Upper Warm Spring (Saline Valley)

Current status after the 2026 fire

On the evening of September 15, 2026, a fire started in the Lower Springs part of Saline Valley Warm Springs Campground. Investigators found that a propane grill set a palm tree alight. Nobody was hurt. The National Park Service says the fire stayed within the Lower Spring area, and the superintendent closed the burned ground there to all entry until further notice.

Upper Warm Spring is a couple of miles from the burn by road and is not named in any of the park’s closure notices. By October 5, 2026, more than half the campground had reopened, including Palm Spring and the camping area between Palm Spring and Lower Spring. A federal post-fire team was due to assess the Lower Springs site in mid-October, with debris removal expected in early winter.

For what is open and closed at the main camp, see the listings for Lower Warm Springs and Palm Spring. Before you drive in, check the Death Valley conditions page or call the park at 760-786-3200.

What to expect

Saline Valley Warm Springs is a group of three springs at the northeast edge of Saline Valley, a deep and empty basin in the northwest corner of Death Valley National Park. Lower Spring is the largest and the social center of the camp. Palm Spring sits a short way uphill and feeds two built tubs. Upper Warm Spring is the third and the most natural of the three.

There are no concrete tubs, showers or lawn here. The spring forms a deep pool of clear, blue-green water surrounded by cattails, arrowweed and grasses, with the Saline Range rising behind. Wikipedia’s Saline Valley article calls it the smallest and least disturbed of the springs and describes the water as lukewarm. Its article on the hot springs gives a source temperature of 102°F39°C and lists two soaking spots: a small pool with a sand bottom and a cooler pool. Either way, it is a mild soak, not a hot one.

The park’s 2019 management plan, which governs the springs today, says Upper Spring will stay undeveloped and that all nonnative plants there, palms included, will be removed. That is a deliberate contrast with Lower Spring and Palm Spring, where volunteer-built tubs remain and mature palms may live out their lives. Expect the area to look a little wilder and less shaded over time.

The springs have long mattered to the Timbisha Shoshone, whose village in the valley gave Saline Valley its name. Treat the place with that in mind.

Getting there

Getting anywhere in Saline Valley takes most of a day. The springs are roughly 35 to 40 miles from the nearest pavement, and the park says you need a high-clearance vehicle with all-terrain tires, with 4WD needed in some conditions. RVs and trailers are not suited to the road.

• From Big Pine (North Pass): Take CA-168 east, then Death Valley Road, then Saline Valley Road over North Pass at about 7,300 feet and down into the valley. Watch for the unmarked turn toward the warm springs on the valley floor, then follow the side road about six miles to the main camp. Allow about three hours and 60 miles from Big Pine.
• From CA-190 (South Pass): Saline Valley Road also runs north from CA-190 over South Pass. Storm damage has closed parts of it in recent years. Check current status before you try it.
• To Upper Warm Spring: From the main camp, Warm Springs Road (also called Painted Rock Road) continues past Palm Spring for about two more miles. OpenStreetMap maps the spring on this road. Conditions on this last stretch vary, so ask the camp host and be prepared to park and walk if it looks rough.

Fill up in Big Pine, carry a full-size spare, and bring all the water you will need.

When to go

October to April is the usual season. Summer daytime heat on the valley floor is extreme, and a breakdown at that time of year is a real emergency. Winter storms can close North Pass and South Pass with snow, so the cool months need a weather check too.

The lukewarm water at Upper Warm Spring changes the usual hot spring logic. It is most pleasant on mild spring and autumn days, and it feels cool on a cold winter evening. Many visitors soak in the warmer tubs at Palm Spring and walk or drive up to Upper Warm Spring in the middle of the day.

Holiday weekends are the busiest times in the main camp, but Upper Warm Spring stays quiet because it is a separate trip.

Rules and etiquette

• Park pass: No fee at the spring, but you need a Death Valley entrance pass ($30 per vehicle for seven days, or an annual or America the Beautiful pass).
• Camping: Free, first come, first served, and limited to 30 days per year. No camping within 100 feet of any source spring.
• Pets: Not within 50 feet of pools or springs.
• Health rules: Park rules bar anyone with an infectious illness, cough, cold, open sores or bandages from the pools. Children under four or not toilet-trained need waterproof swim diapers. Human waste in the water is banned.
• Leave it natural: Do not build rock walls, dig out the pool or add structures. The plan keeps this spring undeveloped, and new art must be temporary and removed when you leave.
• Clothing: Optional, as across Saline Valley. Lewd behavior is illegal, and you should ask before photographing anyone.
• Pack out everything. There are no toilets or trash cans at Upper Warm Spring. Use the vault toilets at the main camp.

Where to stay nearby

The only lodging in Saline Valley is your tent or vehicle. Use the open camping areas near Palm Spring or between Palm Spring and Lower Spring. Big Pine, at the start of the North Pass route, has a few small motels and the last fuel. Bishop, about 15 miles north of Big Pine, has many more hotels, restaurants and repair shops.

Safety notes

• Remoteness: There is no cell signal, no fuel and no reliable help. Leave your route and return date with someone, and carry a satellite messenger.
• Roads: Washouts, sharp rocks and soft sand are normal. Tire damage is the most common problem. Drive slowly and carry two spares if you can.
• Heat: Summer temperatures are dangerous. Carry far more water than you think you need.
• Water: Natural warm water can carry organisms such as Naegleria fowleri. Keep your head above the surface and do not drink it.
• Deep water: The pool is deep for a spring. Weak swimmers should take care, and nobody should soak alone after drinking.
• Wildlife: Burros and coyotes roam the area and will raid food. Lock food in your vehicle or a hard-sided container.
• Burn area: Stay out of the closed zone at Lower Springs on your way through. The park reported hot spots and hazardous material there.