Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs

Nye County, Nevada · Near Tonopah
38.5310°N, 116.4050°W · 5,900 ft
102°F 48°F air · Good soaking weather 5,900 ft Roadside

Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs is a soaking-temperature spring in Nye County, some 54 miles from Tonopah. The record lists no owner and no access status, so assume nothing about being allowed in. Water at this warmth is comfortable to sit in for a long while.

Location

Roadside. About 150 feet of ground separates the spring from a road nobody named in the record. Elevation near 5,900 feet, dry Nevada country. Winters drop something like thirty inches of snow, though yearly precipitation stays under ten inches. There is a photo.

The coldest months rate best. You can drive to it, assuming the road is passable. No campground is listed within reach. Unknown access and ownership are the main thing to settle before going. The temperature is a USGS measurement with no date attached. Sitting in water this warm is easy on the body, if anyone is allowed to sit in 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 Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Old Dugan Ranch 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.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
704 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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
94 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 38% 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
29°
Jan
32°
Feb
40°
Mar
49°
Apr
57°
May
71°
Jun
77°
Jul
76°
Aug
67°
Sep
54°
Oct
40°
Nov
29°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.1 in Annual Snow: 30.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 29°F · Water 102°F · +73° contrast
December Air 29°F · Water 102°F · +73° contrast
February Air 32°F · Water 102°F · +70° contrast
January offers 48°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
48°F
Clear NNW 33.2 mph 23% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 78° Low 49° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +24° warmer
Wednesday 76° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +26° warmer
Thursday 75° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Friday 75° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 49° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +25° warmer
Where to Stay

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Mile-High Advisory 5,900 ft

Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs sits at 5,900 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
102°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 102°F (39°C)
Avg Air Temp 52°F
Above Ambient +50°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 159 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs?
Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs has a water temperature of 102°F (39°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs located?
Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs is located in Nye County, Nevada at 5,900 feet elevation, near Tonopah. Coordinates: 38.5310°N, 116.4050°W.
How do I get to Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs?
Old Dugan Ranch Hot Springs has Roadside road access (159 ft from the road).
Sources: USGS NWIS