Bowers Mansion Hot Spring

Washoe County, Nevada · Near Incline Village
39.2860°N, 119.8400°W
133°F 43°F air · Good soaking weather Open Roadside CNTY Camping nearby (3.5 mi)

The hot spring at Bowers Mansion feeds a county park in Washoe County between Reno and Carson City, under six miles from Incline Village. The water comes out hot, well above soaking temperature, and strongly alkaline, with a pH up around nine and a half in the 1978 sample. Bowers Mansion Regional Park is open to the public. The springs share the grounds with an 1863 mansion.

Location

Roadside, inside a developed regional park on Washoe County land. The nearest road is within about eighty feet. Winters here are real: close to six feet of snow and eighteen inches of precipitation in a year. Mount Rose campground, three and a half miles away, is the closest camping on file.

The winter months rate best, though a county park with this much snow will have its own hours and seasons; check them. Source water is hot enough to injure. What the park does with the water is not on record here, so ask at the park.

History of Bowers Mansion Hot Spring

Bowers Mansion was built in 1863 by Lemuel "Sandy" Bowers and his wife Eilley Orrum Bowers, early millionaires of the Comstock Lode, and it stands as one of the clearest examples of what that silver money built in Nevada. The hot spring sits on the same ground, now a Washoe County regional park.

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 Bowers Mansion Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Bowers Mansion Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Bowers Mansion Hot 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.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the west.
Highest ground nearby
325 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
91 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 32% 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
36°
Jan
36°
Feb
40°
Mar
47°
Apr
55°
May
67°
Jun
74°
Jul
74°
Aug
67°
Sep
55°
Oct
43°
Nov
35°
Dec
Annual Precip: 18.4 in Annual Snow: 68.9 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 35°F · Water 133°F · +98° contrast
January Air 36°F · Water 133°F · +97° contrast
February Air 36°F · Water 133°F · +97° contrast
December offers 39°F more contrast than August
Current Conditions
43°F
WNW 1.4 mph 51% Good soaking weather
Today 76° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +57° warmer
Wednesday 71° Low 45° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +62° warmer
Thursday 69° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +64° warmer
Friday 72° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +61° warmer
Saturday 76° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +57° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1978-01-01

The water at Bowers Mansion Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.5).

pH 9.5 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 3 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 50 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 23 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 4 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Mount Rose (Nv) 3.5 mi away

Overview Mount Rose Campground is conveniently located between Reno and Lake Tahoe just off scenic Mount Rose Highway. Visitors love the campground for its proximity to excellent hiking trails and recreational opportunities at Lake Tahoe.Recreation Hiking is the most popular pastime at Mount Rose. Several trails, including the Tahoe Meadows, Tahoe Rim, Mount Rose Wilderness and Mount Rose Summit Trails, begin very close to the campground.Facilities Mount Rose contains single and double-family...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
133°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 133°F (56°C)
Avg Air Temp 53°F
Above Ambient +81°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 82 ft
Land
Ownership Local
Agency CNTY
Designation LP
Unit Bowers Mansion Regional Park
Manager CNTY
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Bowers Mansion Hot Spring?
Bowers Mansion Hot Spring has a water temperature of 133°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Bowers Mansion Hot Spring located?
Bowers Mansion Hot Spring is located in Washoe County, Nevada, near Incline Village. Coordinates: 39.2860°N, 119.8400°W.
How do I get to Bowers Mansion Hot Spring?
Bowers Mansion Hot Spring has Roadside road access (82 ft from the road).
Is Bowers Mansion Hot Spring free to visit?
Bowers Mansion Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by CNTY.
Can I camp near Bowers Mansion Hot Spring?
Yes, Mount Rose (Nv) is located nearby (3.5 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Bowers Mansion Hot Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.5 (alkaline).
Is it safe to soak at Bowers Mansion Hot Spring?
With care. At 133°F Bowers Mansion Hot Spring 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.