Anaho Island Spring
Anaho Island Spring emerges at 120°F on tribal land within Pyramid Lake, Washoe County, Nevada. Located 2,625 meters from the nearest road at 3,799 feet elevation, it requires a boat crossing and a hike to reach. The spring falls under the jurisdiction of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, and public access status is unknown.
The spring sits on Anaho Island, a rocky volcanic formation rising from Pyramid Lake in the western Great Basin. The island is largely barren desert scrub and tufa formations, surrounded by the alkaline waters of one of the largest natural lakes in Nevada. Annual precipitation averages 9.9 inches with 16.7 inches of snow. The lake basin is flanked by the Lake Range to the east and the Virginia Mountains to the west, at an elevation where sagebrush gives way to bare rock.
Anaho Island is part of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation and has long been significant to the Paiute people. The island also holds designation as a National Wildlife Refuge, primarily protecting one of the largest white pelican nesting colonies in North America. Documented historical development of the thermal spring itself is limited. Access has been restricted for decades to protect wildlife habitat.
Visitors must obtain explicit permission from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe before any approach. The island is also a federal wildlife refuge — landing is generally prohibited during pelican nesting season, roughly March through October. A boat is required to reach the island from the lakeshore. Bring all supplies; no facilities exist on the island. Wind on Pyramid Lake can be severe and sudden.
Is Anaho Island Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking