Hot Springs

Elko County, Nevada · Near Wells
41.2610°N, 115.3050°W · 5,645 ft
126°F 39°F air · Good soaking weather 5,645 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (18.5 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Hot 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.

Hot Springs, Elko County, twenty-one miles out of Wells, with water hot enough to hurt, about one twenty-six. The record lists no owner and no access status. A tenth-mile walk separates it from the road. The nearest camping on file is Slide Creek Campground, eighteen miles or so distant.

Location

Unnamed road, then a tenth-mile walk, at fifty-six hundred feet. Snow totals run around thirty-three inches over winter, with a bit under a foot of rain and melt across the year and a yearly mean under fifty degrees. No photo on file, nothing describing the ground.

December through February on record. Hot enough to scald with prolonged contact, so test with a hand before a foot. Ownership is blank and so is access; treat the spring as unverified and ask. Slide Creek Campground is the listed camping, a long way off at eighteen miles. No fee noted. No water chemistry either, and the temperature carries no date.

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 Springs.

Setting
Valley floor
Gentle slopes rise on both sides.
Highest ground nearby
61 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
117 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 69% 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
26°
Feb
35°
Mar
44°
Apr
53°
May
66°
Jun
76°
Jul
74°
Aug
64°
Sep
49°
Oct
36°
Nov
23°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.9 in Annual Snow: 33.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 23°F · Water 126°F · +103° contrast
December Air 23°F · Water 126°F · +103° contrast
February Air 26°F · Water 126°F · +100° contrast
January offers 53°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
39°F
Clear E 16.6 mph 48% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 79° Low 39° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +47° warmer
Wednesday 81° Low 44° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +45° warmer
Thursday 76° Low 48° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +50° warmer
Friday 76° Low 42° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +50° warmer
Saturday 79° Low 42° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +47° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Slide Creek Campground 18.5 mi away

Slide Creek Campground is located at the trailhead for Slide Creek which accesses the Jarbidge Wilderness(hiking, horse trips, hunting, backpacking), has one single restroom, horse corrals (no horses allowed in the campground), 6 sites, no water, and is free. Not reservable.Located at the springs that feed Slide Creek, and the trailhead for the Slide Creek trail.  Aspen and subalpine fir trees provide shade and shelter at the campsites.Appropriate for small trailers, good for tent camping.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,645 ft

Hot Springs sits at 5,645 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 23% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
126°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 126°F (52°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +79°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hot Springs?
Hot Springs has a water temperature of 126°F (52°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Hot Springs located?
Hot Springs is located in Elko County, Nevada at 5,645 feet elevation, near Wells. Coordinates: 41.2610°N, 115.3050°W.
How do I get to Hot Springs?
Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Hot Springs?
Yes, Slide Creek Campground is located nearby (18.5 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Hot Springs?
With care. At 126°F Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.
Sources: USGS NWIS