Potts Ranch Hot Springs

Eureka County, Nevada · Near Eureka
39.0800°N, 116.6390°W · 6,615 ft
113°F 41°F air · Good soaking weather 6,615 ft Roadside
Aerial view of the ground around Potts Ranch Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Potts 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.

Potts Ranch Hot Springs sits in Eureka County about 47 miles from the town of Eureka, high up at over 6,600 feet. The water is hot, past the point of a comfortable soak at the source. No owner and no access status appear on the record. A USGS site number is attached, so the temperature is a measured one.

Location

Essentially drive-up, under forty feet from the road, and that road carries no name on file. This is high cold country, three feet and more of snow through the winter and under ten inches of precipitation in a year, a dry place punctuated by a snowy season.

The listing favors deep winter, but at this elevation that is also when the three feet of snow falls. Hot enough that you would let the water cool before sitting in it, if sitting is allowed at all. Access unknown, owner unknown. No campground listed. No water chemistry on record either, and the measurement has 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 Potts Ranch Hot Springs.

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

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 27% 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
36°
Mar
44°
Apr
53°
May
67°
Jun
75°
Jul
73°
Aug
64°
Sep
51°
Oct
37°
Nov
26°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.1 in Annual Snow: 38.4 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 26°F · Water 113°F · +87° contrast
January Air 27°F · Water 113°F · +86° contrast
February Air 28°F · Water 113°F · +85° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
41°F
N 0.0 mph 36% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 77° Low 44° Partly Sunny
Spring is +36° warmer
Wednesday 76° Low 46° Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust
Spring is +37° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 46° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Friday 74° Low 42° Sunny
Spring is +39° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 43° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Mile-High Advisory 6,615 ft

Potts Ranch Hot Springs sits at 6,615 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 26% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
113°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 113°F (45°C)
Avg Air Temp 49°F
Above Ambient +65°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 38 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Potts Ranch Hot Springs?
Potts Ranch Hot Springs has a water temperature of 113°F (45°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Potts Ranch Hot Springs located?
Potts Ranch Hot Springs is located in Eureka County, Nevada at 6,615 feet elevation, near Eureka. Coordinates: 39.0800°N, 116.6390°W.
How do I get to Potts Ranch Hot Springs?
Potts Ranch Hot Springs has Roadside road access (38 ft from the road).
Is it safe to soak at Potts Ranch Hot Springs?
With care. At 113°F Potts Ranch 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