The Hot Springs

Humboldt County, Nevada · Near Winnemucca
41.4210°N, 117.3880°W · 4,470 ft
135°F 4,470 ft Short Walk

The Hot Springs, a name that tells you most of what the record knows, is a thermal point in Humboldt County, 36 miles out from Winnemucca. Hot water, well past the comfortable range. There is a photograph on file, which is more than most of these sites can say, and no owner or access status appears anywhere on the record.

Location

It is a walk of roughly 430 feet from a road whose name was never logged. Moderate elevation. Two feet or so of snow in winter, and precipitation on the moderate side. Who holds the land is blank, along with any land unit or designation.

The record puts the good months in the dead of winter. The water at the source is hot enough to scald skin on contact, so look for an outflow that has cooled and test before stepping in. Ownership and permission are unrecorded; confirm both. The record is empty on fees and camping, and there is no water chemistry.

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 The Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around The Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around The Hot 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.

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

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

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

Heat Below
91 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 33% 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
33°
Feb
42°
Mar
50°
Apr
59°
May
70°
Jun
81°
Jul
79°
Aug
68°
Sep
53°
Oct
40°
Nov
28°
Dec
Annual Precip: 11.0 in Annual Snow: 26.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 28°F · Water 135°F · +107° contrast
December Air 28°F · Water 135°F · +107° contrast
February Air 33°F · Water 135°F · +102° contrast
January offers 53°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear SSE 33.0 mph
Tuesday 76° Low 41° Sunny
Spring is +59° warmer
Wednesday 77° Low 45° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +58° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 48° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +61° warmer
Friday 76° Low 44° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +59° warmer
Saturday 79° Low 45° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +56° warmer
Where to Stay

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Temperature
135°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 135°F (57°C)
Avg Air Temp 53°F
Above Ambient +82°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 431 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at The Hot Springs?
The Hot Springs has a water temperature of 135°F (57°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is The Hot Springs located?
The Hot Springs is located in Humboldt County, Nevada at 4,470 feet elevation, near Winnemucca. Coordinates: 41.4210°N, 117.3880°W.
How do I get to The Hot Springs?
The Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (431 ft from the road).
Is it safe to soak at The Hot Springs?
With care. At 135°F The Hot Springs 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