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Wild spring

Virgin Valley Warm Springs

Free
5 hr 43 min from Reno
Roadside

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.

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✓ Verified November 2026

Price: Free
Nearest town: Denio
From Reno: 5 hr 43 min
Hike (one way): Roadside

Plan your visit

Hours & season

Season	Open year-round Campground accessible year-round, but refuge roads other than NV-140 are not maintained in winter

Tickets & booking

Price	Free Sheldon NWR has no entrance fee, and camping at Virgin Valley Campground is free, first-come, first-served
Access	Free public access
Booking	No reservations Campsites are first-come, first-served Stay limit 14 days in any 30-day period

Rules

Dogs	Yes

On site

Pools	1
Lodging	No
Land manager	USFWS

Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages.

Soak responsibly

Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
Check permits and closures with USFWS before you go.
Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.

Water temperature

60°Ftemps not published125°F

This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.

Mineral profile

Total dissolved minerals

98 mg/L

Lightly mineralized

Tap waterMineral waterSeawater

pH: 8.9
Temp at source: 87°F

Lab analysis of the source water at a USGS sampling site, sampled 2020–2022 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.

The pools

Pool	Temp
Virgin Valley warm pondSpring-fed pond next to the campground; about 90F per Travel Nevada.	—

As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.

What's here

warm spring pool beside a free campground
rustic shower house
pit toilets and drinking water
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
opal-mining area nearby

Getting there

From Reno5 hr 43 min290 mi
From Winnemucca2 hr 59 min125 mi
From Elko (EKO)5 hr 6 min248 mi

Typical driving time without traffic or snow.

Elevation	4,834 ft
Road	Reached by Virgin Valley Road off NV-140 Refuge roads are not maintained in winter Check the refuge's current-conditions page

Things to do near Denio

attraction

Royal Peacock Opal Mine

Pay-to-dig black fire opal mine in Virgin Valley with a gift shop and a rental cabin and cottage.

attraction

Bonanza Opal Mines

Dig opal tailings Memorial Day-Labor Day, Fri-Sun 8am-4pm; $75/day, kids 12 and under free.

park

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

Remote refuge for pronghorn and bighorn sheep with gorges, springs and lakes; no entrance fee.

Nearby springs

Wild spring

Soldier Meadows Hot Springs

Gerlach, NV

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.

Minerals266 mg/LSodium–sulfate · high silica

FreeView

Wild spring

Willow Creek Hot Springs (Whitehorse Hot Springs)

Fields, OR

A remote hot spring in the Trout Creek Mountains area of southeast Oregon, also called Whitehorse Hot Springs. Travel Oregon lists it near the Willow Creek Campground with a Fields address, and a BLM district map labels the spring. No official source publishes its temperature, facilities or road conditions.

Minerals696 mg/L

FreeView

Resort & lodging

Alvord Hot Springs

Fields, OR

A privately owned soaking site on the east side of Steens Mountain at the edge of the Alvord Desert, with twin concrete pools fed by spring water that surfaces around 170°F. Caretakers run bunkhouses, campsites and a small general store, and a private road gives guests access to the playa. Overnight guests can soak at any hour; day visitors must call ahead.

Call for pricesView

Soldier Meadows Hot Springs: 36 mi · Willow Creek Hot Springs (Whitehorse Hot Springs): 48 mi · Alvord Hot Springs: 53 mi

Sources (10)

· checked November 2026

Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.