Reese River Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Reese River Hot Springs is a private hot spring listed near Battle Mountain, Nevada. Reported soak temperature: 107°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Private-ranch hot spring ~0.2 mi off Hwy 305 (34 mi south of Battle Mountain) where the owner allows daytime use: ~122-127F water from a travertine mound is piped into a plastic soaking tub arriving at ~105-110F; day use only, no camping, close the gate behind you.
based on recent visitor reports · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via NBMG Geothermal Site Description — North Reese River Valley (Hot Springs Ranch springs 50-54C, travertine deposits).
- 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 107°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: No permit — informal landowner permission for day use; no fee reported.
- Best time to go: Cooler months and weekdays; day use only so plan arrival/departure within daylight hours.
- Clothing reality: Customarily clothing-optional per trip reports; no official posted policy — it's private ranch land, use discretion.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short walk from gate parking if vehicle can't do the final rough 350 yards; uneven ground around tubs.
- DATA CHECK: despite the 'ca-' id prefix this spring is in NEVADA (Lander County), not California
- PRIVATE RANCH, owner-allowed DAY USE ONLY — no camping; open and close the gate; respect all posted signs; pack out all trash (and others' if you can)
- Source vents run ~122-127F — do NOT touch the source/upper creek; the piped plastic tub arrives ~105-110F; a second metal tub is sometimes too dirty to use
- High-clearance recommended for the last ~350 yards; if your car can't make it, park near the gate and walk
- Long-lived informal arrangement — access survives only as long as visitors behave; multiple guidebooks document it
- Hazard: Scalding 122-127F source water on the travertine mound and upper creek
- Hazard: Working ranch — cattle, gates; leave gates as found
- Hazard: Rough final approach; no services on site
About this spring
Geothermal water (~125°F source) from a travertine hill on PRIVATE ranchland beside NV-305 in the Reese River Valley, piped to soaking tubs that cool to ~105-110°F. Daytime use historically tolerated — access depends entirely on landowner goodwill. NOTE: in Nevada, not California. PRIVATE PROPERTY — day use only, no camping; close the gate; pack out trash. Source scalding.
Reese River Hot Springs is one of Nevada's stranger geothermal sights: the source emerges not at valley floor but from a crater atop a small hill built entirely of travertine deposited by the spring itself — mineral-coated ground sloping to a soggy bog where most of the flow soaks back into the earth. Water exits at about 125°F, slides down the mound in a thin steaming stream, and is diverted by gravity-fed pipes into a plastic cattle trough that soaks at roughly 105–111°F, carrying a faint metallic-sulfur smell while running clear and colorless. The springs sit on a working private ranch beside NV-305, 34 miles south of Battle Mountain near milepost 54; the owners have historically tolerated daytime visitors who close the cattle gate and pack out trash — camping is not allowed and access can be withdrawn at any time. The last few hundred yards of ranch road get greasy when wet; park at the gate and walk if in doubt.
Directions & trailhead access
From I-80 at Battle Mountain, NV-305 south ~34 mi; just before ranch buildings near milepost 54, right through a cattle gate ~0.2 mi to the springs.
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.
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 | 107°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 125°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 | Private land — contact the owner/manager for permission |
Reese River Hot Springs FAQ
Is Reese River Hot Springs open right now?
Private-ranch hot spring ~0.2 mi off Hwy 305 (34 mi south of Battle Mountain) where the owner allows daytime use: ~122-127F water from a travertine mound is piped into a plastic soaking tub arriving at ~105-110F; day use only, no camping, close the gate behind you. (Status based on recent visitor reports.)
Is Reese River Hot Springs free?
Reese River Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Lander County, Nevada. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Reese River Hot Springs?
Reese River Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 107°F and a historical source temperature of 125°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Reese River Hot Springs clothing optional?
Reese River Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Reese River Hot Springs?
Reese River Hot Springs requires permission, a permit or advance booking — confirm the terms with the site manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Battle Mountain
Battle Mountain is an I-80 base before the roughly 34-mile NV-305 drive into Reese River Valley. Confirm permission and the final gated approach before booking a trip.
Check the road and access notes above before you book.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- HotSpringers — Reese River Hot Springs trip report (private ranch, daytime public use, 111F trough, gate etiquette) — community · 2022
- StatiuniBalneare — Reese River thermal springs (private property, day use allowed/no camping, 125F source, plastic tub 105-110F, high-clearance last 350 yds, 0.2 mi off Hwy 305) — community · 2023
- 360Cities — Reese River Valley hot springs panorama (127F bathtub circle) — community · 2015
- NBMG Geothermal Site Description — North Reese River Valley (Hot Springs Ranch springs 50-54C, travertine deposits) — official · 2008
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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