We were lucky enough to stop at Mercey Hot Springs on a very cold, and beautifully clear November (2015) night with a magical full moon.
The weather wanted to rain, but the California drought was persisting and evening showers were more of a tease than the hoped for downpour. This was fortuitous because we braved the elements and grabbed a hot tub under the stars and moon in the late evening hours (around 10pm).
The clothing optional area has privacy fencing, if seeing naked hippies is not your thing.
The van fit into the camp sites, so we choose the unimproved spots over the more expensive RV slots (with water and electrical). This was a great decision because the seven camp sites were tucked into a lovely grove of trees adjacent to the pool and several hot tubs built into a large paver patio.
Mercey today reflects its early California history with several buildings that date back to early 1900’s. It is charming and has a number of types of accommodations — besides the camping and RV spots, you can rent a small cabin or even an Airstream. The property is fairly large with some common areas for gathering and socializing, and is adjacent to BLM land with hiking trails. It is not pretentious and can accommodate a wide range of hot springs tastes.
- Price: Affordable
- Clothing and Non-Clothing optional areas
- Improved, but some rustic area
- Reservations recommended
- Tip: Bring food if you are staying the night. There is no store onsite or nearby
What we liked: The ambiance, history, and location.
What we didn’t like: The showers (that we tried) didn’t output much more than a luke warm trickle, so I left without getting my hair washed.
www.merceyhotsprings.com
62964 Little Panoche Road, Firebaugh, CA 93622 | (209) 826-3388
