Hot Creek Springs, Eastern Sierra, CA

 Hot Creek Springs, Eastern Sierra, CA

A visit to the Eastern Sierra is like a window to how the persistent earthquake and volcanic activity has marvelously shaped this landscape for millions of years. These forces that brought changes to the landscape here in the past are still continually working right now bringing changes to the present. The Eastern Sierra, especially Mammoth Lakes, is most popularly known as a skiing heaven, being one of the snowiest places on Earth (but very unusually not this year), and last year's Earth's snowiest with more than 600 inches of snow accumulation during the winter season. However, aside from Mammoth Lakes adventure skiing and downhill biking attraction, the Eastern Sierra is a land of mind boggling geological diversity. 

 Hot Creek Geological Site

From vast desert sand dunes, to desert riparian landscape, to the alpine slopes, there is just so much to see in the Eastern Sierra. It is one of our favorite adventure vacation destinations in California. We usually love to stay at Mammoth Lakes, because it seems to be closest to the places where we wanted to explore. There is Devil's Postpile National Monument, Rainbow Falls, the lakes, hundreds of scenic and peaceful trails from easy to most challenging, and close enough to Mono Lake, Yosemite National Park and the Hot Creek Geological site featured in this post is just right outside town. 

It is hard to miss Hot Creek Geological site, since you will see steam rising from Hway 395 as you approach Mammoth Lakes from Bishop. However, once you made a turn, you will see so many steam coming out from the so many hot springs. The other hot springs in the area are owned by private resort, but the Hot Creek Geological Site is maintained by USGS. For directions, click the image below to enlarge, the direction below is courtesy of USGS.

Directions to Hot Creek Geological Site

The two pictures below were taken on our way to Hot Creek, the quality may be poor because I took them from inside of a speeding car in Hwy 395. I was just inspired to take the picture even though I knew the picture may not be good because our car's window was far from sparkling clean because of all our travels, but then, there was no way for us to stop safely, and I could not let the scenery escape me, thus I quickly snapped it.

 Low clouds and Fogs at Eastern Sierra, CA

The Eastern Sierra, its awe-inspiring landscape will greet you with stillness and peacefulness.Hopefully, one of your vacations will bring you to the wonders of this landscape that has been shaped by fire and ice.

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