Mcgill Spring

White Pine County, Nevada · Near McGill
39.4130°N, 114.7790°W · 6,100 ft
84°F 34°F air · Good soaking weather 6,100 ft Roadside Camping nearby (7.6 mi)

Mcgill Spring sits less than a mile from the town of McGill in White Pine County, a warm spring at six thousand feet whose water is comfortable on the skin, a long way from hot. The nearest road is McGill Pool Road, and the spring is close enough to it to count as roadside. Public access is not recorded.

Location

McGill Pool Road passes about a hundred feet from the spring, which puts the water a short stroll from the car. This is high, cold country. McGill averages around fifty degrees over the year, and three and a half feet of snow is normal. Nothing in the record names an owner or a managing agency.

Midwinter is the season on record, which in White Pine County means snow and cold air against warm water. Bird Creek Campground is the camping on file, under eight miles away. Learn who owns the ground before you go; it is not recorded, and the site sits close to a town.

Terrain

USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.

Aerial view of the ground around Mcgill Spring

The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the east.
Highest ground nearby
88 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
103 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 51% 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
27°
Jan
28°
Feb
37°
Mar
45°
Apr
55°
May
70°
Jun
77°
Jul
75°
Aug
65°
Sep
52°
Oct
39°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 11.3 in Annual Snow: 41.1 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 27°F · Water 84°F · +58° contrast
December Air 27°F · Water 84°F · +57° contrast
February Air 28°F · Water 84°F · +56° contrast
January offers 51°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
34°F
Clear S 41.4 mph 55% Good soaking weather
Today 81° Low 51° Patchy Blowing Dust
Spring is +3° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 51° Patchy Blowing Dust 6% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 45° Patchy Blowing Dust 1% precip
Spring is +6° warmer
Friday 79° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +5° warmer
Saturday 80° Low 46° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +4° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Bird Creek Campground 7.6 mi away

Overview Bird Creek Recreation Area is located in the Duck Creek Basin, high on the Schell Creek Range. It sits at an elevation of 8,200 feet, approximately 25 miles from the small city of Ely. Hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle riding are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Recreation The Ranger Trail can be accessed from this campground. The Ranger Trail is a designated OHV trail that also accommodates hiking and mountain biking use as well. The 30-mile Success Loo...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,100 ft

Mcgill Spring sits at 6,100 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 24% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
84°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 84°F (29°C)
Avg Air Temp 50°F
Above Ambient +34°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road McGill Pool Road
Distance to Road 107 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Mcgill Spring?
Mcgill Spring has a water temperature of 84°F (29°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Mcgill Spring located?
Mcgill Spring is located in White Pine County, Nevada at 6,100 feet elevation, near McGill. Coordinates: 39.4130°N, 114.7790°W.
How do I get to Mcgill Spring?
Mcgill Spring has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being McGill Pool Road (107 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Mcgill Spring?
Yes, Bird Creek Campground is located nearby (7.6 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS