Chimney Warm Spring

Eureka County, Nevada · Near Eureka
38.4640°N, 115.7920°W · 4,813 ft
160°F 48°F air · Good soaking weather 4,813 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 160°F, the source water at Chimney Warm Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Aerial view of the ground around Chimney Warm Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Chimney Warm 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.

Chimney Warm Spring carries the word warm, and the recorded temperature is scalding, well past anything a person can stand in. It sits on Tonopah Field Office ground in Eureka County, Nevada, with the town of Eureka more than seventy miles away. Public access is open. A 1967 sample found near-neutral water with moderate dissolved solids, and it carries a USGS site number.

Location

The road is a couple hundred feet away. High desert basin, dry, six inches or so of moisture a year, plus a foot of snow in the cold months. The land is plain BLM with no further designation. What the spring flows into goes unrecorded, and so does anything built around it.

The file points to winter. Water at this temperature burns on contact; stay clear of the source. Access is open, with no fee on record and no campground. The chemistry dates to 1967. Do not let the name lead you to expect something you can ease into.

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 Chimney Warm Spring.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
13 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
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
85 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 22% 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
33°
Jan
37°
Feb
46°
Mar
54°
Apr
62°
May
76°
Jun
82°
Jul
80°
Aug
71°
Sep
57°
Oct
44°
Nov
33°
Dec
Annual Precip: 5.9 in Annual Snow: 12.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 33°F · Water 160°F · +127° contrast
December Air 33°F · Water 160°F · +127° contrast
February Air 37°F · Water 160°F · +123° contrast
January offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
48°F
Clear NNW 33.2 mph 23% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 88° Low 51° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +72° warmer
Wednesday 86° Low 53° Patchy Blowing Dust 1% precip
Spring is +74° warmer
Thursday 85° Low 52° Sunny
Spring is +75° warmer
Friday 83° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +77° warmer
Saturday 85° Low 50° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +75° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1967-08-07

The water at Chimney Warm Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.8) with 405 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 7.8 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 56 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 17 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 68 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 47 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 26 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Temperature
160°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 160°F (71°C)
Avg Air Temp 56°F
Above Ambient +104°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 228 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Tonopah Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use

Hike 1 waterfall near Chimney Warm Spring

Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Chimney Warm Spring, Nevada.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Chimney Warm Spring?
Chimney Warm Spring has a water temperature of 160°F (71°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Chimney Warm Spring located?
Chimney Warm Spring is located in Eureka County, Nevada at 4,813 feet elevation, near Eureka. Coordinates: 38.4640°N, 115.7920°W.
How do I get to Chimney Warm Spring?
Chimney Warm Spring has Roadside road access (228 ft from the road).
Is Chimney Warm Spring free to visit?
Chimney Warm Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Chimney Warm Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.8 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 405 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Chimney Warm Spring?
No, not at the source. The water at Chimney Warm Spring reaches 160°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.
Sources: USGS NWIS