Nevada is one of the best-kept secrets in the US when it comes to outdoor adventure. It has the most mountain ranges out of any state (more than 300), some with peaks over 13,000ft and it’s also home to the driest area in the US, the Mojave Desert. Sprinkled throughout these peaks and deserts are dozens of natural hot springs. Many of them are set beneath snow-capped mountains with incredible views out over the plains and thanks to their remote locations, many of the hot springs are secluded and private.
If you’re itching for a road trip, grab your (birthday) suit and hit the road.
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Here are 21 of the best hot springs to visit in Nevada
Important note: If you visit any of these hot springs, be sure to follow local guidelines, Leave No Trace by packing out your trash and belongings, and practice good hot springs etiquette. Thanks!
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Map of the Best Hot Springs in Nevada
Use this map to get driving directions to the best hot springs in Nevada. Make sure to check with local land managers when you plan your visit to find out the current status of roads and the hot springs themselves.
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1) Arizona Hot Springs
Take a break from the Las Vegas nightlife and head to this three-tiered hot spring pool nestled in a dark slot canyon near Hoover Dam reached by hiking one of the best trails in Las Vegas. These popular pools do get busy, so for your best chance at solitude, pack your headlamp and a GPS and go for a late-night soak.
Previously these Nevada hot springs could also be reached via an overnight kayaking trip on the Colorado River’s Black Canyon, which I’ve done twice. Unfortunately the ladder leading to these hot springs was damaged by a flood in 2020, so today hiking is definitely your best bet.
Important Note: Due to extreme heat, the National Park Service actually closes these hot springs from May 15-September 30 every year. So make sure to plan your visit outside of this time frame when the air temperatures are cooler.
The hike itself is rather exposed, so wear sun protection and brush up your desert hiking safety skills.
2) Gold Strike Hot Springs
If you want to reach Gold Strike Hot Springs, you’ll have to work for it. Like Arizona Hot Springs above, Gold Strike is located along the Colorado River about 45 minutes from downtown Las Vegas. But the 4-mile hike through a narrow vertical canyon is slightly more technical and requires some scrambling and a few careful maneuvers.
Once you get to the Gold Strike Hot Springs, though, the scrambling will be worth it. Sit back and relax in the natural spa where water seeps right out of fissures in the rocky canyon walls.
3) Alkali Hot Springs – CLOSED
2021 Update: Alkali Hot Springs is closed to the public
Goldfield, a semi-abandoned ghost town with a current population of 260, is the closest civilization to Alkali Hot Springs. While you might run into a few locals at the pools, there’s a good chance you will have these two pleasant in-ground cement-lined soaking tubs all to yourself.
Even though they are technically located on private land, camping is allowed. Just make sure to clean up after yourself and pack out all your trash, as with any of the hot springs mentioned here.
4) Twelve-Mile (Bishop Creek) Hot Springs
Hot, cold, hot, cold. That’s the name of the game at this huge steamy pool located along the Humboldt River in Northeastern Nevada. For that all-over tingly body sensation, get nice and toasty in the hot springs and then awaken those senses by diving into the chilly river. Or you can just sit back and soak and enjoy the view of the surrounding Humboldt Mountains.
Getting here is a little tricky since you won’t find these springs marked on the map: From the town of Wells in Northeastern Nevada, make a left on 8th street and drive 9.1 miles. Look for a dirt road on the right just past a series of old ranch houses. Head down this road for 2 miles until you reach the springs. Note that this road can get pretty hairy and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. If your car can’t make it to the end, go as far as you can and walk the rest of the way.
5) Spencer Hot Springs
Envision the vast Nevada desert backed by the jagged peaks of the Toiyabe Range – that’s the view you’ll get soaking in these improved primitive pools. Located just off “America’s Loneliest Highway,” these springs are easily accessible and consist of a steamy metal tub and an in-ground spring.
After you are done soaking, spend a night camping here for free or head to nearby Austin, a small historical town with a few cute cafes, antique shops, and hotels where you can shack up for the night.
6) Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs
Popular among ATVers and RV campers, Fish Lake Valley is one of the few hot springs in Nevadathat offers amenities such as fire pits and BBQs. If you go here, embrace the company or try to hit it mid-week when the crowds are few.
Surrounded by two mountain ranges in the middle of Nevada’s Great Basin, Fish Lake Valley has a large concrete hot pool and two natural warm ponds that are ideal for lazing around on a floating pool mattress.
7) Trego Hot Springs
While the Black Rock Desert is most famous for the 8-day spectacle of Burning Man, this Northern Nevada expanse is also home to a number of quaint hot springs that provide an entirely different playa experience.
The silty Trego Hot Springs is one of them where soakers can enjoy a peaceful mineral-dense mud bath. Temperature varies at the site, so make sure to do a touch test before jumping in.
Important Note: the Trego hot springs have recently tested positive for harmful bacteria including E. Coli and Vibrio Cholera. Call the BLM office for updates before you bathe
8) Ruby Hot Springs
Limestone ledges and a metal ladder provide easy entry at this series of hot pools on the border of the Ruby Wildlife Refuge, one of the most remote wildlife refuges in the lower 48.
Located in the middle of a large marsh, this region is prime habitat for migrating birds, mule deer, antelope, and other species. The main soaking pool is very large, deep and a nice comfortable temperature for swimming, particularly in the late spring and early fall.
9) Kyle Hot Springs
Just 20 miles off of 1-80, Kyle Hot Springs are super easy to get to. Known for epic sunsets, the two plastic soaking tubs have gorgeous views of the mountains and with average water temperatures in the low-90s, these springs are best enjoyed in the warmer months.
