Willett Hot Springs

What to expect

Willett Hot Springs is a backcountry soak in the Sespe Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest, north of Ojai. It is not a natural rock pool. Hot water from the hillside has been piped into a single round tub, roughly 8 feet across, that sits in brush on a slope above Sespe Creek. It holds a handful of people comfortably and looks out over the creek valley and the dry chaparral ridges around it.

Visitor reports put the water at about 100 to 103°F38 to 39°C when the pipes are working. That is the key caveat here. The plumbing is maintained informally, mainly by hikers and volunteers, and storms have knocked it loose more than once. In one 2016 report the pipes had fallen out and the tub held only a couple of inches of water. Another hiker in early 2024 found cold-water pipes moved after heavy rain. Most of the time someone has put things back together, and a 2017 report noted the tub refilling in about half an hour after being drained and scrubbed. Water in the tub can look slightly green.

There are no facilities at the tub itself. Willett Camp, about 0.6 miles below, has a small bunkhouse cabin, two pit toilets, a few picnic benches and sandy sites along the creek. A spring box and spigot there sometimes supply water, but it is often dry or sulfur-tasting, so plan to filter creek water.

Getting there

The usual start is Piedra Blanca Trailhead at the end of Rose Valley Road (Forest Route 5N24/6N31), off California Highway 33.

• From Ventura: Take Highway 33 north about 11.5 miles to Ojai. Stay on Highway 33 as it climbs into the national forest for about 13 more miles, then turn right onto Rose Valley Road. Drive about 5.6 miles past Rose Valley Falls and Middle Lion Campground to the large parking area at the end of the road.

The road is paved and fine for normal cars. Display a Forest Adventure Pass or an America the Beautiful pass. Camping at the trailhead lot is not allowed.

From the lot, the Sespe River Trail (also called the Sespe Creek Trail) heads east downstream along the creek. Most guides put Willett at about 9.5 miles, with Bear Creek Camp near the halfway point. Elevation change on the main trail is only about 500 feet, but the path rolls over side ridges, crosses dry washes and fords Sespe Creek several times. Some crossings are rock hops in a dry year and knee to thigh deep after a wet winter. The trail camps on the way are not signed, so carry a map and check your position.

Near Willett Camp, watch for the junction with the spur trail. In April 2025 a hiker reported the main trail washed out near that junction, which meant walking a few hundred yards in the creek bed. The final 0.6 miles up to the tub is steep and narrow, with a section damaged by an old landslide. It is not a trail to do for the first time in the dark.

When to go

Spring, April to June, is the best window. The creek is flowing, swimming holes along the way have water, and days are warm but not brutal. It is also the busiest period, and spring weekends can bring dozens of backpackers to the Willett area.

Late fall and winter are quieter and can be pleasant, with cool nights near freezing and mild, sunny days. The tradeoff is creek level. After big storms the crossings can be dangerous or impassable, so watch the forecast and turn back if the water is fast or above your knees.

Summer is a poor time to walk this trail. The canyon is exposed, temperatures run very hot, and water sources dry up. Late in the dry season, creek pools turn stagnant.

Rules and etiquette

• No wilderness permit is needed, and trail camps are first come, first served.
• Parking needs a pass. An Adventure Pass is sold at many Southern California outdoor retailers. An America the Beautiful pass also works.
• Fire rules: You need a free California Campfire Permit to use a stove or build a campfire, and seasonal fire restrictions often ban open fires entirely. Check before you go.
• Wilderness rules apply: no bikes and no motor vehicles.
• Clothing varies. Some people soak nude, others wear suits. Read the group and be considerate.
• Do not use soap in the tub and do not take glass on the trail.
• Pack out everything. Volunteers regularly haul bags of trash out of Willett Camp. Do not add to it.
• Share the tub. It is the only one, and people have hiked a long way to reach it.

Where to stay nearby

Backcountry: Willett Camp is the natural base, about 0.6 miles below the tub. There is also a single tent site near the springs. Ten Sycamore Flat, Oak Flat and Bear Creek camps are further back toward the trailhead and make sense if you are splitting the walk.

Near the trailhead: Middle Lion Campground is about a mile from Piedra Blanca on Rose Valley Road. It has eight sites with tables, fire rings and a vault toilet, and is reservable on Recreation.gov. There is no drinking water. Rose Valley Campground is nearby as well.

Town: Ojai has inns, motels and restaurants and is the closest town to the trailhead. Ventura, on the coast, has the widest range of hotels.

Safety notes

• Creek crossings: The main hazard after rain. Unbuckle your pack hip belt, use poles, and do not cross fast or deep water.
• Heat and water: The trail is exposed and hot from late spring on. Carry more water than you think, and treat all creek and spring water.
• Poison oak: It grows along the trail and around the tub, and one report described reaching the tub through overgrown poison oak. Wear long pants.
• Black flies and ticks: Hikers report aggressive black flies in warm months. Long sleeves help.
• Rattlesnakes: Common in the Sespe in warm weather. Watch where you put your hands.
• The spur trail: Narrow and steep with a drop-off. Walk it in daylight.
• Remoteness: There is no cell service, and help is many hours away. Leave a trip plan with someone.

Nearby stops worth adding

Sespe Hot Springs lies about 6 miles further down the Sespe River Trail and then up a side canyon. Its source water is close to boiling, and the pools in the creek below are a very different experience from Willett’s tub. See the Sespe Hot Springs listing for routes. Closer to the trailhead, the short Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca Trail leads to the white sandstone formations that give the trailhead its name.