Beowawe Hot Springs (The Geysers)
Beowawe Hot Springs, also known as The Geysers, reaches 208°F at 4,802 feet elevation in Lander County — among the hottest surface thermal features in Nevada. The spring sits 66 meters from Geyser Road on BLM public land managed by the Tuscarora Field Office. Its 156-degree thermal anomaly above ambient air reflects a powerful geothermal system.
The springs occupy a broad terrace above the Humboldt River valley in north-central Nevada, where sinter deposits and mineral-stained ground mark decades of geothermal discharge. The surrounding landscape is rolling sagebrush steppe with distant views of the Shoshone Range and Cortez Mountains. Annual precipitation averages 10.7 inches with 28.2 inches of snow. The site sits along the northern edge of the Basin and Range province, near the Crescent Valley. Mineral terraces and siliceous deposits give the ground a distinctive pale, crusted appearance unlike the surrounding brown desert.
Beowawe was once compared to Yellowstone for its geyser activity. Historical accounts describe multiple active geysers and fumaroles along the terrace. Geothermal energy development beginning in the 1960s and accelerating in the 1980s significantly reduced surface thermal activity, as water extraction lowered the local water table. Most of the original geysers have ceased erupting. The site remains geologically significant as an example of how industrial geothermal use can alter natural surface expressions.
Geyser Road is an unpaved spur accessible from Interstate 80 near Beowawe. Standard vehicles can reach the site in dry conditions. The 208°F water and surrounding ground are extremely dangerous — scalding temperatures, thin crusts over boiling water, and unstable sinter deposits demand extreme caution. Stay on solid ground and keep well back from active vents. Visit in spring or fall to avoid summer heat and winter road issues. Battle Mountain, about 30 miles west on I-80, has fuel and lodging.
Is Beowawe Hot Springs (The Geysers) worth visiting?
Best for
- Viewing dramatic geothermal features
- Easy day trips
Not ideal for
- Swimming or soaking