Twelvemile Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Twelvemile Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Wells, Nevada. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free primitive concrete-walled soaking pool (~94-105F) in Bishop Creek Canyon 12 mi north of Wells; the pool and access road sit on private land and visitation continues only at the owner's tolerance — most visitors park at the cattle guard and walk the last ~2 flat miles rather than ford the rough creek-crossing road.
Checked August 2025 · based on recent visitor reports · 4 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A town stay for the Twelvemile approach.
Wells is about 12 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Tolerated access — verified below — confirm via Hot Springs Guides — Twelvemile Hot Springs, Nevada (private land / owner tolerance detail).
- 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 100°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None.
- Best time to go: Late spring through early fall for easiest access; weekday mornings to avoid the small weekend crowd. Winter soaking is popular but expect snow on the road and a longer walk.
- Clothing reality: No posted rules (private, unmanaged site). Customarily clothing-optional, especially evenings; swimsuits common when families/groups are present. Nudity on private land is not a legal issue but discretion is the norm.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — either a rough 4WD creek-ford road or a ~2 mi each-way walk on an unimproved dirt track.
- PRIVATE LAND: the pool and last ~2 mi of road are on private property (Brown family since 1998); a 'Private Property' sign marks the cattle-guard trailhead. Access is a revocable privilege — pack out all trash, no glass, no fires, no soap in the pool or creek
- Most people park at the cattle guard / 'T' and hike ~2 mi each way on the flat old road; driving closer requires high-clearance 4WD in dry conditions with multiple Bishop Creek fords
- No camping at the springs themselves; free dispersed camping on surrounding BLM land along the approach
- No signs, facilities, or cell service — download directions before leaving Wells
- Road becomes impassable when wet/muddy or snow-covered; spring runoff raises the creek fords
- Hazard: Access can be revoked by the landowner at any time — past misuse has threatened it
- Hazard: Multiple creek fords on the final 2 mi; flash-flood/mud risk when wet
- Hazard: No cell service in the canyon
- Hazard: Water ~105F at source — normal soak caution, not scalding
About this spring
Scenic primitive soak in Bishop Creek Canyon 12 mi north of Wells — a concrete-walled pool (~3 ft deep, 95-104°F) against the canyon wall fed by ~104°F source; one of Nevada's best-known primitive springs. Creek crossings impassable when wet; no facilities or cell service.
Twelvemile Hot Springs — also called Bishop Creek Hot Springs — sits in Bishop Creek Canyon about 12 miles north of Wells in Elko County. A concrete retaining wall set against the canyon wall forms a soaking pool roughly 80 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 3 feet deep over a gravel bottom; the source flows from the rock face at about 104 °F and the pool holds 94–104 °F depending on weather and position relative to the inflow. Bishop Creek runs alongside, warmed by the same water, creating a secondary soaking zone where spring and creek mix.
The site is entirely primitive — no facilities, signage, or cell service — and it sits on private land, so continued public access depends on visitor etiquette; past misuse has threatened it. Most visitors park at a cattle guard and walk the flat final two miles of rough dirt road, which fords Bishop Creek several times and is impassable when wet; high-clearance 4WD can drive it in dry conditions.
Directions & trailhead access
From Wells: US-93 N, Metropolis Rd ~5 mi, county road ~3 mi, then rough dirt road ~2 mi with creek crossings — low-clearance vehicles park at the cattle guard and 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 | 100°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 100°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Hot Springs Guides — Twelvemile Hot Springs, Nevada (private land / owner tolerance detail) |
Twelvemile Hot Springs FAQ
Is Twelvemile Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive concrete-walled soaking pool (~94-105F) in Bishop Creek Canyon 12 mi north of Wells; the pool and access road sit on private land and visitation continues only at the owner's tolerance — most visitors park at the cattle guard and walk the last ~2 flat miles rather than ford the rough creek-crossing road. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked August 2025.)
Is Twelvemile Hot Springs free?
Twelvemile Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Elko County, Nevada. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Twelvemile Hot Springs?
Twelvemile Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 100°F and a historical source temperature of 100°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Twelvemile Hot Springs clothing optional?
Twelvemile Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Twelvemile Hot Springs?
Public use of Twelvemile Hot Springs is tolerated rather than formally authorized — there is no reservation system. Follow posted rules and keep a low profile to preserve access.
Where to stay in Wells
A town stay for the Twelvemile approach. Check the dirt-road and trail conditions separately.
Wells is about 12 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Ramblin' Recon — CDT thru-hike trip report, soaked and camped at Twelvemile Hot Springs — community · 2025-08
- Hot Springs Guides — Twelvemile Hot Springs, Nevada (private land / owner tolerance detail) — community · 2025
- Girl on a Hike — Hiking to 12 Mile (Bishop Creek) Hot Springs (trailhead at 'T', private-property sign, 4 mi RT) — community · 2023
- Hot Springers — Twelve Mile Hot Springs flagged PRIVATE PROPERTY — community · 2023-05
- The Dyrt — 12 Mile Hot Springs Dispersed Camping (BLM Wells Field Office camping along approach road) — 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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.