Palm Spring (Saline Valley Warm Springs)

What to expect

Saline Valley Warm Springs is a cluster of springs in the northeast corner of Saline Valley, a remote basin in the northwest part of Death Valley National Park. There are three springs. Lower Spring is the largest and the busiest. Upper Warm Spring is a small, undeveloped, lukewarm pool. Palm Spring sits between them, a short distance uphill from Lower Spring, and is the subject of this page.

At Palm Spring, a source surrounded by mature California fan palms feeds two built soaking tubs, known as the Wizard Pool and the Volcano Pool. It is smaller and quieter than Lower Spring and has a wide view across the valley floor toward the Inyo Mountains. Water at the springs averages about 107°F42°C at the source. The park does not post tub temperatures, and they shift with flow and weather, so test before you climb in.

This is not a resort. The tubs, showers and art scattered around the camp were built by visitors and volunteers from the 1950s and 1960s on, long before the land passed from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service in 1994. A 2019 park plan let the existing tubs at Lower Spring and Palm Spring stay in use. The atmosphere is that of a long-running desert camp: clothing optional, social, and run on shared rules more than signs.

The 2026 fire and what is open

On the evening of September 15, 2026, a fire broke out in the Lower Springs area. Investigators with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service found that a propane grill set a palm tree alight. Dead fronds carried the flames through dozens of nonnative palms, and the fire destroyed the volunteer host site, a shed and pool plumbing. Nobody was hurt.

The park reopened part of the camp on September 17. As of the park’s October 5 update and the October 12 conditions page:

• Open: Palm Spring, the camping area between Lower Spring and Palm Spring, and the double-vault toilet at Lower Spring.
• Closed: The burned Lower Springs area, including the former lawn, the host site and the lower soaking tubs such as Crystal Pool. It is closed to all entry under a superintendent’s order until rescinded.

A federal post-fire team was due to assess the site in mid-October, and debris and a partly burned battery bank are expected to be cleared in early winter. Do not go into the closed area or try to repair anything yourself. Expect Palm Spring to be busier than usual while the lower tubs are out of use.

Getting there

The springs are about 35 miles from the nearest paved road. The park says you need a high-clearance vehicle with all-terrain tires, and that 4WD may be needed depending on conditions. Carry a full-size spare and know how to change it.

• North Pass from Big Pine (main route): From US-395 in Big Pine, take CA-168 east about 3 miles, then turn right onto Death Valley Road. After about 14 miles, turn right onto Saline Valley Road. The road climbs over North Pass at about 7,300 feet, runs through Marble Canyon, then drops to the valley. Turn left onto the unsigned but well-used Warm Springs Road and follow it to Lower Spring, with Palm Spring a little further on. Plan on roughly 60 miles and about 3 hours from Big Pine.
• South Pass from CA-190: Saline Valley Road also leaves CA-190 between the CA-136 junction and Panamint Springs and crosses South Pass at about 6,000 feet. After the 2023 floods the park listed South Pass as closed, and North Pass as the only open route. Confirm the current status before trying it.
• Lippincott Road and Steel Pass: Both are steep, rough, 4WD-only routes for experienced drivers. Steel Pass past Palm Spring was also closed by flood damage in 2023.

Fill up in Big Pine, or at Panamint Springs if you come from the south. There is no fuel, water or cell signal in the valley. The Chicken Strip, an airfield next to the springs, is open to private pilots under a special regulation.

When to go

The springs sit at about 1,375 feet, so the valley floor is hot for much of the year. October to April is the usual season, with mild days and cold nights. Summer heat is extreme, and the park advises at least a gallon of water per person per day in the warmer months.

Winter brings its own problem. Both passes are high, and snow can block them for days. Storms also wash out sections of Saline Valley Road, sometimes for months. Holiday weekends draw the biggest crowds. Midweek in late fall or early spring is quieter.

Rules and etiquette

• Entrance pass: Camping is free, but you need a valid Death Valley entrance pass. Buy it online on Recreation.gov before you lose signal.
• Stay limit: Up to 30 days per park year, which runs July 1 to June 30. Sites are first come, first served. Up to eight people and two vehicles per site.
• Source pools are off limits. Do not bathe in the source pools at Palm Spring or Lower Spring, and do not camp within 100 feet of a source spring.
• Clothing optional. Nudity is normal here. Ask before taking photos of anyone.
• Keep the water clean. Rinse off sand before you get in. Children under four or not potty trained need swim diapers.
• Fires: Bring your own firewood. No gathering wood, no glass in fire pits, and no new fire rings. Generators run only from 7 am to 7 pm.
• Wildlife: Do not feed the burros or coyotes. Lock food away; both will raid an unattended camp.
• Pack it out. There is no trash service.

Where to stay nearby

Most people camp at the springs themselves, in the open area between Lower Spring and Palm Spring. Bring shade, water and everything else you need. Upper Warm Spring is about 2 miles further up the road for a look at the undeveloped pool, but you will soak at Palm Spring.

For a motel the night before, Big Pine has a few small motels, and Bishop, about 15 miles further north on US-395, has the most rooms, restaurants and supply stores in the area. Lone Pine is the base if you are coming in from the south.

Safety notes

• Remoteness: You are hours from help. Tell someone your route and return date, carry a satellite messenger, and bring extra water, food and fuel.
• Vehicle trouble: Flat tires are the most common problem. Two spares are not overkill on this road.
• Heat: Hot tubs and desert heat together can bring on heat illness fast. Drink water, keep soaks short, and rest in the shade.
• Water quality: Do not put your head under the water, and never drink from the springs.
• Burn area: Keep out of the closed Lower Springs zone. The park warns of unstable dead trees, holes and toxic materials there.