Unnamed Thermal Spring
Flowing at 194°F just 9.5 meters from Old State Route 34, this unnamed Pershing County spring registers 138.8 degrees above ambient air temperature with USGS-documented chemistry showing 2,000 mg/L chloride and 1,400 mg/L sodium in mildly alkaline water at pH 8.1.
The 4,000-foot elevation roadside site sits in basin topography receiving 8.8 inches of precipitation and 18.3 inches of snow annually, with a 55.2-degree average temperature. The spring's extremely high chloride and sodium concentrations, combined with elevated sulfate at 370 mg/L and moderate calcium at 56 mg/L, indicate deep thermal water rising rapidly to the surface. Recent USGS measurements confirmed 90°C temperatures.
The roadside location allows immediate access from Old State Route 34, though parking is informal. Exercise extreme caution around the 194°F water. The exposed location offers no shade or facilities. Road conditions on this older highway can deteriorate during winter storms or summer flash floods.
Available records contain no documented name or historical information about this spring's discovery or use. The proximity to Old State Route 34 suggests it may have been noted by early travelers, though no specific accounts survive in accessible sources.
The water at This spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.1). It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration), sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation), and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).
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this spring 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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