Unnamed Thermal Spring

Pershing County, Nevada · Near Lovelock
41.0130°N, 119.0100°W · 3,953 ft
172°F 3,953 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 172°F, the source water at This spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Scalding water, far too hot for skin, rises at this unnamed point sixty-four miles out of Lovelock in Pershing County. The land belongs to the BLM's Black Rock Field Office, listed open. A June 1980 USGS sample found neutral water with iron and the common salts. The nearest road is three tenths of a mile away.

Location

The road it is nearest to has no name in the record. Low basin elevation, dry year-round, snowfall around a foot. Public land, no designation. No campground on record. The average temperature through the year is in the mid-fifties, and the summer reading on the climate chart is the one that matters for the walk.

The record rates midwinter highest. Scalding. Keep well clear of the source. The walk in is short. No fee recorded, and the chemistry is from 1980, with nothing newer on file. Nobody has photographed it for the 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 this spring.

Aerial view of the ground around the spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around the 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.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
55 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
81 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 18% 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
33°
Jan
37°
Feb
43°
Mar
51°
Apr
60°
May
71°
Jun
80°
Jul
78°
Aug
68°
Sep
54°
Oct
41°
Nov
31°
Dec
Annual Precip: 7.1 in Annual Snow: 12.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 31°F · Water 172°F · +141° contrast
January Air 33°F · Water 172°F · +140° contrast
February Air 37°F · Water 172°F · +135° contrast
December offers 49°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
Clear SSE 33.0 mph
Tuesday 81° Low 47° Sunny
Spring is +91° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 50° Sunny 2% precip
Spring is +94° warmer
Thursday 77° Low 51° Mostly Sunny 5% precip
Spring is +95° warmer
Friday 79° Low 49° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +93° warmer
Saturday 81° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +91° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1980-06-16

The water at This spring is neutral (pH 7.1). It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration) and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).

pH 7.1 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 25 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 4 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 300 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 140 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 160 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 180 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Temperature
172°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 172°F (78°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +118°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.3 mi
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 ?
has a water temperature of 172°F (78°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is located?
is located in Pershing County, Nevada at 3,953 feet elevation, near Lovelock. Coordinates: 41.0130°N, 119.0100°W.
How do I get to ?
has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).
Is free to visit?
has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at ?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.1 (neutral).
Is it safe to soak at ?
No, not at the source. The water at reaches 172°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.
Sources: USGS NWIS