Buffalo Springs

Lander County, Nevada · Near Battle Mountain
40.4180°N, 117.4150°W · 4,642 ft
162°F 83°F air 4,642 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 162°F, the source water at Buffalo Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Buffalo Springs is a scalding spring on public land in Lander County, about twenty-eight miles from Battle Mountain. The Bureau of Land Management holds the ground and the record marks it open. What comes out of the ground is far above anything safe to touch, so what you get here is a hot spring to look at, on open range, with nothing built around it on record.

Location
35 miles from Battle Mountain, NV

Roadside access. The spring lies within ninety feet of the nearest road, and the road is anonymous on file, on the BLM's Humboldt River Field Office. Forty-six hundred feet or so of elevation, a dry basin, ten inches of precipitation, snow a little over two feet.

Winter, meaning December through February, is the recommended season on record. The source will scald on contact; keep a wide margin from it and from any hot runoff. Open BLM land; the record shows no fee and no campground. There is no USGS site number for this one, so the temperature has less paperwork behind it than most.

Monthly Climate
31°
Jan
35°
Feb
43°
Mar
51°
Apr
60°
May
72°
Jun
82°
Jul
80°
Aug
70°
Sep
56°
Oct
42°
Nov
31°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.4 in Annual Snow: 27.7 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 31°F · Water 162°F · +132° contrast
January Air 31°F · Water 162°F · +131° contrast
February Air 35°F · Water 162°F · +127° contrast
December offers 52°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
83°F
SSW 54.0 mph 24%
This Afternoon 86° Low 54° Patchy Smoke 1% precip
Spring is +76° warmer
Saturday 86° Low 51° Patchy Smoke then Blowing Dust
Spring is +76° warmer
Sunday 76° Low 43° Sunny
Spring is +86° warmer
Monday 75° Low 45° Sunny
Spring is +87° warmer
Tuesday 80° Low 50° Sunny
Spring is +82° warmer
Temperature
162°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 162°F (72°C)
Avg Air Temp 54°F
Above Ambient +108°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 86 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Humboldt River Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Buffalo Springs?
Buffalo Springs has a water temperature of 162°F (72°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Buffalo Springs located?
Buffalo Springs is located in Lander County, Nevada at 4,642 feet elevation, near Battle Mountain. Coordinates: 40.4180°N, 117.4150°W.
How do I get to Buffalo Springs?
Buffalo Springs has Roadside road access (86 ft from the road).
Is Buffalo Springs free to visit?
Buffalo Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Is it safe to soak at Buffalo Springs?
No, not at the source. The water at Buffalo Springs reaches 162°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.