Cherry Creek Hot Springs
Cherry Creek Hot Springs discharges at 144°F in White Pine County, flowing 95 degrees above the ambient temperature of 50°F at 6,150 feet elevation. The springs sit just 19 meters from a road near McGill, providing roadside access to water hot enough to require extensive cooling before any contact. This powerful thermal system ranks among Nevada's hotter springs accessible to the public.
The spring emerges in mountain terrain east of the Egan Range, where elevation moderates summer heat and brings substantial winter snowfall averaging 38.9 inches annually. Total precipitation reaches 11.4 inches per year, supporting pinyon-juniper woodland and mountain shrub communities uncommon in Nevada's lower basins. The roadside location sits in a landscape shaped by both ancient geology and modern ranching, with Cherry Creek itself flowing through the valley below. Surrounding peaks rise above 9,000 feet, creating a dramatic backdrop for the thermal emergence.
Visit requires cooling the 144°F water to safe temperatures, either by diverting flow into pools that allow mixing with ambient air or by building check dams downstream where dilution occurs naturally. Bring a shovel and be prepared to construct temporary soaking areas. Spring through fall offers the best access, though winter visits remain possible if roads are clear. The 6,150-foot elevation means cold nights year-round and snow from November through April. Respect private property boundaries and pack out all materials.
Cherry Creek takes its name from the wild chokecherry bushes that line the watercourse, providing fruit harvested by Goshute and Shoshone peoples for generations. The hot springs likely served as a known gathering point in pre-contact times. White settlement accelerated after the discovery of gold and silver in the Cherry Creek Mining District in 1872, with the town of Cherry Creek growing to several hundred residents by 1880. The springs remained in use throughout the ranching era that followed the mining decline.
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Cherry Creek Hot Springs sits at 6,150 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 25% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Cherry Creek Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot — bring water shoes and test pools carefully.
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