Hot Springs
This thermal complex flows at 126°F at 5,645 feet elevation near Wells in Elko County, delivering water 78.5 degrees above the 47.5°F ambient air temperature. Located just 161.5 meters from the nearest road, it requires only a brief walk to reach. The hot temperature suggests the water needs cooling before bathing, but the accessible location makes assessment straightforward.
The springs emerge in high desert terrain at 5,645 feet, where sagebrush and scattered juniper dominate and annual precipitation totals 10.9 inches with 33.0 inches of winter snow. The 47.5°F average annual temperature reflects cold winters and mild summers characteristic of northeastern Nevada's upland basins. Slide Creek Campground lies 29.8 kilometers distant in the Jarbidge Wilderness drainage at higher elevation, where aspen and subalpine fir replace desert vegetation. The contrast illustrates the dramatic ecological zonation between basin floors and mountain headwaters in this region.
Visit spring through fall when daytime temperatures make the short walk pleasant and snow has melted. The 126°F temperature prohibits direct bathing without cooling, so scout the site to determine if natural mixing zones or pool configurations allow safe use. Winter brings subfreezing nights and substantial snow cover at this elevation. Slide Creek Campground provides free primitive camping 30 kilometers away at the Jarbidge Wilderness trailhead, serving backcountry users rather than hot spring visitors, but its remoteness matches the character of this thermal feature.
No documentation exists for the spring's name origin or historical use. The Jarbidge mining district—active from 1909 into the 1930s—brought prospectors into the broader region, but whether they utilized this particular thermal source is unrecorded. Indigenous Shoshone bands certainly knew the area's geography intimately, yet specific evidence of their interaction with these hot springs is absent from available sources. The spring appears in modern datasets without accompanying human history.
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Slide Creek Campground is located at the trailhead for Slide Creek which accesses the Jarbidge Wilderness(hiking, horse trips, hunting, backpacking), has one single restroom, horse corrals (no horses allowed in the campground), 6 sites, no water, and is free. Not reservable.Located at the springs that feed Slide Creek, and the trailhead for the Slide Creek trail. Aspen and subalpine fir trees provide shade and shelter at the campsites.Appropriate for small trailers, good for tent camping.
Hot Springs sits at 5,645 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 23% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Hot Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water runs hot, so extra hydration is key.
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