Just returned from a nice weekend trip that included camping at Mercey Hot Springs, off I5 on Little Panoche Rd.
Originally, the trip was going to be a camping trip to Pinnacles National Monument, with a side trip to Mercey Hot Springs, but on the way down, we thought we'd call them and see if they had any camping sites. They did, so we booked. And so we headed directly there, down 101 to 152E to I5 to the Little Panoche Rd exit.
The scenery is central valley barren on the way there, but Mercey Hot Springs is a little oasis. It's far from luxury, but if it's the rustic, relaxed feeling you're after, this is a great place. The main pool and soaking tubs look quite recently done. There's a sauna building with two shower/facilities rooms, 5 campsites, 6 cabins, a clothing optional hot tub area, and parking for RVs.
We were in one of the camping spots, #5 to be precise. It's the end one and a nice, more private location. When we arrived to set up camp, around 5pm, the site was full of buzzing insects, small flies. The buzz was quite loud, and we thought "what have we got ourselves into?". However, soon afterwards, they all disappeared and with the exception of the usual flying insect or two, it was fine. Lots of nice level tent sites. Water at the site too (but as with the water everywhere here, it's the slightly sulfered water from the spring, so it smells slightly, and has a slightly wierd taste (didn't actually drink it). Anyway, the camping worked out fine. Picnic tables, but no fire ring or bbq (and it was pretty tinder dry, so probably for the best). We cooked with a backpacking stove.
The highlight, of course, was the soaking tubs. There are 9 of them, mostly arranged in pairs, but some singles also. Large sun umbrellas for soaking during the day. We started soaking before dinner, and one of us stayed through dinner and beyond. It was great lying in the tub after dark ... the stars were fantastically bright, the milky way clear, even some shooting stars (one I saw was somewhat slow, very bright and it turned red before disintegrating).
Towels are available for rent. Nice thick cotton ones. Some basic snacks (a cafe is in the planning stages).
Next day, we drove over the hill on Panoche Rd, to Paicines, and onto Pinnacles, where we did the Bear Gulch cave hike. We'll be back to do the High Peaks hike in cooler weather.
Originally, the trip was going to be a camping trip to Pinnacles National Monument, with a side trip to Mercey Hot Springs, but on the way down, we thought we'd call them and see if they had any camping sites. They did, so we booked. And so we headed directly there, down 101 to 152E to I5 to the Little Panoche Rd exit.
The scenery is central valley barren on the way there, but Mercey Hot Springs is a little oasis. It's far from luxury, but if it's the rustic, relaxed feeling you're after, this is a great place. The main pool and soaking tubs look quite recently done. There's a sauna building with two shower/facilities rooms, 5 campsites, 6 cabins, a clothing optional hot tub area, and parking for RVs.
We were in one of the camping spots, #5 to be precise. It's the end one and a nice, more private location. When we arrived to set up camp, around 5pm, the site was full of buzzing insects, small flies. The buzz was quite loud, and we thought "what have we got ourselves into?". However, soon afterwards, they all disappeared and with the exception of the usual flying insect or two, it was fine. Lots of nice level tent sites. Water at the site too (but as with the water everywhere here, it's the slightly sulfered water from the spring, so it smells slightly, and has a slightly wierd taste (didn't actually drink it). Anyway, the camping worked out fine. Picnic tables, but no fire ring or bbq (and it was pretty tinder dry, so probably for the best). We cooked with a backpacking stove.
The highlight, of course, was the soaking tubs. There are 9 of them, mostly arranged in pairs, but some singles also. Large sun umbrellas for soaking during the day. We started soaking before dinner, and one of us stayed through dinner and beyond. It was great lying in the tub after dark ... the stars were fantastically bright, the milky way clear, even some shooting stars (one I saw was somewhat slow, very bright and it turned red before disintegrating).
Towels are available for rent. Nice thick cotton ones. Some basic snacks (a cafe is in the planning stages).
Next day, we drove over the hill on Panoche Rd, to Paicines, and onto Pinnacles, where we did the Bear Gulch cave hike. We'll be back to do the High Peaks hike in cooler weather.
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