Ash Springs Recreation Site
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
CLOSED SINCE JULY 2013: the warm spring-fed swimming hole alongside US-93 in Pahranagat Valley was fenced and closed by BLM after visitors' unauthorized pool modifications undercut the rock wall and degraded endangered White River springfish habitat; BLM's site page still shows the closure in effect, and in July 2023 a 2-year-old died of Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba) after likely exposure here — do not enter the fenced site.
Field notes — checked September 2026
- Hazard: Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba) — confirmed fatal case July 2023, likely exposed here
- Hazard: Undercut rock wall / bank collapse hazard (original closure trigger)
- Hazard: Federal trespass violation inside the fence
- Hazard: Endangered-species habitat — disturbance carries legal exposure
- CLOSED: BLM temporary closure in effect since July 2013, formally extended via Federal Register notices (2014, 2016); BLM's current site page still lists the closure — the fenced ~1-acre site is off-limits
- FATAL AMOEBA RISK: CDC-confirmed Naegleria fowleri death of a 2-year-old in July 2023 with likely exposure at Ash Springs — warm water + amoeba = lethal if water enters nose; a major reason to stay out even if fence is breached
- Critical habitat: endangered White River springfish plus BLM-sensitive Pahranagat naucorid bug, Grated tryonia, Pahranagat pebblesnail
- BLM ran a preliminary EA (2018) with options from permanent closure to a fee-based developed park; no reopening decision ever implemented — site remains closed
- Historically drew ~65,000 visitors/yr; became overrun, trashed, and unsafe before closure
- Site is fenced right beside US-93 ~100 mi north of Las Vegas; closure applies only within the fence but covers the springs/pools themselves
- Nearby alternative: Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge (legal recreation) is just south on US-93
Current status
CLOSED SINCE JULY 2013: the warm spring-fed swimming hole alongside US-93 in Pahranagat Valley was fenced and closed by BLM after visitors' unauthorized pool modifications undercut the rock wall and degraded endangered White River springfish habitat; BLM's site page still shows the closure in effect, and in July 2023 a 2-year-old died of Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba) after likely exposure here — do not enter the fenced site.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
About this spring
Once one of southern Nevada's most popular roadside soaks beside US-93 ~100 mi north of Las Vegas. CLOSED by BLM since July 2013 for public safety and protection of endangered White River springfish habitat; the fenced site remains closed pending a management plan. CLOSED — do not enter the fenced site; BLM closure enforced.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
Nevada geothermal context
Nevada has more hot springs per square mile than any other state — Basin and Range faulting brings deep thermal water to the surface across nearly every valley. Most sites are primitive seeps and tubs on public BLM land reached by long, unmaintained dirt roads. Carry extra water, and watch for flash floods in desert washes during storms.
What a developed site means here
A developed site sits between primitive and resort: improved soaking infrastructure — built tubs, decks, stairs, sometimes changing rooms or vault toilets — often run by a land trust, nonprofit, or small operator. Expect modest fees or donation requests, posted etiquette rules, and more predictable conditions than a wild pool.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Unknown — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | BLM — Ash Springs Wildlife Area page (temporary closure still in effect) |
Ash Springs Recreation Site FAQ
Is Ash Springs Recreation Site open right now?
CLOSED SINCE JULY 2013: the warm spring-fed swimming hole alongside US-93 in Pahranagat Valley was fenced and closed by BLM after visitors' unauthorized pool modifications undercut the rock wall and degraded endangered White River springfish habitat; BLM's site page still shows the closure in effect, and in July 2023 a 2-year-old died of Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba) after likely exposure here — do not enter the fenced site. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Can I soak at Ash Springs Recreation Site?
CLOSED SINCE JULY 2013: the warm spring-fed swimming hole alongside US-93 in Pahranagat Valley was fenced and closed by BLM after visitors' unauthorized pool modifications undercut the rock wall and degraded endangered White River springfish habitat; BLM's site page still shows the closure in effect, and in July 2023 a 2-year-old died of Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba) after likely exposure here — do not enter the fenced site.
Where can I check access to Ash Springs Recreation Site?
Check BLM — Ash Springs Wildlife Area page (temporary closure still in effect): https://www.blm.gov/visit/ash-springs-wildlife-area
Sources & references
- BLM — Ash Springs Wildlife Area page (temporary closure still in effect) — official · 2026-09
- Federal Register 2016-08469 — 2-year extension of temporary closure (public safety + endangered species) — official · 2016-04
- NBC News — 2-year-old dies from brain-eating amoeba after possible exposure at Ash Springs — news · 2023-07
- Review-Journal — Nevada's Ash Springs remains closed as BLM ponders its fate — news · 2018
- BLM press release — Little Ash Springs preliminary EA public comment — official · 2018-07
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction