# Steamboat Springs, Nevada

Steamboat Springs in Nevada. 205°F (96°C). Short Walk. Storey County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/steamboat-springs-3
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Steamboat Springs?

No. The water at Steamboat Springs reaches 205°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 205°F (96°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.0 (Neutral) |
| Elevation | 4,596 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.1 mi from the nearest road (Carson–Reno Highway) |
| County | Storey County |
| Nearest town | Virginia City |
| Coordinates | 39.38000, -119.74000 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MOUNT ROSE (NV) , 9.6 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** Steamboat Springs reaches 205°F, far above safe soaking levels. Contact with this water will cause severe burns. Look for cooled downstream pools or view from a safe distance only.

## About Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs is a geothermal area south of Reno in Storey County, with Virginia City about seven miles off. The temperature on file is above the boiling point for this altitude, so this is a place to look at and keep your hands out of. Ownership is unrecorded. There is a photo, and chemistry from 1978.

A tenth of a mile from the Carson-Reno highway brings you to the spring. Elevation is around forty-six hundred feet. Winters put down about four feet of snow. The year is moderately wet for the region. Land unit and designation are both blank in the record, which leaves the question of who manages the ground unanswered.

Wikipedia has this as a small volcanic zone, domes of rhyolitic lava and the flows off them, with geothermal activity everywhere across it. Hot springs in numbers. Fumaroles and vents letting off steam. The houses east of Steamboat Creek, below SR 341, are called Steamboat now.

December through February are the flagged months. The water is scalding, and steam vents and fumaroles are part of the area, so stay on firm ground and keep well back from anything that steams. Short walk from the highway. Ownership is unrecorded, so watch for signs. Mount Rose is the campground on file, about ten miles.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1978-01-01 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7 |
| Calcium | 6.5 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 620 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 63 mg/L |
| Chloride | 900 mg/L |
| Iron | 60 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Virginia City](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/nevada/virginia-city), 1 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Nevada](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada)
- [Steamboat Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/steamboat-springs-2): 205°F source, Short Walk, near Virginia City, Storey County
- [Dimonte Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/dimonte-spring): 127°F source, Short Walk, near Sparks, Washoe County
- [Zolezzi Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/zolezzi-spring): 102°F source, Roadside, near Sparks, Washoe County
- [Double Diamond Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/double-diamond-spring): 84°F source, Roadside, near Sparks, Washoe County
- [Huffaker Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/huffaker-springs): 81°F source, Roadside, near Sparks, Washoe County
- [Moana Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/moana-springs): 199°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Reno, Washoe County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Steamboat Springs?**
Steamboat Springs has a water temperature of 205°F (96°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Steamboat Springs located?**
Steamboat Springs is located in Storey County, Nevada at 4,596 feet elevation, near Virginia City. Coordinates: 39.3800°N, 119.7400°W.

**How do I get to Steamboat Springs?**
Steamboat Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Carson–Reno Highway (0.1 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Steamboat Springs?**
Yes, Mount Rose (Nv)  is located nearby (9.6 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Steamboat Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.0 (neutral).

**Is it safe to soak at Steamboat Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Steamboat Springs reaches 205°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Springs_(Nevada)