# The Needle Rocks Hot Spring, Nevada

The Needle Rocks Hot Spring in Nevada. 208°F (98°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Washoe County.

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

## Can you soak at The Needle Rocks Hot Spring?

No. The water at The Needle Rocks Hot Spring reaches 208°F, hot enough to scald.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 208°F (98°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.8 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 3,795 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, TRIB |
| County | Washoe County |
| Nearest town | Spanish Springs |
| Coordinates | 40.14600, -119.67300 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |

## Soaking safety

**Dangerously Hot, Not Safe for Soaking.** The Needle Rocks Hot Spring reaches 208°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 The Needle Rocks Hot Spring

Near boiling, according to the only sample anyone took, and that was 1978. The Needle Rocks Hot Spring lies in Washoe County about 34 miles out from Spanish Springs, and this is Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation ground. Public access is unknown, which on tribal land means assume permission is required until you hear otherwise. A photo exists.

A little over a thousand feet on foot from the closest road; no road name is recorded. The ground is tribal land. Low elevation, snow around eighteen inches in winter, and a moderately dry year. The land unit on file is the reservation itself.

The calendar on file favors winter. Scalding at the source; do not touch the water where it emerges. A 1978 sample put the pH near neutral and measured the main dissolved minerals, sodium and calcium among them. Ask the tribe before visiting, since access is not on record. No fee or campground appears.

## Water chemistry

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

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.8 |
| Calcium | 230 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 40 mg/L |
| Sodium | 1,000 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 37 mg/L |
| Chloride | 2,510 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Cold Springs](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/nevada/cold-springs), 12 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Nevada](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada)
- [The Needle Rocks Hot Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/the-needle-rocks-hot-springs): 208°F source, pH 8.1, TDS 4,095 mg/L, Short Walk, near Spanish Springs, Washoe County
- [Fish Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/fish-springs-2): 73°F source, Roadside, near Cold Springs, Washoe County
- [Pyramid Island Hot Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/pyramid-island-hot-spring): Short Walk, near Spanish Springs, Washoe County
- [Anaho Island Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/anaho-island-spring): 120°F source, Hike, near Spanish Springs, Washoe County
- [Boiling Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/boiling-springs-2): 187°F source, Short Walk, near Fernley, Lyon County
- [High Rock Spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/high-rock-spring): 86°F source, Short Walk, near Janesville, Lassen County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at The Needle Rocks Hot Spring?**
The Needle Rocks Hot Spring has a water temperature of 208°F (98°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is The Needle Rocks Hot Spring located?**
The Needle Rocks Hot Spring is located in Washoe County, Nevada at 3,795 feet elevation, near Spanish Springs. Coordinates: 40.1460°N, 119.6730°W.

**How do I get to The Needle Rocks Hot Spring?**
The Needle Rocks Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Is The Needle Rocks Hot Spring free to visit?**
The Needle Rocks Hot Spring has Unknown access. It is managed by DESG.

**What minerals are in the water at The Needle Rocks Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at The Needle Rocks Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at The Needle Rocks Hot Spring reaches 208°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