Super great vibes, everyone is friendly. Easy to find a camp spot etc. Has been around since the 60's

Awesome place but I'd only recommend going if you are skilled and Experienced off road driver with the correct vehicle. I have 8.7 clearance but I would recommend 10. If you do your research and use you're head you'll be okay. I had a great time and I'll definitely be back. read more

Saline Valley Warm Springs - Hot spring - Hot Springs Near Me

Middle of nowhere, and one of my favorite destinations. We will be back this week, and I cannot wait to soak in those beautiful pools while staring at snow capped peaks. Gorgeous scenery and friendly "locals". Clothing optional, but the many do not wear clothing while soaking, so be prepared. 4WD or AWD highly recommended. Bring a spare tire (not a donut) with you. read more

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Great place to get away from everything and experience some sort of freedom. Be prepared to take care of yourselves as it is a adventure that does require some self reliance. read more

If anything, Saline Hot Springs is too easy to reach - I've never gone there with a 4WD vehicle and have never had problems going through the North Pass with 2WD Honda Civic. Yes - the road is washboarded and it is a bit rough in some places but if you take it slowly, get out and look around every so often, and are prepared with a full size spare, a couple cans of fix-a-flat, a nice shovel, some boards (in case you end up in some soft dirt) and other supplies - you should be fine. That said - I've never gotten stuck or had mechanical issues because I don't drive like a freaking idiot. Back to the "too accessible" part - don't go over spring break. Idiots in RVs (yes - people successfully go in and out with RVs) with generators, strings of lights, getting drunk and shooting off fireworks (to scare their own dogs) make it distinctly not fun. Try not to be there the week or two right after burningman for the same reasons - too many idiots, uh, burners, stinking up the joint with their boring stories of what happened at burningman (among other things that they use to make an environment stinky). This is hands down one of my favorite places to go for solitude and relaxation. One time in late September, I had the upper springs almost to myself - there were two other campers for the better part of a week. It got up into the low 100s during the day but that just makes sitting in hot water feel cooler! During the week, you get an air show - nice men in fighter jets fly low and do tricks. At night, you get to watch bats and shooting stars. Then, of course, there is sunrise along with sunset. If you bring a dirt bike, you can have a lot of fun - there are plenty of excellent roads (be prepared for deep sand near Eureka Dunes - and be prepared to wet your pants if you go down Lippincott!). You can explore so much more with the right kind of vehicle and preparation - old mining operations and other sights. This desert is awesome - but it's not exactly pristine with a long history of chemical mining operations - so if you go off and explore, you will find all sorts of abandoned mining company buildings and large industrial garbage that should probably be removed and cleared - it's not really of historical value to see a little house that has been vandalized for 40 years and is surrounded by rusting machinery - you know? This is not the sort of place that you just go in to visit for the day and stay in a hotel at Big Pine at night. Totally different from that. Bring your supplies, take out your trash. Simple as that. And leave me the hell alone to soak in peace - I don't want to smell your stinky cigar (isn't that illegal in national parks anyway?) or hear your nattering on about blahblahblah. PS: there are LOTS of rattlesnakes and they like to take refuge under tents - fyi! PPS: all the cranky reviewers who say it sucks, is too dangerous and too difficult are just trying to keep this place all to themselves. read more

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I grew up here, in the 80's/90's I'm looking for a guy who was there in 94. Went by "Reno", John something, his Mom was the known "portaguie"! Help me please my name is Ginnie Dawson my Dad was Speedy, we were friends with the Wizard and Mammoth Bob my number is 314-794-8289. I miss this place so much and am working to come back very soon read more

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Road was very rough with exposed rock, muddy water crossings and terrible washboard. Most of the people there were naked old men. There were burrows mating and making a lot of noise at night. read more

