6 listings
Free Hot Springs in Nevada
No-fee soaks on public land. Pack it in, pack it out, and check access rules before you go.
We list 6 in Nevada: the hottest is Gold Strike Hot Springs (up to 109°F).
Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs (Hot Well)
A free hot well managed by Esmeralda County in Fish Lake Valley, about 20 minutes from Dyer on a county dirt road. A large below-ground concrete tub holds water around 105°F, and its outflow feeds marshy ponds that draw wildlife. The site has a large parking area, primitive campsites and a vault toilet.
Gold Strike Hot Springs
Warm and hot springs in Gold Strike Canyon, which drops to the Colorado River just below Hoover Dam in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The NPS rates the 5.3-mile round trip as very strenuous: a Class 2 canyoneering route with seven dry falls and about 1,200 ft of elevation change. The trail closes each year from May 15 to Sept. 30 for heat, but the springs stay reachable by water.
Ruby Valley Hot Springs (Smith Ranch Hot Springs)
A group of clear spring pools in Ruby Valley, about 60 miles from Elko, between Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Franklin Lake Wildlife Management Area. The largest pool is about 30 feet across and sits around 100°F, but some nearby springs are scalding. The last miles are rough dirt roads where four-wheel drive is recommended, and Travel Nevada advises against winter trips.
Soldier Meadows Hot Springs
A hot creek on BLM land at the north edge of the Black Rock Desert, dammed with rocks into a series of terraced pools, a couple of them large enough for groups. Travel Nevada gives water temperatures from the mid 90s to the low 100s F. Free semi-primitive BLM campsites and a first-come BLM cabin are nearby, about 60 miles of dirt road north of Gerlach.
Spencer Hot Springs
A cluster of springs on BLM land in the Big Smoky Valley southeast of Austin, where pipes feed spring water into two metal cattle-trough tubs and a soft-bottomed natural pool. The source runs around 130-140°F, and soakers set the tub temperature by moving the inflow pipe. There are no toilets, water or services; free primitive camping is allowed at least 100 yards from the water.
Virgin Valley Warm Springs
A warm spring pool beside the Virgin Valley Campground in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in far northwestern Nevada. Travel Nevada says the pond stays around 90F, and the refuge lists a rustic shower house, pit toilets and drinking water. Camping is free and first-come, first-served, with a 14-day limit.