Warm Springs

Nye County, Nevada · Near Tonopah
38.1880°N, 116.3730°W
145°F 48°F air · Good soaking weather Short Walk
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 145°F, the source water at Warm Springs 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.

Warm Springs, in Nye County forty seven miles from Tonopah, is anything but warm. The USGS measured it at 145 degrees, scalding, hot enough to burn skin on contact. The water is slightly acidic with a heavy load of dissolved minerals, including iron, from a 2003 sample. Nobody has recorded who owns the ground, and the public's right to walk onto it is not on file either.

Location

The Grand Army of the Republic Highway passes within a couple hundred yards, so reaching the spring is a short walk off a major road. Elevation is not logged. The climate is dry and mild for Nevada, with under two feet of snow a winter and little rain. No campground appears in the record.

January leads the month rankings, with the rest of winter close behind. This water will scald. Do not get in without knowing where the cooler water is, and keep children and dogs well back. Access and ownership are blank. The chemistry is from a 2003 survey, so treat it as history.

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 Warm Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Warm Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Warm 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
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northwest.
Highest ground nearby
479 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
102 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 49% 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
60°
May
73°
Jun
79°
Jul
78°
Aug
69°
Sep
56°
Oct
43°
Nov
32°
Dec
Annual Precip: 6.6 in Annual Snow: 17.6 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 32°F · Water 145°F · +113° contrast
December Air 32°F · Water 145°F · +113° contrast
February Air 35°F · Water 145°F · +110° contrast
January offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
48°F
Clear NNW 33.2 mph 23% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 83° Low 50° Mostly Sunny
Spring is +62° warmer
Wednesday 82° Low 52° Sunny then Patchy Blowing Dust
Spring is +63° warmer
Thursday 80° Low 51° Sunny
Spring is +65° warmer
Friday 80° Low 48° Sunny
Spring is +65° warmer
Saturday 82° Low 49° Sunny 1% precip
Spring is +63° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 2003-07-31

The water at Warm Springs is slightly acidic (pH 6.4) with 834 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 6.4 Slightly Acidic
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 77 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 24 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 187 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 94 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 31 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 58 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Temperature
145°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 145°F (63°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +91°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Distance to Road 0.1 mi

Hike 1 waterfall near Warm Springs

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

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Warm Springs?
Warm Springs has a water temperature of 145°F (63°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Warm Springs located?
Warm Springs is located in Nye County, Nevada, near Tonopah. Coordinates: 38.1880°N, 116.3730°W.
How do I get to Warm Springs?
Warm Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Grand Army of the Republic Highway (0.1 mi from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Warm Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 6.4 (slightly acidic). Total dissolved solids measure 834 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Warm Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Warm Springs reaches 145°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, Wikipedia