Nevada hot springs, mapped

With more hot springs than any other US state, Nevada presents something of a challenge in choosing where to soak. Add to that the fact that much of Nevada is extremely remote (and Google Maps can be less than helpful), and it can become a real adventure to try to find where you’re supposed to go.

Fortunately, some of the best hot springs in Nevada are well-mapped — and gorgeous, with views looking across remote valleys and onto massive mountain ranges.

These are the 13 best hot springs in Nevada, plus how to find them and how to enjoy the unique natural experience.

Important: Explore responsibly and read up on hot springs etiquette before beginning any trip. And be prepared: reaching many of these Nevada hot springs requires hiking and/or long drives in remote areas without cell phone service, so download a map in advance. Remember that Nevada is mostly desert, which means days can be well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, but still very cold (below freezing) at night in the winter. Do your research, pack accordingly, and start at the developed springs near cities like Reno and Las Vegas if you’re not comfortable being the only car on the road.

Map of Nevada Hot Springs

This is hardly a complete map, considering the number springs in Nevada. But travelers looking to make a quick choice about what springs to visit should consult the map below as some of the hot springs require long, remote drives to reach (and Nevada doesn’t have that many developed cities to begin with).

Gold Strike Hot Springs

Those who reach Gold Strike Hot Springs really have to work for it — it’s not the easiest to reach. It’s on the Colorado River and technically only 45 minutes from Las Vegas, but the four-mile hike through a narrow canyon to reach the spring makes it feel much farther. The hike is doable for most hikers but slightly technical, requiring some scrambling and a few careful maneuvers. But visitors who make it will get to relax in a natural hot spring where hot water seeps from fissures in the canyon walls.

Spencer Hot Springs

The vast Nevada desert backed by the jagged peaks of the Toiyabe Range — that’s the view visitors have as they soak in the improved primitive pools at this Nevada hot spring. Sitting just off the “Loneliest Road in America,” Spencer is easily accessible and consists of a super steamy metal tub and an in-ground spring. After soaking, travelers can camp nearby or book a hotel room in Austin — a historical town with antique shops and a few hotels.

Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs

Popular among ATVers and RV campers, Fish Lake Valley is one of the few hot springs in the state with amenities such as fire pits. It can get busy, so embrace the company or try to hit it midweek when the crowds are smaller.

Surrounded by two mountain ranges in the middle of Nevada’s Great Basin, Fish Lake Valley has a large concrete hot pool with a temperature of around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which feeds two naturally warm ponds ideal for lazing on a floating raft. While visiting, be sure to look west to see Boundary Peak. With a summit 13,146 feet above sea level, it’s the tallest mountain in the state.

Carson Hot Springs Resort

Smack in the middle of Carson City, just to the east of Lake Tahoe, is this no-frills, family-friendly hot spring resort with a large outdoor pool, 10 private soaking rooms with adjustable temperatures, fire pits, and a powerful massage fountain known as “the hammer.”

Unlike with many Nevada hot springs, the water doesn’t smell like sulfur. While it does flow naturally from an underground spring (at 121 degrees F), it gets treated and cooled to create the variety of temperatures in the tubs and pool. The resort is open from 8 AM to 9 PM daily.

Soldier Meadows Hot Springs

The multiple natural pools at Soldier Meadows sit adjacent to dozens of trails and creeks, and this is a great place to spend a night or two — there’s plenty of free BLM camping in the area.

It’s sort of in the middle of nowhere, near the Black Rock Desert. But it does get busy before and after the annual Burning Man festival, so avoid the weeks around Labor Day if you want any chance for peace and quiet while you soak.

Rogers and Blue Point Springs

More warm than hot, Rogers Hot Springs is located not too far from Las Vegas at Lake Mead National Recreation Area between Echo Bay and Overton. Rogers and the nearby Blue Point Spring help support a desert ecosystem that includes vibrant desert palms and other greenery. If you’re making a day trip from Vegas, drive along the shore of Lake Mead on the way out to swing through the Valley of Fire on your way back to town.

Black Rock Hot Springs

Named after the recognizable rock in the distance that gives Black Rock Desert its name, this large, sandy-bottomed pool is awfully inviting. Just be careful getting in, and always check the temp before going fully under. A wooden plank leads into the pool and is the easiest way to get in, especially since the water at the other end of the pool can be burning hot.

