Mono Hot Springs

Been Here?

If location is everything, Mono Hot Springs has it made. High in the Sierras, it’s the perfect home base for exploring the Ansel Adams wilderness or hiking into the John Muir wilderness. Woods and lakes, rocks and streams, forests and meadows, peaks and precipices offer a paradise for backpackers, hikers, fishermen and horseback riders alike. Nature lovers come from the four corners of the world to soak up the rugged beauty. And the crowning luxury of any wilderness experience is the pleasure of a soak in Mono Hot Springs.

Situated between Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in this southern Sierra range, these hot springs have soothed many a sore hiker. Mono Hot Springs is a three-hour drive from Fresno, with the last hour on a curvaceous road over the 9,184-foot Kaiser Pass that ranks as one of the most beautiful passes through the Sierras. The resort was built in 1935, a few years after the pass was opened as part of a hydroelectric project undertaken by Southern California Edison. Nearby Lake Thomas A. Edison (known as Edison Lake) derives its name from the project.

At Mono Springs, the hot tubs fill with natural spring water at the perfect temperature. You can soak, get massaged and take in the breathtaking view of 12,000 Mt. Hooper all at the same time. The hot springs have been reputed as a healing cure for arthritis, rheumatism, and circulatory ailments since the Mono Indians first brought white men in on horseback. The rustic cabins, constructed of native cobblestone, blend into the natural surroundings and offer a night’s stay far away from telephones and television. Communication with nature is at its best, and the great out of doors offers the ultimate in entertainment.

Miles of hiking trails, streams, and back-country lakes embellish the setting on Mono Hot Springs. Nearby Doris Lake is fed only by springs, making the warm surface of the water inviting for a plunge on a summer day. You can choose between troll, bait or fly fishing to catch trout of every description – golden, brown, rainbow, and brook are in ample supply. Both Edison and Florence Lakes rent fishing boats.

Somehow this part of the world has managed to hold its own against the march of time. To step into the Mono Hot Springs time lapse, if only for a matter of days, causes one to give pause and ponder on roads less taken. And perhaps emerge with a serenity that serves to simplify life in the fast lane.

Find out more at their website:
MonoHotSprings.com
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