Spring

Humboldt County, Nevada · Near Winnemucca
41.5300°N, 118.5700°W · 4,100 ft
104°F 37°F air · Good soaking weather 4,100 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around 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.

An unnamed thermal point in Humboldt County, filed under the plain label Spring, on Bureau of Land Management ground administered from the Humboldt River office. Winnemucca is the nearest town, nearly sixty miles off. The water sits right around bath temperature, which is what makes it worth a look, and access is open. Chemistry on file comes from a 1960 sample: mildly alkaline, lightly mineralized.

Location

Woodward Road brings you within about five hundred feet of the source, a short walk on public land. Low desert, a little over four thousand feet. Snow totals under two feet in an average winter and the year is dry. Nothing in the record describes the spring itself, so the existence of a pool to sit in is unknown.

Best months on file are the three winter ones. A brief walk, open access, public land. The chemistry is more than sixty years old and the temperature figure may be equally dated, so check it yourself. No campground appears in the record. Winnemucca is the closest place to resupply and it is a long way back.

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.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the west.
Highest ground nearby
174 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 35% 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
31°
Jan
36°
Feb
43°
Mar
51°
Apr
60°
May
71°
Jun
81°
Jul
79°
Aug
69°
Sep
54°
Oct
41°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 8.8 in Annual Snow: 19.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 30°F · Water 104°F · +74° contrast
January Air 31°F · Water 104°F · +73° contrast
February Air 36°F · Water 104°F · +68° contrast
December offers 51°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
37°F
Clear SE 29.0 mph 56% Good soaking weather
Today 77° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +27° warmer
Wednesday 76° Low 53° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +28° warmer
Thursday 73° Low 50° Mostly Sunny 8% precip
Spring is +31° warmer
Friday 77° Low 52° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Saturday 80° Low 54° Sunny
Spring is +24° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1960-10-08

The water at Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.3) with 660 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 8.3 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 3 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 2 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 210 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 67 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 54 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Temperature
104°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 104°F (40°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +50°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Woodward Road
Distance to Road 513 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Humboldt River Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Spring?
Spring has a water temperature of 104°F (40°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Spring located?
Spring is located in Humboldt County, Nevada at 4,100 feet elevation, near Winnemucca. Coordinates: 41.5300°N, 118.5700°W.
How do I get to Spring?
Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Woodward Road (513 ft from the road).
Is Spring free to visit?
Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Spring?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.3 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 660 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia