Black Rock Hot Springs

Gerlach, Nevada (Humboldt County)

By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026

Not a visit recommendation

Extremely remote spring at the base of Black Rock Point in the Black Rock Desert NCA ~80 mi/3-4 hr from Gerlach — the small source pool (~150F) is lethally hot and must never be entered; only the larger dock-side pool (~103-105F) is soakable. 4WD mandatory; playa route only in bone-dry conditions.

Friends of Black Rock-High Rock — Hot Springs page (stewardship org: extreme temps, dry-only access, do-not-enter warnings)

Field notes — checked November 2025

Hazard: Lethal ~150F source pool — severe/fatal burn risk including pets
Hazard: Playa mud strands vehicles for days after rain
Hazard: Total remoteness — no cell, no services, delayed/no rescue
Hazard: Extreme summer heat; abandoned mines elsewhere in the NCA
ID PREFIX IS WRONG — this spring is in NEVADA (Humboldt County), not California; the 'ca-' prefix is a catalog error. Distinct from Black Rock Hot Springs near Taos, NM
NEVER enter the smaller source pool — ~150F water over an unknown-depth vent causes fatal burns in seconds; soak only in the larger outer pool via the wooden dock, staying away from the inlet edge
4WD/high-clearance mandatory — ~80 miles and 3-4 hours each way from Gerlach via Soldier Meadow Rd, or across the playa only when completely dry
Wet playa becomes impassable mud for days — check conditions at the Friends of Black Rock-High Rock visitor center in Gerlach before leaving pavement
No cell service, no services, no rescue nearby — carry spare tire, recovery gear, extra fuel/water, satellite communicator
BLM does not manage hot springs for recreation in the NCA ('people and pets have been severely injured or killed — stay out and stay alive')
Best window is late fall through early spring — summer desert temps are dangerous

104°F reportedFree when open (reported) 4.3 · 15 Google reviews Safety warning — read access notes

Check access status Browse Nevada springs

Current status

Spring

Open

Road

Rough — high-clearance advised

Access

Public land

Soaking

Soaking allowed

Water

Dangerously hot at source

Crowds

Usually quiet

Checked November 2025 · based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓

About this spring

Remote geothermal spring complex at the base of Black Rock Point on the northeast edge of the Black Rock Desert playa, in BLM's Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon NCA — a historic water stop on the Applegate-Lassen emigrant trail. Two pools under the point; the small source pool is scalding (~150°F+), the larger outer pool is soakable via a wooden dock. NOTE: in Nevada, not California. Source pool can cause fatal burns — stay on the dock side. Playa impassable mud after rain. No cell service or facilities.

Black Rock Hot Springs — catalogued as Black Rock Springs — lies about a tenth of a mile northwest of Black Rock Point, the dark landmark on the northeast edge of the Black Rock Desert playa, inside BLM's Black Rock Desert–High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. The springs were a vital water stop for Applegate–Lassen emigrants in the late 1800s — the water had to be cooled before people or livestock could drink it. Two overlapping pools sit beneath the point: a smaller, deeper source pool of unknown depth at extreme temperature, and a larger shallower pool whose outflow feeds a marshy area where temperatures finally drop. An old sheepherder's wagon rests south of the springs. Access crosses the playa on the main dirt road — passable only when completely dry; wet playa traps vehicles for days. Friends of Black Rock-High Rock cautions that both pools carry dangerously hot temperatures.

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 primitive site means here

Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.

Fact sheet

Source temp (historical)	150°F
Trail access	Recorded coordinates — access unverified
Access fee	Reported free — verify locally
Geothermal data reference	NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive)
Check land status	Friends of Black Rock-High Rock — Hot Springs page (stewardship org: extreme temps, dry-only access, do-not-enter warnings)