Wabuska Hot Springs

Lyon County, Nevada · Near Yerington
39.1610°N, 119.1830°W · 4,299 ft
201°F 44°F air · Good soaking weather 4,299 ft Short Walk
Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking

Wabuska Hot Springs reaches 201°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

Fifteen miles out of Yerington, Wabuska Hot Springs is one of the boiling ones. The temperature on file sits near the boiling point, which rules out touching it, never mind sitting in it. Lyon County. Neither owner nor public access status appears in the record. A 1978 water analysis turned up iron. Someone has photographed it, and the spring picks up a trickle of searches.

Location

Park on a road that has no name in the record and walk the last five hundred feet or so. The ground sits around forty-three hundred feet. Dry climate, light snow, so weather rarely blocks the approach. Land unit, designation, campground: all blank. Nothing describes what surrounds the source, and no second name is given.

The file picks winter. Boiling water burns on contact, so keep well back and watch for steam. Short walk in. With the owner unrecorded, check for signs. No camping is listed. The 1978 analysis is the newest data on file, so expect the figures to have drifted.

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 Wabuska Hot Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Wabuska Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Wabuska 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
15 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
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
109 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 59% 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
36°
Jan
39°
Feb
46°
Mar
54°
Apr
61°
May
73°
Jun
80°
Jul
79°
Aug
70°
Sep
56°
Oct
43°
Nov
34°
Dec
Annual Precip: 8.4 in Annual Snow: 15.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 34°F · Water 201°F · +167° contrast
January Air 36°F · Water 201°F · +165° contrast
February Air 39°F · Water 201°F · +162° contrast
December offers 46°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
44°F
WNW 0.0 mph 43% Good soaking weather
Today 82° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +119° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +121° warmer
Thursday 77° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +124° warmer
Friday 78° Low 49° Sunny
Spring is +123° warmer
Saturday 81° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +120° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1978-01-01

The water at Wabuska Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.9). It is notably rich in sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation).

pH 7.9 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 38 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 290 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 720 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 49 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 30 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Temperature
201°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 201°F (94°C)
Avg Air Temp 56°F
Above Ambient +145°F
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Wabuska Hot Springs?
Wabuska Hot Springs has a water temperature of 201°F (94°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Wabuska Hot Springs located?
Wabuska Hot Springs is located in Lyon County, Nevada at 4,299 feet elevation, near Yerington. Coordinates: 39.1610°N, 119.1830°W.
How do I get to Wabuska Hot Springs?
Wabuska Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Wabuska Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.9 (slightly alkaline).
Is it safe to soak at Wabuska Hot Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Wabuska Hot Springs reaches 201°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