Black Rock Hot Spring
Black Rock Hot Spring discharges at 136°F on BLM land in the Black Rock Desert of Pershing County—far too hot for direct contact without cooling. At 3,955 feet elevation and 39 feet from the road, the spring is a high-sodium, alkaline thermal feature with USGS-confirmed temperatures of 77°C and a pH of 7.5. Public access is open.
The spring emerges at the edge of the Black Rock Desert playa, a vast, flat expanse of dried lakebed stretching north of Lovelock. The surrounding terrain is quintessential Great Basin alkali flat: barren playa surface giving way to sparse greasewood and shadscale, with distant mountain ranges rimming the horizon. Elevation is 3,955 feet, annual precipitation just 7.2 inches with 12 inches of snow, and average air temperature 53.8°F. The playa itself floods seasonally, transforming the landscape from cracked mud to shallow lake.
The Black Rock Desert has been a travel corridor since prehistoric times, serving as part of the Applegate-Lassen branch of the California Trail during the 1849 Gold Rush. Emigrant diaries frequently noted the hot springs along this route. The area gained modern fame as the site of the annual Burning Man festival and the 1997 land speed record. BLM manages the region through the Black Rock Field Office, and the broader area received National Conservation Area designation in 2000.
The spring is dangerously hot at 136°F—do not enter the source pool. Cooled runoff channels may allow soaking at a safe distance downstream, but test carefully. The playa road can become impassable when wet; check conditions before driving out. Summer temperatures are extreme, often exceeding 100°F. Carry extra water, a shovel, and recovery gear. Spring and fall visits are safest. No facilities or shade exist at the site.
Is Black Rock Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
The water at Black Rock Hot Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.5). It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration) and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).