I just write about things I love. I'm sure I'm not the only person who posts only happy reviews. If something or someplace or somebody doesn't trip my trigger I won't share that here. If I don't have anything nice to say about somebody ... So, dig it. Saline Valley and its hot springs. I am so totally blown away that nobody has written about this wonderful place already. Were it a few years ago I'd not be sharing this at all. Before the springs were annexed by DVNP and existed solely in BLM obscurity the healing waters seemed kind of secret. With the NPS getting involved I figure the secret's out. Takes 8 hours to get there from the Bay Area, the last two on rough dirt roads. High clearance vehicle recommended. Don't go in the summer, you'll cook. Don't go in the winter, you may get snowed in (the passes are 6,000 feet). Don't bring clothes, you won't be needing them. Maybe do a few crunches the week before heading out, just to put in a good showing. Wild burros, beautiful sunsets, fighters from China Lake flying 100 feet off the deck. Mineral waters, interesting tales and characters, as much solitude as you need or desire. Five stars. read more

Saline Valley Warm Springs - Chillin in a hot spring. - Hot Springs Near Me

Wonderful place, been going there for 20 years, never any driving problems in my Tacoma with Goodrich A/T offroad tires. There's plenty of good campsites, clean toilets, friendly people, and everyone takes care of the place, no trash. If you like stargazing, views of snow covered mountains, clean air, it's a good spot. The pools are drained and cleaned everyday, bathrooms are spotless. Just take everything you need and carry out your trash. read more

I love this place, or at least I did when it was administered by the BLM. With the park service now in charge, I wonder if I'm going to turn up and find the junior anti-sex league rounding up the last of the nudists. How awful it would be to have kids in the hallowed pools, watched over by doting parents conditioned to see naked folk as likely perverts and child molesters. Well, until that fateful day arrives -- and you know it will; there are "dog in a manger" types all over the place these days, hungry for recognition of their faux concern for whatever takes their fancy -- it really is a great place. I love the non sexual nudity, the spirit of the visitors (mostly), the "Heath Robinson" plumbing, the dogs and the coyotes. You can keep the donkeys. So it's 5 stars from me. My girlfriend at the time hated the place, especially the nudity, the others in the area - hippies burning up some trash (fine folk it was my pleasure to share a beer with), the toilets, the dogs and wildlife. So it's 1 star from her. Funnily enough, despite her describing this little adventure as "the worst vacation ever", she is now my wife. Of course, I don't get to visit very often. read more

This place is not that great! The road will tear your car apart. Plan on bringing at least 3 extra tires. The burros look at you weird and a coyote ate my dog. Do yourself a favor and find a nice roadside resort instead. read more

