Springs

Pershing County, Nevada · Near Lovelock
41.3380°N, 119.1680°W · 4,332 ft
79°F 4,332 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around 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.

Nearly ninety miles from Lovelock, in the far reaches of Pershing County, a roadside thermal point called Springs comes up warm and neutral. Black Rock Field Office BLM ground, open to the public. A September 2020 water sample is on file, which is recent by the standards of Nevada thermal records, and it gives this point more documentation than most.

Location

The spring sits practically at the road's edge. Which road, the record does not say. Open BLM land in dry country with winter snow you would measure in feet, about two of them. The nearest city on record is Lovelock, and that is a serious drive. Moderate elevation.

Go when it is cold; that is what the record says. Access is roadside. Fees and camping go unmentioned. The 2020 sample found near-neutral pH and low dissolved solids, with the usual major ions measured: calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfate, chloride. No photograph is attached.

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 Springs.

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

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
121 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 72% 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
34°
Feb
41°
Mar
49°
Apr
59°
May
70°
Jun
79°
Jul
78°
Aug
68°
Sep
54°
Oct
41°
Nov
30°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.8 in Annual Snow: 26.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 30°F · Water 79°F · +49° contrast
January Air 31°F · Water 79°F · +48° contrast
February Air 34°F · Water 79°F · +45° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear SSE 33.0 mph
Tuesday 81° Low 45° Sunny 1% precip
Wednesday 78° Low 46° Sunny 3% precip
Spring is +1° warmer
Thursday 76° Low 48° Mostly Sunny 12% precip
Spring is +3° warmer
Friday 80° Low 46° Sunny 2% precip
Saturday 82° Low 48° Sunny
Water Chemistry Sampled 2020-09-16

The water at Springs is neutral (pH 7.2) with 216 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 7.2 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 14 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 4 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 38 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 17 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 12 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Temperature
79°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 79°F (26°C)
Avg Air Temp 53°F
Above Ambient +26°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 42 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Black Rock Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Springs?
Springs has a water temperature of 79°F (26°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Springs located?
Springs is located in Pershing County, Nevada at 4,332 feet elevation, near Lovelock. Coordinates: 41.3380°N, 119.1680°W.
How do I get to Springs?
Springs has Roadside road access (42 ft from the road).
Is Springs free to visit?
Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.2 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 216 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS