Hot Creek near Mammoth is an excellent hot spring coming up in the middle of a cold water creek. Made for much fun. You could move closer or back from the hot areas, moderating the temperature. Took my two older kids there years ago. Went back a few years ago to find sheep fence erected along the stream.
Unfortunately, they got someone to declare that the occasional boiling out of gasses was sign of something bad about to occur. Of course it never did. But now Hot Creek is off limits to everyone. Permanently!
The legal issue that occurs is that once they close something, if they then reopen it, there is an implied message that it is safe. Then, when some accident occurs, lawyers can point to that re-opening event as a mistake, and use it for financial gain.
I ran two marathons in Death Valley, they were definitely memorable. It is a really big shame that others will not be able to experience it.
I wish the legal standards here were more like I saw in New Zealand: Lots of adventure available, people take on the risks. If you get hurt or die, well, that's the price of the adventures.
