Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) is a developed hot spring listed near Lund, Nevada. Reported soak temperature: 88°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Open — a Caribbean-blue ~85°F boulder-lined pool on NDOW's Wayne E. Kirch WMA reached by ~6-8 mi of washboarded graded dirt road off NV-318; swimming/soaking is an accepted WMA use, but it's a fenced endangered-fish sanctuary (no fishing, no chemicals/soap) with a free campground ~1 mi away.
Checked March 2026 · verified against an official source · 8 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via NAC 504.330 — Wayne E. Kirch WMA Hot Creek Spring sanctuary rules.
- 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 88°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; 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; free. NDOW Southern Region office (775) 289-1655 for questions
- Best time to go: Spring and fall; summer can be buggy; campground quiet midweek
- Clothing reality: Official: none specific; suits customary — state wildlife area with families/anglers. Legal: standard public-area expectations; no clothing-optional tradition documented here.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Gravel lot + ~0.5-1 mi trail — not wheelchair accessible
- ~85°F — a warm spring, not a hot one; best in warm seasons, chilly exit in winter
- Hot Creek Spring is a fenced/posted endangered-fish sanctuary (NAC 504.330): fishing prohibited, no chemicals deleterious to fish (no soap/sunscreen in the water), no releasing organisms, no touching water-control structures
- Home to the Moorman White River springfish (critical habitat since 1966) + White River spinedace, speckled dace, desert sucker — National Natural Landmark since 1972
- Camping in the WMA ONLY at Dave Deacon Campground (a.k.a. Hot Creek CG): free, ~20-29 sites, 8-day limit, pit toilets, potable water, RV dump, pets allowed; campfires allowed only inside the campground (NAC 504.140/504.145)
- Take the main graded Sunnyside Rd ~6 mi off NV-318 — NOT Sunnyside Cut Off Rd (severe washboard); GPS 'shortcuts' can dead-end
- Pit toilet at the spring trailhead; ~0.5-1 mi interpretive trail to the pool; gravel parking lot
- Upper portions of Adams-McGill/Cold Springs/Haymeadow reservoirs closed to trespass Feb 15–Aug 15 as posted; Hot Creek to Adams-McGill confluence is closed water for fishing
- Hazard: Washboard dirt-road miles — wrong-route risk
- Hazard: Slippery submerged rocks
- Hazard: Endangered fish habitat — chemical-free rule
- Hazard: No cell service
- Hazard: Biting insects in warm months
About this spring
National Natural Landmark warm-spring marsh in White River Valley (Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area) — boulder-lined soaking pools fed by clear ~85-90°F water, Caribbean-blue and swimmable; critical habitat for the endemic Moorman springfish. Free Dave Deacon Campground nearby. State wildlife area — observe NDOW rules; no soap/sunscreen in the water.
Hot Creek Springs is the centerpiece of Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in White River Valley, Nye County — a warm-spring marsh designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972. Clear water around 85 °F feeds a boulder-lined pool deep enough to require swimming in the middle, with noticeable flow-through; an interpretive trail with signage continues up Hot Creek. The springs harbor the Moorman White River springfish, a species found in only three springs in the world.
The site doubles as a legally protected fish sanctuary: under Nevada Administrative Code 504.330, the fenced and posted Hot Creek Spring sanctuary prohibits fishing, capture or removal of White River springfish, introducing chemicals or live organisms into the water, and tampering with water-control structures. Access is via an ~8.6-mile graded (often washboarded) dirt road off NV-318 at mile marker 20.9 — about 60 miles north of Crystal Wash junction or 32 miles south of Lund. The free Dave Deacon Campground, about a mile away, has water, pit toilets, an RV dump, and roughly 25 sites.
Directions & trailhead access
From NV-318 ~60 mi N of Crystal Springs junction, follow the signed graded dirt road ~8 mi toward Dave Deacon Campground; spring ~1 mi from camp.
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.
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 | 88°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 88°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | NAC 504.330 — Wayne E. Kirch WMA Hot Creek Spring sanctuary rules |
Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) FAQ
Is Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) open right now?
Open — a Caribbean-blue ~85°F boulder-lined pool on NDOW's Wayne E. Kirch WMA reached by ~6-8 mi of washboarded graded dirt road off NV-318; swimming/soaking is an accepted WMA use, but it's a fenced endangered-fish sanctuary (no fishing, no chemicals/soap) with a free campground ~1 mi away. (Status verified against an official source, last checked March 2026.)
Is Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) free?
Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) is listed as free to access in Nye County, Nevada. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA)?
Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) has a reported soak temperature of 88°F and a historical source temperature of 88°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) clothing optional?
Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA)?
Hot Creek Springs (Kirch WMA) is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Sources & references
- NAC 504.330 — Wayne E. Kirch WMA Hot Creek Spring sanctuary rules — official · 2025
- NAC Chapter 504 — camping/campfire rules for WMAs (504.140, 504.145) — official · 2024-04
- NDOW — Wayne E. Kirch WMA brochure (recreation incl. swimming; endemic fish) — official · 2022-01
- NDOW — CR 25-16 Fishing Seasons (Kirch closed waters) — official · 2025-09
- TravelNevada — Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area — official · 2025
- Campendium — Dave Deacon Campground (recent reports incl. 3/28/26) — community · 2026-03
- Road Trip Ryan — Hot Creek Springs and Marsh — community · 2024
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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