Tecopa Hot Springs

Nye County, California · Near Pahrump
35.8710°N, 116.2300°W · 1,411 ft
118°F 67°F air · Good soaking weather 1,411 ft Roadside

Tecopa Hot Springs, listed in Nye County about six miles from Pahrump, puts out hot water, 118 degrees on record, off a street called Sundown. The water carries a heavy mineral load, over two thousand milligrams per liter of dissolved solids in a 1998 USGS sample, with a pH a touch on the alkaline side. Whose property the spring sits on goes unrecorded, and access is unlisted.

Location

Sundown Street is a couple hundred feet away. Low desert at about 1,400 feet. Rainfall comes to four inches a year and snow to zero. The thermometer averages low seventies.

Midwinter is when it rates best on file. Hot enough to burn with prolonged contact; cool or mix before soaking. No campground is listed nearby. No fee information. No newer water sample is on record. Ownership is unknown, so check before entering.

History of Tecopa Hot Springs

The Geological Survey maintains a site record here and sampled the water in March 1998.

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 Tecopa Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Tecopa Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Tecopa Hot Springs
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.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
122 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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
104 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 53% 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
51°
Jan
55°
Feb
63°
Mar
70°
Apr
77°
May
89°
Jun
94°
Jul
93°
Aug
85°
Sep
72°
Oct
59°
Nov
49°
Dec
Annual Precip: 3.9 in Annual Snow: 0.2 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 49°F · Water 118°F · +69° contrast
January Air 51°F · Water 118°F · +67° contrast
February Air 55°F · Water 118°F · +63° contrast
December offers 45°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
67°F
WNW 0.1 mph 22% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 101° Low 71° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +17° warmer
Wednesday 98° Low 70° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +20° warmer
Thursday 97° Low 69° Sunny
Spring is +21° warmer
Friday 98° Low 68° Sunny
Spring is +20° warmer
Saturday 102° Low 67° Sunny
Spring is +16° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1998-03-11

The water at Tecopa Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 8.0) with 2020 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration), sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation), and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).

pH 8.0 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 5 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 2 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 704 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 473 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 354 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Temperature
118°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 118°F (48°C)
Avg Air Temp 72°F
Above Ambient +47°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Sundown Street
Distance to Road 247 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Tecopa Hot Springs?
Tecopa Hot Springs has a water temperature of 118°F (48°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Tecopa Hot Springs located?
Tecopa Hot Springs is located in Nye County, California at 1,411 feet elevation, near Pahrump. Coordinates: 35.8710°N, 116.2300°W.
How do I get to Tecopa Hot Springs?
Tecopa Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Sundown Street (247 ft from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Tecopa Hot Springs?
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 2,020 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Tecopa Hot Springs?
With care. At 118°F Tecopa Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.
Sources: USGS NWIS