Where do I begin about my trip I took to Bodfish on Thursday? This place was magical, breathtaking, centering. I have never experienced anything like it. Thank you once again to Atlas Obscura for a great recommendation, when I woke up thinking, yknow what? I want to soak in a hot spring today.
I will say one of my favorite things about having friends here in California is we all have this spontaneity, or dire need to get the hell out of the city for a while, so we can call each other up and be like, “hey you want to go on a 4 hour drive to so and so” and someone is always down.
After we made our way out of LA city limits, we reached a lot of farming land – apple orchards and produce farms as far as the eye could see. My favorite part of the drive however was near the end, when we were driving up and around the mountain. It took about 45 minutes from the bottom as it took you out of the town limits of Bodfish. This drive was super sketchy, especially for my weak heart. Know this about me, I am horribly terrified of heights. My knees shake, I can’t breathe, I panic – So driving alongside a cliff with no guardrail was a small feat in itself for me that day. As you drive along the canyon, you look off to your side and you can see the Kern River flowing throughout the mountain. The river was calm in areas, but also raging and rapid in others, so the view on the drive was never less than mesmerizing. I turned down my music, and rolled down the windows (even though it was 95) to really take it all in.
At the top of the mountain you enter the state park – there you will park on another very sketchy looking cliffs edge. Don’t worry, it’s fine. I’m sure it’s fine. Except perhaps be weary of what I think might be a small killer bee colony LOL, they were aggressive. We parked, and began our descent down the path to the river. They have wooden barricades to help direct you which way to go. After about 1/4 mile of a trek you get to the first tub, the only secluded of the four, so secluded in fact that many visitors like to take off their intimates (and leave a pair of boxers behind).
After getting over my initial excitement of my first ever hot spring experience, and by that I mean ripping off my romper and hopping in, we walked only about one minute further to the rest of the tubs. These were located right next to the Kern River we had followed there half of the drive. Amazing, What a view to see as you walk out of the trees.
I wasted no time once again hopping into the largest of the tubs, the one located right beside the river, and nestled myself onto a step that would allow me to be half in the hot spring and half in the crisp river water. The best location. If you go with friends here, call dibs on that spot. These hot springs were about 100-105 degrees based on which tub you chose to soak in.
All in all smoking a joint called “zombie death fuck” that a sweet, older local to the area grew and shared with us while soaking in a hot spring, looking out at a beautiful view, and even watching fish jump around feet away from you in the riverbed was just what the doctor ordered for me that day. Growing up in Pennsylvania you just don’t get to experience things like this. I will be returning here sooner than later. I am huge on places and things that make you feel small, and minuscule in the grand scheme of things, and this did just that. I’m still gleaming.
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