Ash Springs

Lincoln County, Nevada · Near Alamo
37.4630°N, 115.1920°W · 3,615 ft
97°F 52°F air · Good soaking weather 3,615 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management

Ash Springs shares its name with the community around it in the Pahranagat Valley of Lincoln County, Nevada, six miles or so from Alamo. The water is body temperature, the kind you can sit in for a long while. It is BLM ground under the Caliente Field Office and access is open. The chemistry is neutral, with calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulfate in the water, from a sample taken in 1981.

Location

The road is under three hundred feet away. This is valley floor, low and dry, with summers that run hot and winters that rarely hold snow for long. The community of Ash Springs is a ranching place, so expect working land around the public parcel. Beyond the BLM designation the file gives no description of the springs themselves.

Winter months are the listed season. The spring is a roadside stop and the access is open, two things that take most of the guesswork out of a visit. No fee or campground appears in the record. Body-warm water is safe to soak in for a long time, though the sample it was measured from is decades old. Check the current state of the site when you arrive; the file has nothing newer than 1981.

History of Ash Springs

Ash Springs is an unincorporated community whose main business is ranching. The name comes from the desert ash trees growing nearby.

Terrain

USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.

Aerial view of the ground around Ash Springs

The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

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

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
99 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 46% 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
39°
Jan
43°
Feb
53°
Mar
61°
Apr
69°
May
82°
Jun
87°
Jul
85°
Aug
77°
Sep
63°
Oct
50°
Nov
39°
Dec
Annual Precip: 6.8 in Annual Snow: 10.6 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 39°F · Water 97°F · +59° contrast
January Air 39°F · Water 97°F · +58° contrast
February Air 43°F · Water 97°F · +54° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
52°F
N 5.4 mph 39% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 93° Low 55° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +4° warmer
Wednesday 90° Low 58° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Thursday 90° Low 57° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Friday 90° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +7° warmer
Saturday 92° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +5° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1981-07-20

The water at Ash Springs is neutral (pH 7.0).

pH 7.0 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 43 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 14 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 27 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 34 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 9 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Temperature
97°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 97°F (36°C)
Avg Air Temp 62°F
Above Ambient +35°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 266 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Caliente Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Ash Springs?
Ash Springs has a water temperature of 97°F (36°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Ash Springs located?
Ash Springs is located in Lincoln County, Nevada at 3,615 feet elevation, near Alamo. Coordinates: 37.4630°N, 115.1920°W.
How do I get to Ash Springs?
Ash Springs has Roadside road access (266 ft from the road).
Is Ash Springs free to visit?
Ash Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Ash Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.0 (neutral).
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia