Hand-Me-Down Hot Springs
186°F
Source water (NOAA)
4WD road
Moderate access
Free
No fee reported
A primitive BLM spring in the Cortez Mountains foothills where 185 F water is piped into a plastic cooling tub and then a heart-shaped soaking tub. There are no facilities, and the last stretch of road needs a high-clearance vehicle. Clothing is optional and use is free.
01 · Before you go
Plan your visit
What to expect on the ground: rules, facilities and when to go.
- Clothing optionalCommon here, not official policy
- Camping nearbyCamping is not prohibited, but the site is close to private land, so use nearby public land instead.
- Pools2 plastic tubs: one for cooling water and one heart-shaped soaking tub
- SeasonAvailable year-round, but the access road can become impassable when wet or snowy.
- Free to soakDay use is free, no permit required.
Best time to go. Late spring and fall; summer is very hot and wet weather can close the road.
02 · Live
Conditions
Access status, weather and hazards. Closure feeds are checked automatically every morning.
Access
No closures reported
No closure, fire or weather warning found in Forest Service, wildfire (NIFC) or National Weather Service feeds. That isn't confirmation it's open, so check with BLM.
Checked 22 Oct · updated daily
As of October 2026 no closure, fire or road restriction found in searches for 2025 and 2026; the Hot Springs Locator page describes the site as open year-round.
Source water emerges near 185 F and is scalding; the final road is rough and can become impassable; no facilities; private land nearby.
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03 · Route
Getting there
Nearest town: Crescent Valley.
- 1
From Crescent Valley, head east into the Cortez Mountains area, about 14 miles.
- 2
The final 1.1 miles are rough dirt and need high clearance, with 4WD advised when wet or snowy.
- 3
Battle Mountain is about 62 miles away.
40.3164, −116.4347 · nearest town Crescent Valley, NV
04 · Where to stay
Stay nearby
Start early and stay close. Places to stay near Crescent Valley, from campgrounds to cabins.
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Checked against 3 sources, with closures, wildfires and weather warnings re-checked daily.Show sourcesShare your photosSuggest an update
- hotspringslocator.com (location, access, tubs, fee, camping, land_manager, clothing, season)
- data.nbmg.unr.edu (geothermal area, Hot Springs Point context)
- hotspringslocator.com (accessible status)
