Hot Creek flows through the Long Valley Volcanic Caldera's resurgent dome, which is the world's largest. It passes through hot springs, and its warm water is home to a variety of trout and is also used for the Hot Creek Fish Hatchery. Swimming in the creek has been prohibited since 2006 due to the rise in geothermal activity, and it remains closed to this day (2024). However, many other hot springs are located nearby that are accessible to swimmers.