Sand Spring

Inyo County, Nevada · Near Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek
37.9060°N, 118.1710°W · 5,500 ft
74°F 5,500 ft Roadside

The record places this Sand Spring in Inyo County, about ten miles from Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek. The water is only a little warm, low seventies, about swimming pool warm. No owner and no access information are on file.

Location

Roadside, about two hundred feet off a road the record doesn't name, at 5,500 feet. Snow runs two feet a winter, and the year brings eight inches of precipitation. Dry high ground. The record carries no water chemistry for it.

The coldest months get the nod on file, though water this cool in winter is more a footbath than a soak. No campground or fee on record, and access status is blank. USGS measured the temperature; the date is not given.

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 Sand Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Sand Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Sand 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
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the west.
Highest ground nearby
189 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
93 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 36% 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
33°
Jan
36°
Feb
43°
Mar
52°
Apr
59°
May
72°
Jun
79°
Jul
78°
Aug
69°
Sep
56°
Oct
43°
Nov
33°
Dec
Annual Precip: 8.0 in Annual Snow: 23.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 33°F · Water 74°F · +42° contrast
January Air 33°F · Water 74°F · +41° contrast
February Air 36°F · Water 74°F · +38° contrast
December offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
SSE 8.1 mph
Today 81° Low 52° Sunny
Wednesday 79° Low 51° Sunny
Thursday 78° Low 51° Sunny
Friday 77° Low 52° Sunny
Saturday 80° Low 54° Sunny 1% precip
Where to Stay

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Mile-High Advisory 5,500 ft

Sand Spring sits at 5,500 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
74°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 74°F (23°C)
Avg Air Temp 55°F
Above Ambient +20°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 211 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Sand Spring?
Sand Spring has a water temperature of 74°F (23°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Sand Spring located?
Sand Spring is located in Inyo County, Nevada at 5,500 feet elevation, near Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek. Coordinates: 37.9060°N, 118.1710°W.
How do I get to Sand Spring?
Sand Spring has Roadside road access (211 ft from the road).
Sources: USGS NWIS