Ralphs Warm Springs

Elko County, Nevada · Near Wells
40.9520°N, 114.7510°W · 5,619 ft
86°F 39°F air · Good soaking weather 5,619 ft Roadside Camping nearby (16.7 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Ralphs Warm Springs

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

Ralphs Warm Springs is a warm spring in Elko County, fifteen miles or so from Wells. The water is pleasant on the skin, well short of body heat, the kind you notice as warm in cold weather. Roadside. No owner or access status is on file, and the record carries no USGS site number for it.

Location

Less than two hundred feet from the road, whose name is not recorded. High basin country above five thousand feet, cold much of the year, with snow near three feet and precipitation around eleven inches. Ownership unrecorded; the same goes for land unit and designation. The annual average is under fifty degrees.

The months listed are the coldest three. Angel Creek campground in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the one on record, about seventeen miles. No fee is recorded. Confirm access and ownership first; the record holds nothing on either. Summer would make the water feel like nothing much.

Terrain

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

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
33 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
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
114 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 65% 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
37°
Mar
45°
Apr
55°
May
68°
Jun
78°
Jul
76°
Aug
65°
Sep
50°
Oct
37°
Nov
24°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.8 in Annual Snow: 33.3 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 24°F · Water 86°F · +62° contrast
December Air 24°F · Water 86°F · +62° contrast
February Air 27°F · Water 86°F · +59° contrast
January offers 54°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
39°F
Clear E 16.6 mph 52% Good soaking weather
Today 79° Low 41° Partly Sunny
Spring is +7° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 46° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +6° warmer
Thursday 77° Low 40° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Friday 76° Low 40° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +10° warmer
Saturday 78° Low 41° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +8° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Angel Creek (Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest, Nv) 16.7 mi away

Overview Angel Creek Campground is located on the grassy foothills of the East Humboldt Mountain Range, just eight miles southwest of Wells, Nev. It sits at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Visitors enjoy making the short drive to Angel Lake for canoeing and fishing.Recreation Beautiful Angel Lake is just four miles from the campground, offering great canoeing and fishing for rainbow and brook trout.Smith Lake Trail begins at the entrance to Angel Lake Campground, with a designated day use parking...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 5,619 ft

Ralphs Warm Springs sits at 5,619 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 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
86°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 86°F (30°C)
Avg Air Temp 49°F
Above Ambient +37°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 168 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Ralphs Warm Springs?
Ralphs Warm Springs has a water temperature of 86°F (30°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Ralphs Warm Springs located?
Ralphs Warm Springs is located in Elko County, Nevada at 5,619 feet elevation, near Wells. Coordinates: 40.9520°N, 114.7510°W.
How do I get to Ralphs Warm Springs?
Ralphs Warm Springs has Roadside road access (168 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Ralphs Warm Springs?
Yes, Angel Creek (Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest, Nv) is located nearby (16.7 miles away).