Chappo Spring

Nye County, California · Near Pahrump
35.9460°N, 116.1890°W · 1,940 ft
80°F 67°F air · Good soaking weather 1,940 ft Open Hike Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around Chappo Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Chappo Spring
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Chappo Spring needs a walk in. It is a BLM spring under the Barstow Field Office, and the record lists it in Nye County with Pahrump as the nearest town, essentially at the town, which is an odd combination for a California listing and worth noting. The public may visit, and the water is lukewarm.

Location

A hike of about a mile and four tenths from the closest road, which the record leaves nameless. Desert at around nineteen hundred feet, where rain totals four inches and snow does not happen. Year-round the average runs warm, around seventy. Public land without further designation. The hike class is what separates this from a roadside stop.

The calendar on file says December through February. Camping is not on record anywhere near. A 1998 sample reads mildly alkaline with moderate dissolved solids. The temperature is too low to warm anyone on a cold day, and the hike in is the real work of the visit. No fee recorded.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Chappo Spring.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the north.
Highest ground nearby
472 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
110 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 61% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
50°
Jan
53°
Feb
61°
Mar
68°
Apr
75°
May
87°
Jun
92°
Jul
91°
Aug
83°
Sep
70°
Oct
57°
Nov
47°
Dec
Annual Precip: 3.6 in Annual Snow: 0.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 47°F · Water 80°F · +33° contrast
January Air 50°F · Water 80°F · +31° contrast
February Air 53°F · Water 80°F · +27° contrast
December offers 45°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
67°F
N 0.0 mph 20% Good soaking weather
Today 94° Low 71° Sunny 1% precip
Wednesday 91° Low 69° Sunny 1% precip
Thursday 91° Low 68° Sunny
Friday 92° Low 67° Sunny
Saturday 96° Low 70° Sunny
Water Chemistry Sampled 1998-06-11

The water at Chappo Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.0) with 470 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 8.0 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 33 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 25 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 84 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 102 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 48 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Temperature
80°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 80°F (27°C)
Avg Air Temp 70°F
Above Ambient +10°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 1.4 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Barstow Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Chappo Spring?
Chappo Spring has a water temperature of 80°F (27°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Chappo Spring located?
Chappo Spring is located in Nye County, California at 1,940 feet elevation, near Pahrump. Coordinates: 35.9460°N, 116.1890°W.
How do I get to Chappo Spring?
Chappo Spring has Hike road access (1.4 mi from the road).
Is Chappo Spring free to visit?
Chappo Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Chappo Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.0 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 470 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS