Soldier Meadows Hot Springs
- Free
- Roadside
A hot creek on BLM land at the north edge of the Black Rock Desert, dammed with rocks into a series of terraced pools, a couple of them large enough for groups. Travel Nevada gives water temperatures from the mid 90s to the low 100s F. Free semi-primitive BLM campsites and a first-come BLM cabin are nearby, about 60 miles of dirt road north of Gerlach.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Gerlach
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
| Booking |
|
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | BLM |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with BLM before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
266 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 8.1
- Temp at source
- 124°F
- Lithium
- 0.17 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 12 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.73 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “026 N40 E24 23 3 Soldier Meadows Spring 2” (0.4 mi from Soldier Meadows Hot Springs), sampled 1961–1974 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
What's here
- hot creek with terraced rock-dammed pools
- free semi-primitive BLM campsites
- free first-come BLM cabin with wood stove
- habitat of the threatened desert dace
- no sunscreen or soap in the water
- Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA
Getting there
| Elevation | 4,461 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Trail |
|
| Cell service | None |
Things to do near Gerlach
High Rock Canyon
Emigrant-trail canyon on BLM land with caves and pioneer inscriptions; road closed Feb to mid-May for wildlife.
Black Rock Desert
Vast BLM-managed playa and national conservation area; drive on the playa only when bone dry.
Nearby springs
Virgin Valley Warm Springs
A warm spring pool beside the Virgin Valley Campground in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in far northwestern Nevada. Travel Nevada says the pond stays around 90F, and the refuge lists a rustic shower house, pit toilets and drinking water. Camping is free and first-come, first-served, with a 14-day limit.
Surprise Valley Hot Springs
A small adults-only lodging on Highway 299 five miles east of Cedarville in remote Modoc County, where each of its 19 rooms has its own private mineral-water tub. Fifteen tubs sit on fenced outdoor patios and four are inside suites, and guests can adjust the temperature. There is no day use, no public pool and no food service on site, and all stays need a reservation with a two-night minimum.
Willow Creek Hot Springs (Whitehorse Hot Springs)
A remote hot spring in the Trout Creek Mountains area of southeast Oregon, also called Whitehorse Hot Springs. Travel Oregon lists it near the Willow Creek Campground with a Fields address, and a BLM district map labels the spring. No official source publishes its temperature, facilities or road conditions.
Virgin Valley Warm Springs: 36 mi · Surprise Valley Hot Springs: 46 mi · Willow Creek Hot Springs (Whitehorse Hot Springs): 80 mi
Sources (6)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.