Whitmore Hot Springs (Whitmore Pool)

What this listing covers

“Whitmore Hot Springs” is a name that confuses people. On maps it is the name of a small area in Long Valley, the broad volcanic basin southeast of Mammoth Lakes, and if you type it into a navigation app you will almost always land at Whitmore Pool, a public swimming pool run by the Town of Mammoth Lakes. That is what this page describes.

It is worth being clear about what the pool is and is not. The town and the local tourism office describe a staffed, outdoor lap and recreation pool. Neither says the pool is filled or heated with hot spring water, so we do not claim it is. If you came to the area for a natural soak, the free wild tubs a few miles farther out along Benton Crossing Road are what you want, and they are covered below.

What to expect

Whitmore Pool is a six-lane, 25-meter outdoor pool with a separate children’s wading pool. It sits on open ground at the edge of Long Valley, and Visit Mammoth points out that it has a 360-degree view of the Eastern Sierra. The surroundings are sagebrush flats and grazing land rather than trees, so on a clear summer afternoon you look straight across at the peaks above Mammoth and Convict Lake.

Facilities are simple and practical: restrooms, hot showers, a lawn with a shade structure, a barbecue area, vending machines, a small concession stand with snacks and soda, and free Wi-Fi. Red Cross certified lifeguards staff the pool, and Visit Mammoth notes it is the only local swimming spot with professional lifeguards. The pool also hosts swim lessons, an adult swim club and the Mammoth Sharks swim team.

This is a family place. Expect kids in the wading pool, lap swimmers in the morning and evening, and a relaxed, local crowd.

Getting there

From the town of Mammoth Lakes, take State Route 203 down to US-395 and turn south. After a few miles, turn left (east) onto Benton Crossing Road, also known as Green Church Road for the small green church at the junction. The pool is about a mile in, at 904 Benton Crossing Road, near Mammoth Yosemite Airport. The road is paved and there is a parking lot at the pool.

From Bishop, drive north on US-395 for about 40 minutes and turn right onto Benton Crossing Road.

When to go

Whitmore Pool is a summer facility and closes for winter. The 2026 season ran as follows:

• Lap swim: May 11 to September 11. Weekdays 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
• Open swim: June 13 to September 7. Monday to Friday noon to 3:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday noon to 4 PM.
• Adult swim club: May 19 to September 3, Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

The town publishes one-off changes for events, so check the pool page before you go. July and August are the warmest and busiest weeks. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Eastern Sierra in summer, and pools usually clear the water when there is lightning nearby.

Prices and booking

There is no booking for open swim. You pay at the gate. The 2026 daily rates:

• Adults 18+: $7
• Military or college students with ID: $6
• Youth 3 to 17: $5
• Mono and Inyo County K-12 students: $4
• Children 2 and under, seniors 80 and over: free
• Shower only during open swim: $3

Five-swim passes, monthly passes and annual memberships are also sold, and groups of 10 or more pay $5 each. Annual memberships are half price if you buy them in person in May or October. The pool takes cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and personal checks with ID. For questions, call 760-965-3692. For private rentals, call 760-965-3694.

Nearby hot springs worth adding

The real natural soaks are a short drive east. Benton Crossing Road continues into the heart of Long Valley, where geothermal water feeds a handful of free, undeveloped tubs on public land:

• Wild Willy’s (Crowley Hot Spring), a pair of natural pools reached by a boardwalk.
• Shepherd Hot Springs, a small concrete tub off Whitmore Tubs Road.
• Crab Cooker, a single concrete tub fed by a scalding spring through a valve.
• Hot Creek Geologic Site, where you can look at boiling springs in the creek but not swim.

These tubs have no lifeguards, toilets or bins, and they can be much hotter than a swimming pool. Read each listing before you go, and plan on dirt roads.

Where to stay nearby

Mammoth Lakes, about 15 to 20 minutes away, has the full range of hotels, condos and restaurants. Convict Lake, a few miles south off US-395, has a Forest Service campground and a resort with cabins. Crowley Lake, farther south, has a small store and a few places to stay. There is no camping at the pool.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimwear required. This is a public pool, not a clothing-optional soak.
• Share the lanes. Lap lanes during open swim are first come, first served, and the town asks swimmers to limit their time so others get a turn.
• Shower first and follow lifeguard instructions.

Safety notes

• Altitude: The pool is at about 7,000 feet. You tire faster and get sunburned quicker than at sea level. Drink water and take breaks.
• Sun and wind: There is little natural shade. Bring sunscreen and a hat, and a warm layer for when the afternoon wind picks up.
• Storms: Get out of the water at the first sign of lightning.
• Wild tubs: If you head on to the natural springs, test the water by hand first. Some run well over 105°F41°C.