Hot Spring

Elko County, Nevada · Near Carlin
40.3160°N, 116.4330°W · 5,240 ft
186°F 37°F air · Good soaking weather 5,240 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 186°F, the source water at Hot 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 Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around 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.

The record calls this one Hot Spring and nothing more. It is an unnamed thermal point in Elko County, on BLM land about 33 miles from Carlin, under the Tuscarora Field Office, with access recorded as open. The water is scalding, far past safe touch. Carlin is the nearest town.

Location
33 miles from Battle Mountain, NV

Roadside, and the road has no name in the record; under two hundred feet separate the two. An upland basin at moderate elevation, with a dry year and snowy winters. Bureau of Land Management ground, and public. The record lists no chemistry and no campground. No second name is attached, no photo either, so the coordinates are what you navigate by.

Winter months are listed. Open public access, so no permission needed. The water scalds. Keep yourself and any animals out of it. Because the spring has no proper name, confirm the coordinates before you drive out. The temperature on file came from USGS.

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 Hot Spring.

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

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 49% 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
28°
Jan
30°
Feb
39°
Mar
48°
Apr
57°
May
70°
Jun
80°
Jul
78°
Aug
67°
Sep
53°
Oct
40°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.9 in Annual Snow: 34.9 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 28°F · Water 186°F · +159° contrast
December Air 27°F · Water 186°F · +159° contrast
February Air 30°F · Water 186°F · +156° contrast
January offers 53°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
37°F
Clear N 0.0 mph 44% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 72° Low 45° Partly Sunny
Spring is +114° warmer
Wednesday 73° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +113° warmer
Thursday 68° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +118° warmer
Friday 69° Low 46° Sunny
Spring is +117° warmer
Saturday 72° Low 47° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +114° warmer
Temperature
186°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 186°F (86°C)
Avg Air Temp 51°F
Above Ambient +135°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 174 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Tuscarora Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hot Spring?
Hot Spring has a water temperature of 186°F (86°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Hot Spring located?
Hot Spring is located in Elko County, Nevada at 5,240 feet elevation, near Carlin. Coordinates: 40.3160°N, 116.4330°W.
How do I get to Hot Spring?
Hot Spring has Roadside road access (174 ft from the road).
Is Hot Spring free to visit?
Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Is it safe to soak at Hot Spring?
No, not at the source. The water at Hot Spring reaches 186°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