When visiting any and all Nevada hot springs, it’s best to keep your dog on a leash, but it’s especially true here as pups may burn their paws if they get too close to the wrong end.

Steamboat Hot Springs

Steamboat Hot Springs is a commercial hot springs resort with vintage vibes just south of downtown Reno. It has an outdoor tub, private baths, a steam room, plus massages and aromatherapy. Water comes from a geothermal source and contains the same healing minerals you’d find in a natural hot spring. Drop-ins are welcome for the outdoor tub, but appointments are recommended for any of the spa’s other services.

Arizona Hot Springs

This three-tiered hot pool sits in a dark slot canyon near Hoover Dam, just across the Arizona border. Getting there requires a three-mile hike along a flat, sandy wash starting from the trailhead on US-93 South.

Arizona Hot Springs is the most accessible hot spring near Las Vegas, so the area can get busy. For the best chance at solitude, go for a late-night soak and consider camping on the beach on the edge of the Colorado River. It can be quite hot — as in, well over 110 degrees F — midday in the summer, so consider visiting sometime between late October and April for the best hiking weather.

Trego Hot Springs

One of the best things about Trego Hot Springs is how accessible it is. It’s less than a one-mile hike to reach the springs, and because it’s on BLM land, visitors can camp anywhere nearby they like (so long as they’re at least 300 feet from the water). Because it’s rather far from any major city (Reno is 2.5 hour south) it’s rarely ever crowded — except during Burning Man, when the vibe goes from “pastoral peace” to “party time.”

Ruby Valley Hot Springs

Ruby Valley Hot Springs is one of the best Nevada hot springs for travelers seeking a totally natural experience (and yes, that means nudity is common). The springs are totally natural, with no manmade walls, dams, or platforms around the various pools. They range in temperature, but are all roughly around 100 degrees, and the large main pool can accommodate dozens of visitors at once.

Ruby Valley Hot Springs is quite remote, requiring about 15 miles of driving on uneven country roads. The closest town is Elko, but it’s still about an hour away. Be sure to load up on water and food (and download your directions) before leaving Elko.

Kirch Hot Springs

These hot springs, known as the Kirch Hot Springs, are technically called the “Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area” hot springs. But everyone knows them as Kirch, and they’re quite popular. That’s probably because they’re downright gorgeous, with bright blue water and yellow sagebrush, plus epic views of Nevada’s high country in the distance. Travelers who sit in the springs long enough may be lucky enough to see some of the area’s protected wildlife wander by, including coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and more. Plan to camp at the management area as there isn’t much else nearby.

Kyle Hot Springs

Last on the list but certainly one of the best Nevada hot springs is Kyle Hot Springs, in northern Nevada. It has great views out onto the desert, and though it used to be a resort, it’s now totally abandoned, save for a few old fences and gates. The water from the main pool (which is gated) is extremely hot, so visitors should use the pools further down the hill. The closest town is Winnemucca (56 miles away) and there’s no developed camping anywhere nearby either, so plan to stop when you’re driving through or car camp on BLM land nearby.

Because this used to be a resort, some of the pools are actual tubs, and visitors will need to fill the tubs from underground pipes, which means the smell of sulfur can be a bit strong. Be sure to dip a toe in the water before climbing in, and empty your tub after you leave (and better yet, wipe it down to leave it clean for the next person, too).

How many hot springs are in Nevada?

Though most people may associate Nevada with Las Vegas, the state is actually quite huge — much larger than just one city. Nevada covers more than 110,500 square miles, which leaves plenty of room for hot springs. In fact, it leaves room for more than 300 natural hot springs.

That means that hot water bubbles out from the earth in 300 places, but the actual number of places where travelers can soak in that water could be much higher. Nevada has the most hot springs of any state in the US, though the surrounding states — primarily California and Oregon — are also very geothermically active.

Does Las Vegas have hot springs?

Good news for non-gamblers: there are tons of hot springs near Las Vegas that make for a perfect day trip for guests who prefer deserts to slot machines and circus shows. The closest hot springs near Las Vegas are around Boulder City, about 30 miles from Las Vegas. Gold Strike Hot Springs and Arizona Hot Springs are the closest to the city and make for great full- or half-day trips. 

source