Ty Merkel

Mammoth’s volcanic valley floor is peppered with these natural steamy tubs with panoramic views of the Eastern Sierra. It’s pretty damn whimsical.  My personal favorite is the Hilltop Hot Tub, which is a man-made stone pool fed by a bubbling, steamy creek. According to some corner of the web, it is sometimes called Pulkey's Pool, but I kinda prefer the emblematic nomenclature.  Directions: T...

Getting There: Take Highway 395 heading toward Benton Crossing Road. Turn onto Benton Crossing and you’ll see an adorable wee green church. Continue two miles down the road. You’ll make a left turn and head down a dirt road. Cell service is scant in this area, so you'll probably want to download your maps beforehand. The dirt road leading to the spring is a tad rough, so you'll w...