Springs

Visited the Hot Springs in late October and was pleasantly surprised with the location, warm in the daytime and cool at night. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and views. The Hot Springs were delightful.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by ADELA T., October 30, 2025
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by ADELA T., October 30, 2025
  • Review photo of Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping by ADELA T., October 30, 2025
  • (14) View All
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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  • (4) View All
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
  • (8) View All
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
  • (6) View All
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
  • (6) View All
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

Where is Crab Cooker Hot Springs located and how do I get there?

Crab Cooker Hot Springs is located near Mammoth Lakes with views of Alkali Lake and surrounding mountains. Access requires navigating a long dirt road with dips and rocks that demands high clearance or 4x4 vehicles. The route is challenging for larger vehicles over 22 feet. At the end of this dirt road, you'll find about 8 designated back-in spots for camping and additional areas for tent camping. The hot springs are visible from the main road, with some visitors opting to camp on the main road and bike to the springs when vehicle access is difficult.

Is Crab Cooker Hot Springs currently open or closed?

Crab Cooker Hot Springs is currently open for dispersed camping. The hot spring is accessible year-round, though water flow and temperature vary seasonally. The spring flows best during winter months, while summer and fall visitors may experience reduced water levels. The condition of the hot spring can change, as the man-made tub occasionally needs maintenance when pipes break or the pool needs cleaning. Weekends tend to be busier, while weekdays offer more solitude.

What's the difference between Crab Cooker Hot Springs and Shepherd's Hot Spring?

Crab Cooker Hot Springs features a man-made tub fed by natural hot water through a pipe system that occasionally requires maintenance. The area offers about 8 vehicle camping spots at the end of a rough dirt road, plus additional tent camping areas with 360-degree views of mountains and Alkali Lake. From Crab Cooker, you can actually see other hot springs in the distance. Shepherd's Hot Spring is one of these nearby thermal features in the same general region. While specific details about Shepherd's are limited in comparison, the two springs are part of the same geothermal area but offer different soaking experiences.