Diana's Punchbowl (Devil's Cauldron)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Dramatic travertine crater in remote Monitor Valley (~35 mi of dirt roads from US-50) — the bowl's ~140-200°F water makes soaking IMPOSSIBLE; it's a look-don't-touch geological feature on PRIVATE Monitor Ranch land, and landowner permission is legally required to visit; a hot outflow creek below cools to ~100°F with small rock pools.
Field notes — checked April 2026
- Hazard: SCALDING: bowl water estimated 140-200°F — fatal-contact temperature
- Hazard: 30-ft drop from rim into the bowl; steep travertine slopes
- Hazard: Extreme remoteness: no cell service, no water/services within ~50 mi
- Hazard: Rough unpaved access roads; impassable when wet
- Hazard: Trespassing liability — private ranch land
- PRIVATE PROPERTY — Monitor Ranch land for 140+ years; visiting without owner permission is trespassing
- Water in the bowl is lethal-temperature (estimates 140-200°F) and ~30 ft below an exposed rim — NOT a soak, purely a viewpoint
- No signs, no services, no cell coverage; nearest gas/food ~50 mi
- Final 1.2 mi past the graded road is rough — high-clearance recommended; impassable when wet
- Cattle gate at the mound base — close it behind you; ranch operations active
- The cooled outflow creek (~100°F) has small rock pools some visitors soak in — still on private land
- No official website, phone, or published permission process — permission must be arranged in person/informally
Current status
Dramatic travertine crater in remote Monitor Valley (~35 mi of dirt roads from US-50) — the bowl's ~140-200°F water makes soaking IMPOSSIBLE; it's a look-don't-touch geological feature on PRIVATE Monitor Ranch land, and landowner permission is legally required to visit; a hot outflow creek below cools to ~100°F with small rock pools.
Checked April 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 3 sources ↓
About this spring
Nevada's most famous UN-SOAKABLE hot spring: a 50-ft-wide, ~30-ft-deep boiling pool inside a cup-shaped depression atop a 600-ft travertine dome in Monitor Valley near the geographic center of Nevada. Water ~141-200°F — lethal if entered. On private Monitor Ranch land — permission required. FATAL RISK — near-boiling water (~141°F measured, est. up to 200°F); falling in would be fatal. View from the rim only. Private Monitor Ranch land — get permission.
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 private-access site means here
This spring is on private property. Listing it documents the location's existence — it is not an invitation. Visiting requires explicit owner permission, and some sites are accessible only through memberships, hosted events, or arrangements with the land manager. Do not arrive unannounced.
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 | Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission |
Diana's Punchbowl (Devil's Cauldron) FAQ
Is Diana's Punchbowl (Devil's Cauldron) open right now?
Dramatic travertine crater in remote Monitor Valley (~35 mi of dirt roads from US-50) — the bowl's ~140-200°F water makes soaking IMPOSSIBLE; it's a look-don't-touch geological feature on PRIVATE Monitor Ranch land, and landowner permission is legally required to visit; a hot outflow creek below cools to ~100°F with small rock pools. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked April 2026.)
Can I soak at Diana's Punchbowl (Devil's Cauldron)?
Dramatic travertine crater in remote Monitor Valley (~35 mi of dirt roads from US-50) — the bowl's ~140-200°F water makes soaking IMPOSSIBLE; it's a look-don't-touch geological feature on PRIVATE Monitor Ranch land, and landowner permission is legally required to visit; a hot outflow creek below cools to ~100°F with small rock pools.
Where can I check access to Diana's Punchbowl (Devil's Cauldron)?
Check Wikipedia — Diana's Punchbowl (geology, 140.9°F recorded temp, Monitor Valley location): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana%27s_Punchbowl
Sources & references
- Wikipedia — Diana's Punchbowl (geology, 140.9°F recorded temp, Monitor Valley location) — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Diana's Punch Bowl (private Monitor Ranch land, permission required, road details) — community · 2026-04
- Ultimate Hot Springs Guide — Diana's Punchbowl (unusable, >180°F, private property) — community · 2024
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