Hot Springs – Best Kept BLM Secret

Sunday was definitely an interesting day. We have been boondocking just west of Yuma, Arizona. If you know what boondocking means, you know that it also means very short showers because you need to conserve on water. The long daily showers just don’t exist ………….. unless you know about the Hot Springs LTVA. We discovered it. It was absolutely amazing and we’re already planning our next trip. Anyone for a group outing here?

The Hot Springs Long Term Visitor’s Area is located just off the I-8 freeway by Holtville, California. The hot springs flow through it. As a matter of fact, two concrete hot tubs are available for RV’ers with hot mineral water and a wonderful hot shower … and, it’s all free!!

Cool oasis pool plus dressing rooms

We wanted to see it. Jerry and Janice had already visited the hot springs last year. Jerry suggested we put on our swimsuits and really check it out. We did. It was only about a 30-minute ride west. The springs are visible from the freeway if you know where to look. They sit in an oasis.

It’s an oasis in the middle of the desert. There are two concrete hot tubs. One of the pools had a temperature of about 104-105 degrees. The other one was about 101 degrees or so. If that was too warm, you could swim in the actual oasis which has much cooler water. The shower temperature could be adjusted. The higher it was, the cooler the water by the time it hit the pool and so on. Even dressing rooms are available. We felt like we were in heaven and can hardly wait to go again. The pools are drained and cleaned once a week.

You could either take a shower or soak in the tub. Some people brought jugs along with them to collect the hot water in. When they left they took the hot water with them back to their rigs for dishes and numerous other purposes.

After thoroughly enjoying the long soaking in the hot tub, it was time to head back. We arrived just in time to welcome new arrivals, Bob and Linda. The late afternoon also brought uninvited guests but we were glad they decided to buzz by us in the sky. The temperature was warm. It was a fantastic day in paradise.

Every evening seems to bring the group out. Sunday was no exception. It started around dinner and then moved around the campfire again.

I wonder what new adventure Monday will bring. It's a holiday. Perhaps, we'll take it off.