I heard about this ULTRA-REMOTE hot springs waaay out on the western edge of Death Valley, near where the Manson Family used to hide out, and I knew I had to get out there ASAP! I did my research beforehand, but was still taken aback by the difficulty of getting here. GETTING HERE IS A HARDCORE ADVENTURE...but so totally worth it. I have never been someplace so utterly remote...like being on the surface of the moon. All in all, it was a 9-10 hour trip from Vegas. Be warned! From Vegas, it took me 4 hrs just to get to the western boundary of Death Valley (on Rte. 190). From there, a few mi. past Panamint Springs, there's a dirt road with a sign reading "Saline Valley" off to the right. This is the South Pass road (there's also a North Pass Rd, from near Lone Pine, if you're coming from L.A.). The word "road" is used very generously here... it's a BEAST! It starts out as just post-apocalyptically-pitted asphalt, but quickly degenerates into rutted, boulder-strewn washboard. If you had a Jeep or some other badass 4WD vehicle you'd fare better, but I made this trip in a 2WD pickup truck & was only able to go about 5-10 mph the entire way... ...and it goes on for 53 MILES!!!!! Yes that's right, it took me 6 hours to traverse this monster on the way in, but "only" 5 hours on the way back, since I knew what I was in for. I have heard of people making the trip in a regular car, but a high clearance vehicle is STRONGLY recommended. Even my poor truck suffered alignment damage afterward. People break their shocks & bust their tires ALL THE TIME on this road, and keep in mind there is zero cell service & that you are in the middle of ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE...you might wait days for another car to pass you. TWO spare tires & a can of Fix-A-Flat are recommended. But, of course, I'm an adventuress...so I didn't have any of that stuff. I didn't realize how long it would take to navigate that washboard road, so I had to go the last 15 mi or so in pitch-black darkness. There's no signage ANYWHERE (they like to keep it a secret out there) & the directions I had weren't much help in the dark ("Pass the salt lake, pass the sand dunes, take the unmarked road on the right & when you see the bat on a pole, you're almost there"). But by some miracle, a drunken mook had littered beer cans along the way at 10-mile intervals, so I was able to follow this Hansel-and-Gretel-esque trail to the turnoff (which someone had thoughtfully marked with a tiny solar light -- which was my beacon for miles, and literally saved my ass). At one point, about 4 mi. before the turnoff, there is a VERY confusing fork in the road. STAY TO THE LEFT! I almost got lost on the other fork. After having gone 46 mi. on the dirt road, you reach the turnoff & from there it's ANOTHER 7 bumpy-ass miles to the Springs. You'll pass the bat on a pole (bats are the Springs mascots) & from there it's only another mile or 2 to the COOLEST PLACE YOU'VE EVER BEEN! Thank God they were having a communal campfire that night, becuz the firelight really gave us hope for the last few mi. The Springs themselves are a textbook desert oasis -- shaggy palms, lush green grass, beautiful natural springs and a kooky hippie compound erected from bones and driftwood all around. I cannot express how bizarre & cool this place is -- see my fotos for more proof. The people out there are cool as hell -- naked kooks and freethinkers, one and all. They call the road coming in the "50-mile bullshit filter," and rightly so -- only the hardiest, most badass people make it out here. The springs are very well-maintained and there are two IMMACULATE pit toilets (I've never seen such clean pit toilets). Over the years, Lizard Lee (the caretaker) & other Springs fans have pitched in to create the most unusual, beautiful oasis you'll ever see -- art everywhere, mosaic-tiled springs pools, a funky outdoor shower with soap & shampoo, benches around the campfire, a little kitchen area & even a lending library full of kooky sci-fi paperbacks. In sum: AWESOME! Imagine sitting in a hot spring in the middle of NOWHERE, w/a random assortment of naked nuts, w/a bajillion stars all around...it's amazing. I didn't even need my headlamp -- even w/no moon, the white sands reflected enough light from the stars to see just fine. Caveats: There's NO drinking water out there, so bring PLENTY (it's REALLY dry out there). The North Pass Rd. (from Lone Pine) is said to be a few mi. shorter, but even rougher Besides the aforementioned spare tires & Fix-A-Flat, make sure your gas tank is full. I topped off in Pahrump, but by the time I passed the $6-a-gallon station near Panamint Springs (last gas before the dirt road) I was already down to 3/4 tank. I didn't want to pay $6/gallon so I forged on...and BARELY MADE IT there and back! I literally coasted back into Panamint two days later with my gas light on....hairy! But that kind of hairiness is what makes a good adventure, right? :-) read more

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It's a 3-hour long, dusty drive down horribly wash-boarded roads. If you don't have good tires, i.e. at least C-rated truck tires, the sharp rocks could slice your tires open. You don't want to go to the hot springs in the summer. Who wants to soak in a hot spring when it's 120 degrees. If you go in the Spring/Fall/Winter....there is at least a 50% chance the regular roads to the springs will close due to snow or falling rocks. The other two roads are treacherous unless you have a lifted 4x4. The campsites are dusty and there is very little shade. The winds usually pick up around sunset to at least 20 mph. Very hard to get a good night sleep. And when you get there, there is burro shit all over the place. The burros harass you for food. And it's full of old, naked, wrinkled, and shriveled hippies in dirty pools. Skip the place. It's not worth the 3-hour drive down a bone jarring, tire-shredding roads. read more

