Gambles Hole

Elko County, Nevada · Near Jackpot
41.8840°N, 114.1170°W · 5,218 ft
104°F 39°F air · Good soaking weather 5,218 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (19.6 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Gambles Hole LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Gambles Hole
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.

Gambles Hole is a soaking-temperature spring on public BLM land in Elko County, Nevada, with Jackpot twenty-nine miles away. The water on record is hot-tub warm, comfortable soaking range. Wells Field Office land, open to anyone.

Location

The road that gets you there appears on file without a name, a hundred-odd feet from the water. Elevation is about 5,200 feet and winters are heavy for Nevada, fifty inches of snow, and sixteen inches of precipitation annually. Public land.

Winter is listed as the best season, and with four feet of snow a season, getting there in winter depends on the road being open. Roadside once you arrive. Bostetter Campground is about twenty miles away, the nearest on file. Soaking temperature, no burn risk. Open access, no fee on record.

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 Gambles Hole.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the southeast.
Highest ground nearby
57 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from north to south, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
115 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 67% 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
23°
Jan
27°
Feb
36°
Mar
44°
Apr
54°
May
66°
Jun
77°
Jul
75°
Aug
64°
Sep
49°
Oct
35°
Nov
23°
Dec
Annual Precip: 15.5 in Annual Snow: 49.6 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 23°F · Water 104°F · +81° contrast
December Air 23°F · Water 104°F · +81° contrast
February Air 27°F · Water 104°F · +77° contrast
January offers 54°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
39°F
Clear E 16.6 mph 48% Good soaking weather
Today 77° Low 43° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 49° Sunny 11% precip
Spring is +24° warmer
Thursday 77° Low 43° Patchy Blowing Dust 9% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Friday 75° Low 40° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +29° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 42° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Bostetter Campground 19.6 mi away

Bostetter Campground is composed of 10 individual units and 1 group unit. It is located in a stand of Lodgepole pine and stretches along Cottonwood Creek with one site tucked up above in some Aspen trees. The campground is pack it in and pack it out. The area is suitable for trailer and tent camping. Anglers can take advantage of a nearby stream. Campground amenities toilets.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
104°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 104°F (40°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +56°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 119 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Wells Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Gambles Hole?
Gambles Hole has a water temperature of 104°F (40°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Gambles Hole located?
Gambles Hole is located in Elko County, Nevada at 5,218 feet elevation, near Jackpot. Coordinates: 41.8840°N, 114.1170°W.
How do I get to Gambles Hole?
Gambles Hole has Roadside road access (119 ft from the road).
Is Gambles Hole free to visit?
Gambles Hole has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Gambles Hole?
Yes, Bostetter Campground is located nearby (19.6 miles away).