Spring (Hot)

Elko County, Nevada · Near West Wendover
41.3860°N, 114.1650°W · 4,980 ft
111°F 39°F air · Good soaking weather 4,980 ft Short Walk
Aerial view of the ground around Spring (Hot) LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Spring (Hot)
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.

A hot, unnamed spring in Elko County, a long way from anywhere: West Wendover is the nearest town and it is forty-five miles off. The water is on the hot side of soakable. The record is blank on who owns it and on access.

Location

Wilkins-Montello Road is the closest road, about seven tenths of a mile away on foot. Basin elevation, roughly five thousand feet. Two feet of snow most winters, ten inches of yearly moisture, give or take.

Winter per the record. Hot enough to want testing before you get in; above 110 is where skin starts to complain after a few minutes. The walk from the road is under a mile. Ownership unknown, so look for signs. Chemistry was never sampled. Fee and camping are blank.

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 Spring (Hot).

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the east.
Highest ground nearby
233 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
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
24°
Jan
29°
Feb
39°
Mar
47°
Apr
57°
May
70°
Jun
80°
Jul
77°
Aug
66°
Sep
51°
Oct
38°
Nov
25°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.8 in Annual Snow: 23.7 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 24°F · Water 111°F · +87° contrast
December Air 25°F · Water 111°F · +86° contrast
February Air 29°F · Water 111°F · +82° contrast
January offers 55°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
39°F
Clear E 16.6 mph 48% Good soaking weather
Today 69° Low 41° Partly Sunny
Spring is +42° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 47° Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +36° warmer
Thursday 73° Low 41° Mostly Sunny 7% precip
Spring is +38° warmer
Friday 71° Low 39° Sunny 4% precip
Spring is +40° warmer
Saturday 71° Low 41° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +40° warmer
Temperature
111°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 111°F (44°C)
Avg Air Temp 50°F
Above Ambient +61°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Wilkins-Montello Road
Distance to Road 0.7 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Spring (Hot)?
Spring (Hot) has a water temperature of 111°F (44°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Spring (Hot) located?
Spring (Hot) is located in Elko County, Nevada at 4,980 feet elevation, near West Wendover. Coordinates: 41.3860°N, 114.1650°W.
How do I get to Spring (Hot)?
Spring (Hot) has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Wilkins-Montello Road (0.7 mi from the road).
Is it safe to soak at Spring (Hot)?
With care. At 111°F Spring (Hot) 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