50miles in 50miles out on a bumpy dirt road. Carry a spare tire, fix a flat, drive with patience, pack lots of water, sunscreen, bring something to contribute to the communal supply-recommend cleaning supplies, hand soap, hand sanitizer or toilet paper. Bring food to bbq. Cold beer. Comfy lounge chairs. The bathrooms were stocked with soft charmin brand TP. Pack a hat. The sun is brutal. Respect the area. Follow the rules. The pools are drained and cleaned every single day. They are the most well maintained hot springs I've ever come across. Wash your body and feet before you enter. Showers are nearby to rinse of before and after your hot spring experience. Lounge about, relax and enjoy. Watch out for those wild burros! Keep all food well contained or they will swoop on you. The burros especially love cardboard. Be chill about hanging around naked people. Don't get pervy. read more

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These hot springs are one of those special places where you can get away from it all-- IF you're prepared to really get away from it all. You start with several hours of driving from the nearest paved road. You might be able to manage it in a 2wd car but you're much safer in a 4x4 high clearance vehicle. Bring a good topo map or GPS because your phone gets no signal out here. There are also no services, so bring all your own food, water, and shelter, and be prepared to pack out your trash. If you're prepared to deal with all of these challenges, you'll find a rotating community of kind and generous people at the springs. Plus a few assholes. Don't be one of the assholes. read more

Saline Valley Warm Springs - Natural hot springs pool above Saline Valley - Hot Springs Near Me

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We saw this place in a book about hot springs and we were in Death Valley, so we thought "what the hell, let's do it." We came in from the Lippincott Pass road, which was terrifying in its own right. Once we got to the bottom of that and into the valley, it seemed there was nothing around for miles (which we found out is 100% correct). We took a mostly stock 4Runner with good tires and we did fine getting there. *MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EXTRA WATER, FOOD, FUEL, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT NEED IN A REMOTE ENVIRONMENT* IT GETS EXTREMELY HOT IN THE SUMMER AND FLASH FLOODS CAN WREAK HAVOC DURING THE OTHER SEASONS SO ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! We had no cell service 97% of the drive in Saline Valley. The road is severely washboarded though, so it's very annoying to ride on. We missed the turn into the springs, but luckily the book had a map so we only had to turn around once to find the entrance. Once we got into the spring area itself, we noticed it was a lot more popular than we had anticipated (it was a Friday night, of that makes any difference). We found a camp spot and set up as it was starting to get a little late into the afternoon. The wind started picking up, so bad that sleeping in a tent was a nightmare. We got up in the morning and watched the sunrise then decided to go down to the first set of springs you pass by when entering the area. It was absolutely beautiful! There was a lush, green lawn, a shower or bath for cleaning before heading into the springs, and even a wash basin for dishes! It wasn't crowded when we went in and I decided to let loose and embraced some of the "clothing optional" rules. It was a great hot spring with lots of friendly people. However, YOU WILL SEE LOTS OF NAKED PEOPLE! If you are afraid of someone else's nude body, I suggest you skip the area because the drive wouldn't be worth it for pretty much nothing. If you have a decent 4x4 and want to try something different, for sure come and check it out. Please just be respectful of the people that "live" there and take care of the place. It takes a team to make somewhere like that function well! read more

