Owens Lake in California’s Eastern Sierra mountains was once a lush wetland, but since most of the water was diverted to Los Angeles, it is a dry desert bed. At the southeast edge is a small man-made pool fed from an underground spring called Dirty Socks Hot Spring. The combination of the algae and sulfur in the water give this spring its namesake odor, and these days it is a rest stop for migratory birds. The sign is not for the spring itself (you have to know where to look to find it) but a public works yard in the area. The sign is of more interest than the springs (unless you’re a birder), a bit of humor as you drive by on Highway 190 wondering if you should keep the window rolled up. If you’re looking for the spring it’s about 7 miles past Highway, they’re on Highway 190 just past Highway 395; the sign (if its still there) is somewhere along the way.
Dirty Socks Hot Spring
GPS Coordinates: 36°19’45.87″N 117°56’57.42″W
