Buckeye Hot Spring
by Sherri on October 24, 2007
Buckeye Hot Spring, near Bridgeport, California.
This is one of our favorite hot springs in California and a soak here is free! It is located on the creek, clothing is optional and you can often have it all to yourself. Plus, it is a short drive or walk from
Buckeye Campground.
The small pool in the foreground is a hot water source. This pool is scalding hot and is not for soaking in. The water flows down the hill from this pool and eventually drops into Buckeye Creek. There it mixes with the creek water and cools down to temperatures suitable for soaking.
Woman enjoying Buckeye Hot Spring, Eastern Sierra, California. Put this on your "Bucket List!"
If you are going, make sure you take everything you will need with you (towel, snacks, water etc.) and wear good footwear. The walk down to the creek is very steep and slippery in spots and you won't want to make the trek too many times. If soaking at night, be sure to pack a flashlight also.
Every time we travel scenic highway 395, we make it a priority to visit Buckeye Hot Spring!
Directions - To get to Buckeye from the northern end of Bridgeport, turn off of Route 395, turn west on Twin Lakes Road and travel seven miles. Turn right just past Doc and Al's Resort, then cross the bridge going over the creek. Continue uphill along a gravel road, past Buckeye Campground. At the top of the hill you'll find a parking area. The springs are down the trail from the parking lot. Closed in the winter.
haha that’s cool Sherri. The source of the water sounds a little scary to dip in though since you never really know what is going on below the surface. Driving south of Auburn I saw a bend in the river that said confluence but I didn’t catch the name of what it was. Do you know the area? The color and scenery looked good there.
Hi Richard,
I changed the write up a bit. The pool in the foreground is NOT for soaking – way too hot!
The Confluence is where the north and middle forks of the American River meet. I know the area quite well. I have photos on my blog, as well as in our galleries, that were taken in that area.
Here are a couple of them http://sherrimeyer.com/Blog/?p=323, http://sherrimeyer.com/Blog/?p=103.
Oh I see. That was the bridge I drove across passing the confluence. All the cars were congregated in that area if you kept going straight.
You got it! It’s a very popular spot!
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