Bog Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Bog Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Denio, Nevada. Reported soak temperature: 105°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free primitive BLM hot spring on Bog Hot Road off NV-140 near Denio Junction — a long thermal creek with a concrete tub and dugout soaking spots (~100-108F) downstream of a 126-130F+ scalding source; reachable by ~3.5 mi of wide flat dirt road that turns to deep mud and stuck vehicles near the springs when wet.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 6 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Nevada Hiking — Bog Hot Springs (BLM Humboldt Co listing).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 105°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — BLM Winnemucca District public land, no fee.
- Best time to go: October-May for comfortable soaking (summer daytime air temps exceed 95F); road most reliable in dry late summer/fall — avoid after storms.
- Clothing reality: No official policy — BLM public land, nothing posted. Clothing-optional is customary at this remote site; swimwear common too.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Rough dirt pullouts right at the spring run — minimal walking needed if your vehicle makes it, but muddy rutted tracks; not wheelchair accessible.
- Despite the 'ca-' id this spring is in NEVADA (Humboldt County), ~18 mi northeast of Denio Junction on NV-140 — not California
- Source water measured at 126-130F+ — do not enter the head area; soak only in downstream pools/tub and test first
- Bog Hot Road is wide/flat dirt ~3.5 mi and easy in dry conditions, but the last tracks near the springs become deep sticky mud after rain/snow — multiple iOverlander reports of vehicles badly stuck, one nearly slid into the springs
- Clay/mud bottom makes entering pools messy; temperature varies widely by spot — hotter upstream, cooler downstream
- No cell service; nearest fuel/supplies Denio Junction ~16 mi; download offline maps before leaving Winnemucca or Denio
- Free dispersed camping on surrounding BLM land; practice BLM fire restrictions in dry months
- Hazard: Scalding 126-130F+ source water at the spring head
- Hazard: Deep mud on approach tracks after rain/snow — stuck-vehicle reports
- Hazard: Remote — no cell, ~2 hr from Winnemucca
- Hazard: Open thermal creek: hot spots shift, test water before entering
About this spring
Free primitive soaking pools on the Oregon border near Denio (Hot Springs Valley) — 106-110°F water collects in a series of roadside rock and mud-bottom pools amid private ranch land. Soakable pools are roadside and historically tolerated; respect fences and pack out.
Bog Hot Springs — 'Bog Hot' to locals — vents in Bog Hot Valley a few miles south of the Oregon line, on the north side of Continental Lake beneath the Pueblo Mountains in far northern Humboldt County. The source discharges roughly 3,800 liters per minute at 131°F along a Basin and Range fault lineament that runs from the Soldier Meadows system toward McGee Mountain, then flows about a mile through the desert in an open earthen channel, cooling to around 108°F by the time it reaches a collection reservoir. Soakers pick their temperature by position: hotter upstream near the source, milder downstream where rock dams built over the years form a chain of shallow gravel- and silt-bottomed pools. The springs sit on the private Bog Hot Springs Cattle Ranch — the water has historically watered stock and irrigated hay — but the ranch has long allowed free public use; surrounding ground is BLM Winnemucca District land with dispersed camping and a pit toilet.
Directions & trailhead access
From Denio Junction on NV-140, ~9 miles to Bog Hot Road, ~3.5 mi past Bog Ranch and the reservoir, then ~0.9 mi keeping left to the parking area.
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.
Best time to visit
October – April (Fall, Winter & Spring)Desert thermal zones experience high summer ambient heat. The cooler months from late autumn to early spring offer the most refreshing ambient conditions for open-air soaking.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 105°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 131°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Nevada Hiking — Bog Hot Springs (BLM Humboldt Co listing) |
Bog Hot Springs FAQ
Is Bog Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive BLM hot spring on Bog Hot Road off NV-140 near Denio Junction — a long thermal creek with a concrete tub and dugout soaking spots (~100-108F) downstream of a 126-130F+ scalding source; reachable by ~3.5 mi of wide flat dirt road that turns to deep mud and stuck vehicles near the springs when wet. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Is Bog Hot Springs free?
Bog Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Humboldt County, Nevada. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Bog Hot Springs?
Bog Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 105°F and a historical source temperature of 131°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Bog Hot Springs clothing optional?
Bog Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Bog Hot Springs?
Bog Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- Nevada Hiking — Bog Hot Springs (BLM Humboldt Co listing) — community · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Guides — Bog Hot Springs Nevada — community · 2026-09
- Soak Oregon — Bog Hot Springs — community · 2026-09
- iOverlander — Bog Hot Spring user reports — community · 2026-09
- Top Hot Springs — Bog Hot Springs Nevada — community · 2026-09
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
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
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