Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Austin, Nevada. Reported soak temperature: 102°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Remote desert hot-spring field on the west side of the Smith Creek Valley playa, Lander County, NEVADA (~22 mi SW of Austin via NV-722/old US-50 then county gravel) — dozens of near-boiling vents (measured up to ~203F) plus volunteer cattle-trough/bathtub soaking pools running ~100-110F; the springs parcel is PRIVATE land per parcel research, but reports show continuing informal use; final approach is muddy 4WD — most visitors park short and walk.
Checked July 2021 · based on recent visitor reports · 6 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Tolerated access — verified below — confirm via Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology — Smith Creek Valley geothermal site description (near-boiling, 40+ vents 44-95.5C).
- 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 102°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 — no fee or permit, but the springs parcel may be private land; dispersed camping on surrounding BLM land.
- Best time to go: Spring and fall when the playa is dry and mud is minimal; winter access is possible but muddy. Essentially always empty — dark-sky site.
- Clothing reality: No posted rules — extremely remote; clothing-optional customary.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — unmarked dirt roads, mud, and uneven thermal terrain.
- DATA MISMATCH VERIFIED — despite the 'ca-' id this is NEVADA (Lander County, Carroll Summit SE quad), not California; GNIS 39.3126,-117.5502 matches the listed coordinates
- LAND STATUS CONFLICT — directories call it BLM land, but a field researcher who visited in 2021 and BLM-map parcel data say the hot springs parcel itself is PRIVATE land; access appears de facto tolerated (no reported gatekeeping or confrontations), but treat it as private property and turn back if posted
- DANGER: this is a major geothermal field — 40+ springs/seeps measured at 111-203F (up to near-boiling), with thin crusts and cattle-hoof holes hiding hot seeps; wandering off the tub area risks severe burns to you AND dogs
- Tub conditions vary wildly by visit: reports range from clean and inviting (Oct 2020) to a dead cow by the trough with lukewarm algae-filled water (Oct 2016) — inspect before soaking
- Access: NV-722 (old US-50, 'lonelier than the Loneliest Road'), then a county-maintained gravel road turning NE off 722 at the eastern base of the Desatoya Range; last stretch is gooey mud/uneven — 4WD to drive all the way, or park short and walk; NOT suitable for big rigs/RVs
- Spring temperatures fluctuate seasonally (one high-flow vent dropped ~30C between June and Aug 2002) — a tub that was perfect last trip may be scalding or tepid
- Zero services — no water, toilets, or cell; nearest town Austin ~22 mi; Navy jets from Fallon Range Training Center occasionally disturb the quiet
- Hazard: Near-boiling vents (up to ~203F) and fragile thin crust over hot seeps
- Hazard: Muddy final approach — vehicles get stuck
- Hazard: Dead-cow/algae contamination reported in tubs
- Hazard: Extreme remoteness — no services ~22+ mi
- Hazard: Occasional low-flying Navy jets (Fallon Range Training Center)
About this spring
Remote primitive hot springs in Smith Creek Valley on BLM land — two rudimentary stock-tank soaking pools within a broad geothermal field of seeps and vents (source vents near boiling; pools cooler — test first). No facilities; true wilderness soak. NOTE: in Nevada, not California. Very remote, no cell service. Final approach can be gooey mud. Source vents near boiling — test pools.
Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs sit within one of central Nevada's more vigorous geothermal fields. The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology describes the Smith Creek Valley Springs as numerous near-boiling vents: in August 2002 researchers measured more than 40 springs and seeps ranging from 44 to 95.5°C (111–203°F), and chemical geothermometers put the deep reservoir at roughly 143–157°C. The springs appear tied to recent faults cutting young alluvium, some vents are little more than seeps punched through thin crust by cattle hooves, and temperatures fluctuate seasonally — one high-flow spring dropped about 30°C between June and August 2002. Against that backdrop of scalding vents, two rudimentary stock-tank soaking pools capture cooler water on BLM land, reached by graded county roads with a final stretch of gooey mud that usually forces visitors to park short and walk in. There are no facilities and no cell service — a genuine wilderness soak.
Directions & trailhead access
Graded county roads into Smith Creek Valley from the Austin/Kingston area; last stretch requires high clearance/4WD or a short walk.
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 | 102°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| 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 Bureau of Mines & Geology — Smith Creek Valley geothermal site description (near-boiling, 40+ vents 44-95.5C) |
Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs FAQ
Is Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs open right now?
Remote desert hot-spring field on the west side of the Smith Creek Valley playa, Lander County, NEVADA (~22 mi SW of Austin via NV-722/old US-50 then county gravel) — dozens of near-boiling vents (measured up to ~203F) plus volunteer cattle-trough/bathtub soaking pools running ~100-110F; the springs parcel is PRIVATE land per parcel research, but reports show continuing informal use; final approach is muddy 4WD — most visitors park short and walk. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked July 2021.)
Is Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs free?
Smith Creek Valley 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 Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs?
Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 102°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs clothing optional?
Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs?
Public use of Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs is tolerated rather than formally authorized — there is no reservation system. Follow posted rules and keep a low profile to preserve access.
Sources & references
- Fairy Shrimp Chronicles — Smith Creek Valley field notes (hot springs on PRIVATE parcel; road via NV-722) — community · 2021-07
- Pony Express Ride scouting blog — Smith Creek Hot Springs visit (tub clean Oct 2020; historic unwelcome reports) — community · 2020-10
- Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology — Smith Creek Valley geothermal site description (near-boiling, 40+ vents 44-95.5C) — official · 2014
- HotWaterSlaughter — Smith Creek Hot Springs (cattle trough + bathtub, 100-110F; dead-cow report Oct 2016) — community · 2016-10
- USGS GNIS via MyTopo — Smith Creek Valley Hot Springs (Lander County) — official · 2026
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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