Nevada Hot Springs

One of the most surreal geothermal features on Earth—a man-made geyser that has grown into a technicolor mound of mineral deposits spewing hot water into terraced pools. Now owned by Burning Man Project, guided tours reveal this otherworldly landscape of neon greens, reds, and oranges created by thermophilic algae.

Deep in the remote high desert north of the Black Rock Range, Soldier Meadows features a warm creek and several soaking pools on a historic ranch. The area is home to rare desert dace fish and offers profound silence and solitude far from any paved road.

One of Nevada's most iconic roadside hot springs, Spencer features a metal stock tank and natural rock pools on a sagebrush-covered hillside overlooking the Toiyabe Range. The sweeping Basin and Range views and easy access off Highway 50 make it a must-stop.

Tucked beneath the stunning Ruby Mountains in northeastern Nevada, these natural hot springs feed warm pools in a marsh and meadow setting. The dramatic snow-capped peaks rising above the valley floor create one of Nevada's most scenic soaking backdrops.

A popular soaking spot along Bishop Creek in northeastern Nevada, Twelve Mile features rock-lined pools right at the river's edge. The mix of hot spring water and cold creek flow lets soakers find their perfect temperature amid a scenic high desert canyon.

One of Nevada's most historically significant geothermal areas, visited by Mark Twain in the 1860s and used therapeutically ever since. Located just south of Reno, the modern spa channels the powerful geothermal waters into private soaking tubs and offers mud baths from the mineral-rich deposits.

Sitting in the vast Black Rock Desert near the Burning Man playa, Trego's sandy-bottomed pools offer soaking amid one of the most remote and stark landscapes in the lower 48. The hot springs emerge alongside the railroad tracks in an otherworldly alkali flat.

A large warm creek and marshy soaking area in the remote high desert of northern Nevada near the Oregon border. Hot water fans out across a grassy flat, creating multiple warm pools of varying depths where ranchers and adventurers have soaked for generations.

A spectacular and dangerous geological formation—a collapsed sinter cone creating a 50-foot-deep cauldron of near-boiling water in the Nevada desert. This is strictly a look-but-don't-touch natural wonder, as the superheated water and unstable edges have claimed lives.

A warm spring near Lake Mead National Recreation Area that creates a palm-fringed pool in the Mojave Desert. The clear, 84-degree water is a refreshing change from the desert heat, and the surrounding fan palms make it feel like a hidden desert oasis.

A large natural warm spring along the Extraterrestrial Highway near Area 51, Ash Springs pours millions of gallons daily into a crystal-clear swimming hole. The warm, constant-temperature pool surrounded by cottonwood trees is a desert oasis for road-trippers.

A cluster of volunteer-built rock pools along the Reese River in central Nevada's Toiyabe Range. The springs bubble up through the river gravel, and soakers can adjust temperature by repositioning rocks to mix hot spring water with the cool river current.

A Washoe County park centered around the 1864 Bowers Mansion, built by Comstock Lode millionaires. The geothermally heated public pool is a summer favorite for Reno-area families, combining Gold Rush history with splashing fun beneath the Sierra foothills.

A secluded ranch-country hot spring in the scenic Paradise Valley north of Winnemucca. The spring feeds a makeshift pool on private land (with owner permission required), surrounded by cottonwoods and the Santa Rosa Range—a true hidden paradise in northern Nevada.

A remote geothermal spring in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, famous for nearby virgin opal deposits. The warm water collects in a rock-lined pool surrounded by high desert rangeland, offering a supremely isolated soak in one of Nevada's most pristine landscapes.

An artesian well in the remote Fish Lake Valley pours scalding water into a concrete stock tank where it cools to soakable temperatures. Surrounded by vast alkali flats and the White Mountains, this roadside gem offers stark high-desert beauty and total solitude.

A no-frills mineral bath on the outskirts of Nevada's capital city, Carson Hot Springs has served locals since the 1800s. The large outdoor pool and private soaking rooms provide an affordable, unpretentious escape within minutes of downtown Carson City.

A beloved Black Rock Desert hot spring near Gerlach, popular with Burning Man attendees and desert explorers. The concrete-and-rock pool sits on the edge of the playa with sweeping views of the Black Rock Range, offering a warm soak after dusty desert adventures.

A cluster of hot seeps in a scenic valley between the Tobin and Sonoma Ranges. The main soaking pool is a repurposed metal stock tank fed by a hot artesian flow, offering a wonderfully secluded desert soak with panoramic mountain views in every direction.

A colorful geothermal area in the remote Black Rock Desert region where mineral-rich waters deposit rainbow-hued travertine terraces. The springs are too hot at the source but cool into soakable temperatures in lower runoff channels edged with vibrant mineral deposits.

A large warm spring along the Pahranagat Valley that creates a lush desert oasis critical for migratory birds and the endangered Pahranagat roundtail chub. The crystal-clear water flows year-round, sustaining wetlands in an otherwise arid Lincoln County landscape.

A popular roadside hot spring near the Humboldt River along Interstate 80. Volunteers have built a rock-and-concrete soaking pool that catches the naturally heated water, making it one of the more accessible primitive soaks in northeastern Nevada.

A remote desert hot spring in the Diamond Valley south of Eureka, where scalding water flows from a hillside source into volunteer-built soaking pools. The vast Basin and Range panorama and utter silence make this a quintessential Nevada backcountry soak.

One of the largest spring systems in Nevada, producing millions of gallons daily that sustain Hot Creek and critical desert wetland habitat. The warm, clear water supports rare native fish species and creates a ribbon of green through the otherwise arid Railroad Valley.

A historic resort at the base of the Sierra Nevada near Nevada's oldest settlement. Originally established in 1862, it features six outdoor mineral pools at varying temperatures, a full-service spa, and views of the Carson Valley.

A series of scalding geothermal seeps in the remote high desert of northern Humboldt County. An old concrete livestock trough has been repurposed as a soaking tub, where hot water is mixed with cold to reach a comfortable temperature under wide-open skies.

A remote hot spring near the ghost town of Tuscarora in Elko County, where a warm artesian flow feeds a hand-dug pool in the sagebrush flats. The springs sit beneath the Independence Mountains with unobstructed views of some of Nevada's most empty landscape.

A little-known geothermal seep in White Pine County where warm water collects in natural depressions surrounded by sagebrush and juniper. The remote location near the Schell Creek Range guarantees solitude and dark skies for night soaking.

A large, warm spring system in the Meadow Valley Wash area of Lincoln County that has sustained ranching and agriculture since Mormon settlers arrived in 1864. The springs create lush meadows and ponds in the desert, popular for casual wading and wildlife observation.

A dangerously hot artesian well right in the city of Elko that shoots scalding water from a pipe into a small roadside pool. While too hot for soaking without extreme caution, it's a fascinating urban geothermal curiosity and a testament to the region's volcanic energy.