Mineral Hot Spring

Elko County, Nevada · Near Jackpot
41.7880°N, 114.7350°W · 5,312 ft
140°F 39°F air · Good soaking weather 5,312 ft Short Walk
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 140°F, the source water at Mineral 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.

Mineral Hot Spring sits in Elko County in the far northeast of Nevada, about fourteen miles out of Jackpot. The water comes up right at the line between hot and scalding, heat that will blister skin on contact. Whose land this is has not been recorded, nor whether the public is welcome, so look before you plan on soaking.

Location

Getting there means a short walk, roughly a third of a mile from wherever you leave the car, and which road that is goes unrecorded. The spring sits a little above 5,000 feet in dry country. Winters bring a fair load of snow, around three and a half feet over the season. High desert with cold mornings and little rain the rest of the year.

The months rated best on file are the coldest ones, December through February, which makes sense for water this hot. Expect a short walk in. Nothing on record about camping or a fee, and access status is blank too, so check land ownership before you go. The temperature alone is reason to test the water with a hand before anything else touches it.

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 Mineral Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Mineral Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Mineral 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.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
6 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, 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 66% 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
24°
Jan
27°
Feb
36°
Mar
44°
Apr
54°
May
66°
Jun
77°
Jul
75°
Aug
64°
Sep
49°
Oct
36°
Nov
24°
Dec
Annual Precip: 12.7 in Annual Snow: 42.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 24°F · Water 140°F · +117° contrast
December Air 24°F · Water 140°F · +116° contrast
February Air 27°F · Water 140°F · +113° contrast
January offers 54°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 +61° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 45° Sunny 9% precip
Spring is +60° warmer
Thursday 76° Low 51° Mostly Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust 8% precip
Spring is +64° warmer
Friday 74° Low 45° Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +66° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 43° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +63° warmer
Where to Stay

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Mile-High Advisory 5,312 ft

Mineral Hot Spring sits at 5,312 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 21% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Temperature
140°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 140°F (60°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +92°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.3 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Mineral Hot Spring?
Mineral Hot Spring has a water temperature of 140°F (60°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Mineral Hot Spring located?
Mineral Hot Spring is located in Elko County, Nevada at 5,312 feet elevation, near Jackpot. Coordinates: 41.7880°N, 114.7350°W.
How do I get to Mineral Hot Spring?
Mineral Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).
Is it safe to soak at Mineral Hot Spring?
With care. At 140°F Mineral Hot Spring 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.