Remington Hot Springs is the most-visited free wild hot springs in Southern California, on Sequoia National Forest land along the Kern River near Bodfish in Kern County. The pools are roughly an hour north of Bakersfield, accessed from CA-178, the highway that climbs into the Kern River canyon from the San Joaquin Valley. The site has been used as a wild bathing destination for decades, and the current pool configuration (three cascading concrete-edged pools on the canyon wall) is the work of generations of locals who have built and rebuilt the pool structures.
The pool layout is simple. The hottest pool sits at the top of the cascade at roughly 106 F. The middle pool catches cooling water and runs at 103 F. The lowest pool, nearest the Kern River, sits at 100 F. The Kern River itself runs immediately below the springs, in some seasons giving visitors a true cold-plunge contrast (river temperatures vary from cold snowmelt to warm summer flow). The trail in from the small roadside pullout is 0.4 miles, short and mostly downhill on the way in, harder on the way out.
The volunteer maintenance arrangement is unusual and worth respecting. A loose group of locals called Friends of Remington maintains the pool structures, hauls out trash, and keeps the site usable. They do not charge fees and the springs remain free, but they ask visitors to pack out everything (including food waste), keep noise down, and respect the pool repair work. The USFS holds the land but does not actively manage the pools.
Practically, the springs are weather and road exposed. Kern Canyon Road can close during flood events and wildfire seasons; the surrounding Sequoia National Forest has serious fire-restriction periods that limit access. The small roadside pullout fills early on weekends and holidays; arriving by 8 AM gives the best chance of parking. Clothing-optional culture is universal at the upper pools; visitors should be prepared. Cell service is minimal in Kern Canyon, so plan accordingly.
