Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring

Nye County, Nevada · Near Pahrump
36.4020°N, 116.2740°W · 2,320 ft
91°F 67°F air · Good soaking weather 2,320 ft Restricted Short Walk US Fish and Wildlife Service

Point of Rocks Springs, also called King Spring, is a soaking-warm spring on the Ash Meadows refuge in Nye County, about twenty miles from Pahrump. The Fish and Wildlife Service restricts access. There is a photo on file and a water sample from 1981, and the water is warm enough that people would want to get in. The refuge has other rules in mind.

Location

A tenth of a mile on foot from a road the record leaves nameless. Low desert at a bit over 2,300 feet, four inches of precipitation a year, with snow barely registering. The land is federal, held by the Fish and Wildlife Service as a National Wildlife Refuge.

The cool months, December through February, rate best, and low-desert winters are mild. Restricted access: check with the refuge before going, and do not expect to soak. No fee, no campground recorded. The 1981 sample showed moderate dissolved solids along with sodium, sulfate and chloride.

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 Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Point Of Rocks Springs, King 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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
213 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
98 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 44% 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
47°
Jan
51°
Feb
59°
Mar
67°
Apr
74°
May
86°
Jun
91°
Jul
90°
Aug
82°
Sep
68°
Oct
55°
Nov
45°
Dec
Annual Precip: 4.0 in Annual Snow: 0.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 45°F · Water 91°F · +46° contrast
January Air 47°F · Water 91°F · +44° contrast
February Air 51°F · Water 91°F · +40° contrast
December offers 46°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
67°F
WNW 0.1 mph 22% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 96° Low 65° Sunny
Wednesday 94° Low 67° Sunny
Thursday 93° Low 65° Sunny
Friday 97° Low 63° Sunny
Saturday 99° Low 62° Sunny
Water Chemistry Sampled 1981-03-09

The water at Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.7) with 400 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 7.7 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 47 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 20 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 65 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 79 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 23 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Temperature
91°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 91°F (33°C)
Avg Air Temp 68°F
Above Ambient +23°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Restricted
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Fish and Wildlife Service
Designation National Wildlife Refuge
Unit Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Manager US Fish and Wildlife Service
Protection 1 - Permanent protection, natural state
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring?
Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring has a water temperature of 91°F (33°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring located?
Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring is located in Nye County, Nevada at 2,320 feet elevation, near Pahrump. Coordinates: 36.4020°N, 116.2740°W.
How do I get to Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring?
Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring free to visit?
Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring has Restricted access. It is managed by US Fish and Wildlife Service.
What minerals are in the water at Point Of Rocks Springs, King Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.7 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 400 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS