Bog Hot Springs

Humboldt County, Nevada · Near Winnemucca
41.9250°N, 118.8050°W · 4,280 ft
131°F 4,280 ft Roadside
Aerial view of the ground around Bog Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Bog 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.

Bog Hot Springs, or Bog Hot to the people who live near it, is a hot spring in the Bog Hot Valley of Humboldt County, Nevada. Winnemucca is the nearest city in the file, close to ninety miles away. The water comes out hot, hot enough that you cannot sit in it at the source. Ownership is not on record. Neither is access.

Location

A road comes within roughly two hundred fifty feet. The valley sits at middling elevation for northern Nevada, with winters that stack up two feet of snow, then a climate that is dry the rest of the year. No land manager or unit appears in the file. Nothing describes what is built, if anything, at the spring.

Winter is the listed season, and that same season brings the snow, so the two pull against each other. Water this hot will burn you if you get in where it surfaces. Test it, and look for where it has cooled. The chemistry dates from 1974, alkaline and fairly low in dissolved solids. Access and land status are unrecorded; verify both. Nothing on camping or fees.

History of Bog Hot Springs

The local name is Bog Hot, and the valley it sits in is the Bog Hot Valley.

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 Bog Hot Springs.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
49 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
105 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 55% 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
30°
Jan
34°
Feb
41°
Mar
49°
Apr
58°
May
68°
Jun
79°
Jul
78°
Aug
68°
Sep
53°
Oct
39°
Nov
29°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.2 in Annual Snow: 25.2 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 29°F · Water 131°F · +102° contrast
January Air 30°F · Water 131°F · +101° contrast
February Air 34°F · Water 131°F · +97° contrast
December offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear SSE 16.9 mph
Today 79° Low 43° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +52° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 45° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +56° warmer
Thursday 72° Low 44° Isolated Rain Showers 24% precip
Spring is +59° warmer
Friday 77° Low 45° Sunny 6% precip
Spring is +54° warmer
Saturday 80° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +51° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1974-02-19

The water at Bog Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 9.0) with 293 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 9.0 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 0 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 89 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 47 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 30 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 90 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Temperature
131°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 131°F (55°C)
Avg Air Temp 52°F
Above Ambient +79°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 255 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Bog Hot Springs?
Bog Hot Springs has a water temperature of 131°F (55°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Bog Hot Springs located?
Bog Hot Springs is located in Humboldt County, Nevada at 4,280 feet elevation, near Winnemucca. Coordinates: 41.9250°N, 118.8050°W.
How do I get to Bog Hot Springs?
Bog Hot Springs has Roadside road access (255 ft from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Bog Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 9.0 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 293 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Bog Hot Springs?
With care. At 131°F Bog 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.