Fivemile Spring

Humboldt County, Nevada · Near Winnemucca
41.7630°N, 118.2790°W · 4,490 ft
81°F 4,490 ft Hike
Aerial view of the ground around Fivemile Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Fivemile 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.

Fivemile Spring is a warm spring in Humboldt County, Nevada, well out from town, sixty-two miles from Winnemucca. Bath-warm water. Reaching it means a hike of close to two miles from the nearest road. Landowner and access are unrecorded.

Location

No road name is on file for the approach, only that the spring is 1.7 miles from it. It lies at roughly 4,500 feet. Snowfall over a winter is around two feet and precipitation runs ten inches.

Winter months per the record. Hike in, nearly two miles each way, across ground whose ownership is unknown. Warm water, no burn risk. No campground listed. Check access before committing to the walk.

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 Fivemile Spring.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
166 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
104 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 53% 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
42°
Mar
49°
Apr
58°
May
69°
Jun
80°
Jul
78°
Aug
68°
Sep
53°
Oct
40°
Nov
29°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.3 in Annual Snow: 26.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 29°F · Water 81°F · +52° contrast
January Air 30°F · Water 81°F · +51° contrast
February Air 34°F · Water 81°F · +47° contrast
December offers 50°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear SSE 33.0 mph
Tuesday 74° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +7° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 46° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +8° warmer
Thursday 70° Low 49° Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny 18% precip
Spring is +11° warmer
Friday 74° Low 46° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +4° warmer
Temperature
81°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 81°F (27°C)
Avg Air Temp 53°F
Above Ambient +28°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 1.7 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Fivemile Spring?
Fivemile Spring has a water temperature of 81°F (27°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Fivemile Spring located?
Fivemile Spring is located in Humboldt County, Nevada at 4,490 feet elevation, near Winnemucca. Coordinates: 41.7630°N, 118.2790°W.
How do I get to Fivemile Spring?
Fivemile Spring has Hike road access (1.7 mi from the road).
Sources: USGS NWIS