This is a really cool place to visit...as others have mentioned, just make sure you have your wits about you and arrive during the daylight hours. We got in late due to a trail break, and parking was a challenge at night. There is rock art and we inadvertantly parked on a couple of the designs...no signs or fences, so be careful where you park. We spent a lot of our time repairing our truck here, but the camping and hosts were very nice during our stay. Don, the self proclaimed mayor visited our camp our first night here, and was very "friendly" in only a terry cloth robe...he treated the ladies to a quick show of twigs and berries, no tan lines...lol. One of our camp mates made the mistake/social grace of giving him a beer and he stayed at our camp for over an hour, regailing storys of Viet Nam and other 60's treats. Who knows if half of its true...we listened and enjoyed the show. Burros did visit our camp at night, and they were loud, which can be alarming at first, but you get used to your surroundings. We were treated to a morning coffee airshow by several F-18's, F-15's, and even an F-16 as we drove up Steel Pass on our way to Eureka Dunes. This is a really cool spot, only four stars as some of the camp hosts were less than friendly in the morning even as we apologized for our tire tracks. read more

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It was an interesting place to visit just this once. It seems to be very popular with lots of returning guests, not sure why, they must love camping in the dirt with the wind blowing dust in your face camping in burro shit. It's really more of a nudist colony for old guys who like to drink a lot apparently all day long... As was what we saw. It was definitely worth the one time visit, but we probably won't be back through for that and the ROAD conditions. read more

The people writing rave reviews about this place are complete idiots. This is not a place for some yuppie to read about and decide to visit with a few bottles of merlot and some brie. This is not a road to f*ck around on in some 2wd grocery getter. This is some country that does not suffer fools and, on occasion kills them. Yes - it is so remote your cell phone won't even work. There are washouts that will take you over a cliff if you don't know what you're doing - and believe me, bubba, if you take your street vehicle with it's street tires out there YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. This place is what Darwin had in mind. An idiot that drives out here in a damn mini van is begging to be food for the coyotes. Go to Burning Man, you'll feel all outdoorsy and there are plenty of naked people there - and medical resources, etc. read more

A magical place. A special community. Different every single time. Be prepared. The world is chock-full of assholes. Don't bring any. Pack in and out. Be happy. read more

Absolutely beautiful, incredibly remote, oasis in Death Valley. There's pretty much two ways to get here: Off of 168 in Big Pine, down Death Valley Road and right on Woucoba Saline Road. Eventually there will be a left on South Warm Springs Road. This entrance is about 55 miles off of paved roads and will be 2.5+ hours. The other entrance is by simply taking Saline Valley Road off of HWY 190, that brings you near Hunter Mountain (follow Saline Valley Road and not the fork to Hunter Mountain). This route is more like 60 miles and expect 3 hours. Once you get there, you will understand how the ride is well worth it. The seclusion is deafening and beautiful. Expect to see coyotes, burro, and PEOPLE. Some people up there may be less than friendly. Practice respect and giving people their space. This area has a long history of murders, believe it or not. Mostly from the old mining days of 1850 - 1870, but many a prospector has been killed up here - a lot by the local Natives who really didn't care for the "white man" mining their areas, cutting down their pinion trees, and exploiting the land. The drive is long: -bring extra gas -at least one spare, preferably TWO -A LOT OF WATER -Motor oil (even if your truck doesn't burn it, the slow driving may) -extra clothes -FOOD -provisions to hike in case of vehicle failure -4x4 is suggested, but not at all the only way. -Nice off road tires also help. -If you can, try and make the trip with 2+ vehicles Even though the place seems to be heavily used, the prospect of having to hike out is still there. read more

As others have said, Saline isn't a place to muck around. You need your wits about you. I've gone in from both the North and South passes as well as via Steele Pass from Eureka Dunes. If you're looking to get to Saline as the payoff after some rather grueling 4x4 travel it's worth it. Because of the remote location you will have to be prepared - food, water, fuel, maps. Don't rely on GPS; people have found themselves in dire straits by trusting the Garmin. This is a quintessential oasis in the desert - green lawn areas with palm trees and immaculate soaking tubs. The springs are clothing optional - It can be a bit jarring but in no time at all you forget all about it. Set up camp, walk to the springs, shower and enjoy a soak. The lack of outside influences means you can enjoy the environment and what it offers. The beauty of the springs is a communal spirit in protecting it. Be prepared to bring TP and cleaning supplies to augment those already there. If you stay for more than a week don't be shy about pitching in and offering to clean the tubs or muck out the toilets. It's part of what makes the place special - everyone does what they can. My favorite part of the day is morning. Get up, make coffee and watch the sun rise over the ridge. The light breeze will stir the palms; soon the crows will wake and begin their morning flight ritual of play, dogfighting around the trees. They are such social birds! Before long you're joined by a much noisier bird - F16 fighter jets from China Lake. A free airshow - it doesn't get much better than that! read more

Being stationed in China Lake (Ridgecrest, California), there's not much to do but explore. The Jeeps that led the path didn't have any problems. My 2WD 4Runner made it, for the simple fact that I had all-terrain tires to boot. On the way home, my buddy's Expedition street tire blew out. To make matters worse, a lug nut was seized and we rounded out the nut. We didn't have the tools so we drove all the way home to get a torch. Needless to say, make sure your vehicle doesn't have any mechanical problems and has good tread that won't puncture in sharp rocks. We had a blast during our weekend excursion there. You must bring your own drinks and food, and you must also take your own trash with you. The site is rugged, dry in the summer, and chilly in the winter. We made a make-shift fireplace and cooked hot dogs on a stick. If you're already hesitant about spending a weekend outdoors, don't go. It'll suck for you city slickers who will whine and complain about not having the basic amenities of home. read more

I don't know what everyone's talking about. This places sucks. I'd stay away and go somewhere else.

Tons of dirty dusty people who come to expect full service. Not worth it anymore. I used to rate the springs 5 stars.

Yes Saline Hot Springs is difficult to get to. A high clearence vehicle is recommended. Also go with 2 vehicles. A winch on one of them is beneficial. Is it worth it? I hesitate to say yes as more people would spoil the place. Maybe i should give it one star to discourage people. read more

40 miles dirt road, better to bring a spare tire or two. Carry lots of water, it's a desert and absolutely don't go much past April or before September/October. High clearance vehicle will be a more enjoyable ride. This is a serious desert experience. 1 star because self reliance is a must. read more

Road is extremely washed out and rutted, takes way too long to drive down to even make it worth it. It's very crowded with naked hippies so the only time you can get a pool alone is either late at night, when the winds pick up, or in the early morning, when for us it was pouring rain. You absolutely need tires that can handle all conditions - we drove through sharp rocks, mud, sand, and even snow - on top a 4WD vehicle. Bring a spare or 2 if you think it's worth the risk. read more

Saline Valley Warm Springs - It's okay. Nudity is allowed, some are not discreet,need more cute women to spice it up. Otherwise, don't be such a wad that a naked person bugs you. Be prepared for desert weather, I always bring wind protection. A tightly secured tarp over the tent will hold in heat and keep out sand and cold...Camo netting from army surplus allows some flow thru and might not blow away. Position your vehicle and tent with respect to wind direction. Don't waste firewood in a wind! Buy a Coleman catalytic heater, if you are worried about emissions, a $10 co2 alarm. Att and Sprint actually get signals in places. A Yaggi antenna and booster can pick up other signals... There are some weirdos but mostly not, JUST LIKE HERE IN THE CITY! If you really want something special, see if you can find the elusive and private "Marble Bath", some 25 miles away. Hee hee haw haw. Most interesting way in -Steele Pass by Eureka Dunes - you will definitiely need 4wd, but this is better than Noth and South Passes. The desert is the desert, when the weather is good you will love it, when it is bad you had better be prepared or you will hate it. read more

This area and all roads leading to it undergo change throughout the seasons. Flashfloods can wash out roads, and make them impassable for days (or weeks). Snow can happen in the winter and trap you for a few days while the weather changes (at either North or South entrance). There are a number of post from people who have traveled here in 2wd vehicles and then later boasted about it or encouraged others that they can make it too. This could get you trapped or dead depending on the weather. Self reliance , self sufficiency and self recovery are the name of the game here. If you are not prepared for this then wait until you are. I was returning on Racetrack Road to Ubehebe Crater when stopped by 4 OLD(late 70's) people(two couples) in a Lincoln towncar asking if this was the way to the racetrack. I affirmed that it was and then told then they were not prepared to go there and that a flat tire may kill them all(in the heat). They thanked me and proceeded to the race track. I bring Gasoline, food, water, portapotty, camping equipment, comms in the form of CB, Ham, and a Sat phone. I travel with others in a GROUP, that are as prepared as I am and able to offer assistance to all members of our group to ensure we all make it out. Yet time and again we see people showing up or traveling in this area as if they were out for a Sunday shopping jaunt. Darwin never sleeps. And these people often become a burden to others who now(as kind humans) offer to help them. If you are not in a high clearance well maintained 4x4 don't do this! read more

You need brains not balls on this road. Unless you're off roading with a group or your buddies, there's a saying out here, "If you need a winch, you shouldn't..." There are a lot of variables and this road is no joke. Higher clearance is needed (in my opinion), low air pressure and patience as well as extra tires, We took our 14' CrossTrek (w/ higher clearance) out here to see how it would handle. Yep, we turned around. Didn't want to take the chance on getting stuck. Taking our 02' Land Rover next time, with extra spare, inflator, tire repair kit and a back up vehicle. read more

It should be understood that Saline Valley is very difficult to get to, both because all the roads in the area a teeth-jarringly rough and also because it is in a remote part of the state. You need to make sure your vehicle is in top condition, that your tires are tough and in good condition and that you carry spares, including extra gas, extra food and lots and lots of water. Be prepared to get yourself out of trouble without help from others, because depending on the time of year, it can be a long time between contact with other drivers. If you require a tow, it is at least a thousand dollars, likley more, depending on where you get into trouble and it will be difficult just to get word to the only tow company that services this area that you need help. If you go in the summer, temps can easily get to 120 F. and above in the day time and every couple of years people die out there from a simple vehicle failure. Winter brings a lot of snow to the passes and you can get snowed in for as much as a couple of weeks before conditions change. It is especially important to have extra food for such contingencies in the winter. Don't even think about coming out without chains and preferably a high-clearance car or truck. Again, car trouble is a REALLY big deal in Saline Valley. Saline Valley is not car-camping in a State Park. Come at your own risk. read more

DISCLAIMER: This is not a safe place to visit if you are not in an offroad vehicle, and experienced in wilderness camping. You are likely to die - emphasis literally, no joke DIE - if you do not have the necessary supplies and equipment, as well as experience using them, in the event you have problems on the route here. Read about the route in, and know what you're in for, prior to considering this as a destination. That said - this place is fantastic! Lizard Lee (the camp host) and assorted volunteers have done a bang-up job making this place beautiful, fun, and incredibly relaxing. I had possibly the best shower of my life here, and should have stayed for several days. I'll definitely be going back. read more

A nice oasis in the middle of the harsh desert valley. We came through here in our well equipped 4x4s. There were about 15 people when we arrived. Most were very nice, a few were beyond drunk, and a couple were a little sketchy. Overall, a good experience. WARNING: Do NOT attempt to spontaneously go out searching for this place with a couple drinking friends. A 4x4 is a huge insurance, but definitely have off road tires, a map(not your iPhone bc you'll lose reception) & gps, and plenty of water. The lava rock will just slice right through the sidewalls of your street tires. Also consider, there is very little signage and you will have no cell reception in the valley. We rescued two carloads of people that never found the place and now they were broken down and lost in the valley. These people went out to have a fun adventure and got a very humbling life & death lesson. These are remote dirt roads, so if you do get stuck or lost it can be hours or even days before someone else drives by you. read more

