Cane Springs

Pershing County, Nevada · Near Lovelock
41.2580°N, 118.9370°W · 4,375 ft
74°F 4,375 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around Cane Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Cane 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.

On Black Rock Field Office land in Pershing County, Nevada, Cane Springs is a tepid spring far from anywhere; Lovelock, the nearest town in the file, is close to eighty miles off. The BLM parcel is open to the public. The water runs cooler than skin. A 1961 sample found it mildly alkaline and low in dissolved solids.

Location

Close to the road, under seventy feet. Mid-elevation desert, dry, eighteen inches of snow through a typical winter. Plain public land with no overlay. How many springs there are, and what they look like, is absent from the file; the record says only that they exist and the ground is open.

The season given is winter. The water cannot burn. With access open, the trip is about distance, and Lovelock is the one town the file names. No fee appears, and no campground. What chemistry exists is sixty-some years old, so expect it to have drifted.

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 Cane Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
308 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
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
141 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 90% 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
32°
Jan
35°
Feb
43°
Mar
50°
Apr
59°
May
70°
Jun
80°
Jul
78°
Aug
68°
Sep
53°
Oct
41°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 8.4 in Annual Snow: 18.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 30°F · Water 74°F · +44° contrast
January Air 32°F · Water 74°F · +42° contrast
February Air 35°F · Water 74°F · +39° contrast
December offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear SSE 33.0 mph
Tuesday 77° Low 49° Sunny
Wednesday 75° Low 51° Sunny 2% precip
Thursday 73° Low 53° Mostly Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +1° warmer
Friday 76° Low 51° Sunny 1% precip
Saturday 80° Low 53° Sunny
Water Chemistry Sampled 1961-05-06

The water at Cane Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 8.2) with 186 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 8.2 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 6 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 55 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 15 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 11 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Temperature
74°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 74°F (23°C)
Avg Air Temp 53°F
Above Ambient +21°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 68 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Black Rock Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Cane Springs?
Cane Springs has a water temperature of 74°F (23°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Cane Springs located?
Cane Springs is located in Pershing County, Nevada at 4,375 feet elevation, near Lovelock. Coordinates: 41.2580°N, 118.9370°W.
How do I get to Cane Springs?
Cane Springs has Roadside road access (68 ft from the road).
Is Cane Springs free to visit?
Cane Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Cane Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.2 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 186 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS