# Wilson Hot Spring, Nevada

Wilson Hot Spring in Nevada. 183°F (84°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Lyon County.

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

## Can you soak at Wilson Hot Spring?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 183°F, hot enough to burn skin. It's a short walk from the road. It's on US Forest Service land.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 183°F (84°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 5,325 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.6 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Toiyabe National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Lyon County |
| Nearest town | Smith |
| Coordinates | 38.76800, -119.17400 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 183°F, the source water at Wilson Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Wilson Hot Spring

Wilson Hot Spring draws more searches than most springs in Lyon County. The water comes out near boiling, far too hot to touch. It sits on Toiyabe National Forest land, open to the public, about sixteen miles from Smith. The file holds neither chemistry nor photograph.

Half a mile and a bit on foot from a road the record does not name. Elevation is around fifty-three hundred feet. Snow comes to about thirty inches a winter; precipitation is light. Forest Service land, National Forest designation. No campground is recorded. Nothing in the file describes the walk, so treat the distance as the only thing you know.

Winter is the window on file. Water this close to boiling scalds on contact, so stay well back. Open access, a short walk, no fee recorded. No camping is listed. Smith is the closest town, and it is a fair drive. The temperature reading has no date attached, so approach it as a warning.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Yerington](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/nevada/yerington), 6 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Nevada](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada)
- [Hot Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/hot-spring-lyon-county): Hot, Short Walk, near Yerington, Lyon County
- [Nevada (Hinds) Hot Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/nevada-hinds-hot-springs): 144°F source, pH 8.7, Roadside, near Smith, Lyon County
- [Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/spring-lyon-county): Warm, Short Walk, near Smith, Lyon County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, CA](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/unnamed-spring-lyon-county): Warm, Roadside, near Smith Valley, Lyon County
- [Booker Hot Spring, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/booker-hot-spring): 110°F source, Short Walk, near Hawthorne, Mineral County
- [Doud Springs, NV](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/nevada/doud-springs): 70°F source, Roadside, near Gardnerville Ranchos, Douglas County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Wilson Hot Spring?**
Wilson Hot Spring has a water temperature of 183°F (84°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Wilson Hot Spring located?**
Wilson Hot Spring is located in Lyon County, Nevada at 5,325 feet elevation, near Smith. Coordinates: 38.7680°N, 119.1740°W.

**How do I get to Wilson Hot Spring?**
Wilson Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.6 mi from the road).

**Is Wilson Hot Spring free to visit?**
Wilson Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Is it safe to soak at Wilson Hot Spring?**
No, not at the source. The water at Wilson Hot Spring reaches 183°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