This is an absolutely amazing place. Well worth the drive! As stated in other reviews, MAKE SURE you have enough supplies/worst-case-scenario gear for the treacherous drive. Download a map before you set out because cell service is spotty and the turn off is easy to miss, but the location on Google is correct ("Saline Valley middle springs" off of S. Warm Springs Rd should get you there). read more

um, whoever listed this as closed is probably just trying to keep it a secret - it's in a national park. but don't take my word for it, the park # (760) 786-3200 http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=386130 read more

As always, one of the best places to stay in Death Valley. A bit tough to get to... and starting to be a little bit less of a well-kept secret. It was crowded this year :( - but one of my favorite places to stay in DV. read more

I"ve been here many, many times 15+ . You don't need a 4x4 to get there, I've taken my Toyota 4Runner, 2 Ford E150 Vans and a Chevy Express 1500. With a normal car or van, just drive slow avoid sharp rocks. In my 4Runner I rally drove, went balls to the wall and made it from the Springs to Hwy 168 in 55 minutes but I know the road very well, have driven it in the middle at night, after floods, snow, etc. I go there for solitude and it pisses me off when soaking and people want to blabber about nothing. Leave people alone, stop you're incessant mind-numbing chatter. Many types of people go there, the old timers think it is there right to be there and screw all newcomers. Lee, the host only gives a shit about cleaning the main pool and drinking his beer around 4pm. Volunteers take care of the other pools and bathrooms. People bring 50lbs of dog food to feed the donkeys, they are as tame as pets now. I was there when local teens from Bishop/Mammoth arrived for a weekend, there was a drunken party and one of them killed a rattlesnake and a girl made an earring out of the rattle so then they went off to kill another rattlesnake to make a pair of earrings for her. The host was informed what was going on but he didn't give a shit and did nothing. Unless your kids are used to seen old people naked, don't bring them, this is an adult place. For 3 weeks, I've soaked at the upper springs in August with no one around and brutal heat, it was purifying. If you really got balls, come in through Steele Pass open all year. read more

What to say. Spent over an hour driving back and forth looking for the turnoff for the dirt road into the springs after a harrowing drive through the south pass. So. Many. Washes. After arriving at the springs found a good campsite but a burro came and stole a ziplock bag full of turkey meat within seconds of setting it down. Seriously came out of nowhere (it was nighttime by the time we got in). Later on saw a burro try to fight a neighbors dog for its kibble. Most of the campers are old people not wearing any pants and with skin like leather. Went on a day trip into McEvoy Canyon and got eaten alive by black flies - worst bug bites I've ever experienced. Another day was a massive windstorm and crows got into our food box. The springs are pretty cool but there are barely any trees, just a ton of rocks as far as the eye can see. On the way out we got TWO flat tires, thank god we had a patch kit and limped out to Olancha. I know a guy who blew a shock going out the north pass - extra car parts are a must if you're going to brave these roads. read more

OK, lets get real Saline Valley is a desert and one of the most forbidding places to visit if you are not prepared both physically and mentally. Yes the wind can blow sand in your face! Tie your tent to LARGE rocks to secure it. Note that the prevailing wind is from the South when you erect your tent. Bring both light weight sleeping bags and heavy ones. We've needed almost nothing one November and zipped up securely in our North Face +20 bags the next year. We've been rained and snowed on. The South Pass was once smooth enough for a Honda Civic, but this year we drove a Jeep Wrangler and we were glad we did. I haven't driven the North Pass in several years but Lippincott and Steel Pass require high clearance and 4WD. At least 4 steel belts are required in your tires for these roads too. The Hot Springs are catch can. Interesting conversations and an opportunity to enjoy anther's company is just as possible as having to endure a boor with an over sized ego and a physique that reminds you why cloth was invented. Attractive people are just as likely to turn up. Good luck. A soak with intelligent attractive people will keep you coming back. Most people are more comfortable soaking with a close friend. In summation, Saline Vally is like anything else in the desert. Preparation and realistic excitations will enable you to enjoy your stay. read more