The site has a historical feel with the abandoned remnants of an old hot springs resort including an original concrete tub.
10) Carson Hot Springs Resort
No hot tub at your Tahoe accommodations? Carson Hot Springs Resort is your ticket. Recently remodeled and smack in the middle of Carson City on the east side of Lake Tahoe, this family-friendly hot spring resort has a large outdoor pool and deck area, private soaking rooms, fire pits, and a powerful massage fountain known as “the hammer.”
11) Paradise Valley Hot Springs
A well-maintained large cattle trough next to the meandering Little Humboldt River provides soakers a private and quiet place to relax in the midst of the Great Basin and its surrounding snow-capped mountains.
The water here is typically clear and locals have even built a solid wooden entry platform where you can stash your stuff while you soak. To some, this is considered one of the best hot springs in Nevada.
Important Tip: The source pool near the parking area is a scalding 130 degrees. Do not mistake this for the springs. Just follow the stream from here down to the river to find the tub.
12) Soldier Meadows Hot Springs
The multiple natural pools at Soldier Meadows sits adjacent to dozens of trails and creeks and is a great place to spend a night or two. The Soldier Meadows Ranchis a working cattle ranch right next to the springs that offers lodging and home-cooked meals, or if you prefer to rough it, there is plenty of free BLM camping in the area.
13) Dyke Hot Springs
Another set of springs at the northern edge of the Black Rock Desert, Dyke Hot Springs consists of two single (or cozy two-person) bathtubs along the edge of a frog pond.
When you arrive, find the piping that leads from the 150-degree source pond at the top of the hill down into the tubs. Fill em up, wait until the water is comfortable, and then get your soak on. Once you are done, you should drain the tubs to help keep them clean and algae free.
14) Rogers and Blue Point Hot Springs
More of warm springs rather than hot, Roger’s Hot Springs is located not too far from Las Vegas at Lake Mead National Recreation Area between Echo Bay and Overton.
Best visited from September through May, Roger’s and the nearby Blue Point Spring help support a lush desert ecosystem that includes vibrant desert palms and other greenery.
If you are making a day trip out from Vegas, drive along the shore of Lake Mead on the way out and then for an added bonus, swing through the stunning Valley of Fire on your way back to town.
15) Black Rock Hot Springs
Named after the recognizable rock in the distance that gave the Black Rock Desert its name, this large sandy-bottomed pool is awfully inviting. Just be careful getting in and always check the temp before fully submerging yourself.
Use the wooden plank that leads to the pool to find the most common entry point and avoid the other end of the pool where the source water can be burning hot.
16) Diana’s Punch Bowl
The scalding temps at Diana’s Punch Bowl make this the only unsoakable spring on this list. But this geologic wonder is still worth a quick side trip for those visiting the ghost town of Pott’s Ranch in central Nevada, which is only 6 miles away.
In the middle of a large travertine hill, you’ll find a sunken crater that measures 50 feet across by 30 feet deep and is full of 200-degree dark blue water, not unlike some of the hot pools found in Yellowstone.
Use care when approaching the cauldron. Trust me. This is not something you want to fall into.
17) Bog Hot Springs
Bog Hot Springs are unlike any other hot springs in Nevada. Rather than being a single stagnant pool, hot springin’ here involves sitting right in the middleof a warm flowing river. Pools are terraced and temperatures vary, allowing you to find your ideal resting place.
Be aware that the surrounding grasses can harbor microscopic red spider mites which can leave you with red itchy bumps on your skin. So dip at your own risk!
18) Steamboat Hot Springs
Need to rest those muscles after shredding the trails or slopes around Lake Tahoe? Steamboat Hot Springsis a commercial hot springs resort just south of downtown Reno that offers an outdoor tub, private baths, a steam room, massage, and aromatherapy.
Water comes from a geothermal source and contains the same healing minerals you would find in a natural hot spring. Drop-ins are welcome for the outdoor tub, but appointments, which can be made online, are recommended for any of the spa’s other services.
19) Virgin Valley Warm Springs
Virgin Valley Warm Springs is located in northern Nevada on the western edge of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a popular place for outdoor enthusiasts to view pronghorn antelope and enjoy the sweeping wide-open desert landscapes.
The pool at Virgin Valley Warm Springs is large, about 35ft across, and is typically held at a lukewarm 90 degrees, making it a perfect place to soak on a cool fall day.
There’s also free first-come-first-serve camping at the nearby Virgin Valley Campground. The sites are outfitted with fire rings, tables, pit toilets, and drinking water.
20) Kirch Hot Springs
Also known as Sunnyside, these hot springs are situated within the Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area and they are stunning. The crystal clear waters rival that of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding views of the majestic high desert oasis of the White River Valley are unbeatable.
This area is an important wildlife sanctuary for many species of birds, large mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, so be on the lookout for wildlife and be sure to keep the area as pristine as you find it.
21) Caliente Hot Springs Motel
Currently closed, anticipated reopening in fall 2021
Located in the small (and aptly named) town of Caliente, this historic resort is right off route 93, making it easily accessible and a fun treat for any Nevada road trip.
Several of the recently renovated motel rooms feature their own private soaking tubs, but if you aren’t able to book one of those, there are also four private soaking rooms with large tiled tubs.
While you’re there, be sure to check out the mountain biking and hiking trails at nearby Kershaw-Ryan State Park.
What are your favorite hot springs in Nevada? Have you visited any of these recently? Leave a comment below!
*This article was originally sponsored by Travel Nevada and first appeared on the Matador Network*
