South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs

Nye County, Nevada · Near Tonopah
38.8230°N, 116.7170°W · 6,836 ft
95°F 48°F air · Good soaking weather 6,836 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around South Mosquito Creek Ranch 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.

South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs are a group of warm springs on BLM land listed as open, in Nye County nearly sixty miles from Tonopah, the nearest town of any size. The water is bath-warm. High elevation and a long drive put these well out of casual range.

Location

Tonopah Field Office. A walk of a thousand feet or so from a road that is unnamed in the record. Close to seven thousand feet up. Winters pile up over three feet of snow. The year's precipitation totals around ten inches.

Winter is listed as best, and at this height that will mean snow. The chemistry on file dates to 1967: near-neutral, low in dissolved solids, which is clean water as hot springs go. Sixty years old, though. No fee or campground on record. Open access per the BLM.

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 South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs.

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

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 41% 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
28°
Jan
29°
Feb
36°
Mar
44°
Apr
53°
May
67°
Jun
73°
Jul
72°
Aug
63°
Sep
51°
Oct
38°
Nov
27°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.8 in Annual Snow: 40.3 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 27°F · Water 95°F · +68° contrast
January Air 28°F · Water 95°F · +67° contrast
February Air 29°F · Water 95°F · +66° contrast
December offers 46°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
48°F
Clear NNW 33.2 mph 23% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 77° Low 46° Partly Sunny
Spring is +18° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 48° Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust
Spring is +20° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +21° warmer
Friday 75° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +20° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 45° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +18° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1967-05-07

The water at South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.5) with 187 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 7.5 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 6 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 49 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 20 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 8 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Mile-High Advisory 6,836 ft

South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs sits at 6,836 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 27% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
95°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 95°F (35°C)
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Above Ambient +47°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.2 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Tonopah Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use

Hike 1 waterfall near South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs

Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs, Nevada.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs?
South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs has a water temperature of 95°F (35°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs located?
South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs is located in Nye County, Nevada at 6,836 feet elevation, near Tonopah. Coordinates: 38.8230°N, 116.7170°W.
How do I get to South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs?
South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).
Is South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs free to visit?
South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at South Mosquito Creek Ranch Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.5 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 187 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS