Spring

Nye County, Nevada · Near Tonopah
38.0270°N, 116.6830°W · 5,635 ft
86°F 52°F air · Good soaking weather 5,635 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.

Thirty miles out of Tonopah in Nye County, an unnamed spring on Tonopah Field Office ground with access listed open. The water sits in the tepid range, a little short of what most people call a soak.

Location

Most of a mile on foot, with the closest road unnamed on file. High basin, well above five thousand feet. Snow is around sixteen inches a winter and the year is dry, six inches.

Winter per the listing. Chemistry comes from a 1967 sample: slightly alkaline, moderately mineralised. Iron was present. Six decades old. Open access, no fee recorded, no campground on record.

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
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
54 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
98 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 44% 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
32°
Jan
35°
Feb
44°
Mar
52°
Apr
59°
May
73°
Jun
78°
Jul
77°
Aug
68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 6.3 in Annual Snow: 16.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 32°F · Water 86°F · +55° contrast
December Air 32°F · Water 86°F · +55° contrast
February Air 35°F · Water 86°F · +51° contrast
January offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
52°F
SSW 1.3 mph 25% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 81° Low 46° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +5° warmer
Wednesday 79° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +7° warmer
Thursday 79° Low 46° Sunny
Spring is +7° warmer
Friday 80° Low 43° Sunny
Spring is +6° warmer
Saturday 82° Low 44° Sunny
Spring is +4° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1967-07-28

The water at Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.8) with 945 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation).

pH 7.8 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 58 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 18 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 276 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 222 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 36 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 20 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Mile-High Advisory 5,635 ft

Spring sits at 5,635 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 23% 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 54°F
Above Ambient +32°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.7 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 Spring

Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Spring, Nevada.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Spring?
Spring has a water temperature of 86°F (30°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Spring located?
Spring is located in Nye County, Nevada at 5,635 feet elevation, near Tonopah. Coordinates: 38.0270°N, 116.6830°W.
How do I get to Spring?
Spring has Short Walk road access (0.7 mi 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, Iron. The pH is 7.8 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 945 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia