Campbell Ranch Springs
Campbell Ranch Springs flows at 76 degrees Fahrenheit on Bureau of Land Management property in White Pine County, emerging 27 degrees above ambient at 6,100 feet elevation. The spring sits 71 meters from the nearest road on open public land managed by the Bristlecone Field Office near McGill. Water temperature of 76 degrees Fahrenheit classifies this as a warm rather than hot spring, discharging in terrain that receives 11.6 inches of precipitation and 39.9 inches of snow annually where ambient temperatures average 48.9 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 6,100 feet in the Schell Creek Range foothills, the spring emerges in pinyon-juniper woodland transitioning toward mountain mahogany and aspen at higher elevations. The setting represents the characteristic Basin and Range topography of eastern Nevada, where north-south trending mountain ranges rise above broad intermontane valleys. Rock formations include limestone, dolomite, and volcanic units, with faulting creating the fractured aquifer systems that feed the thermal discharge. McGill's former smelter town sits in the valley below, with the Ely mining district visible to the north. East Creek Campground lies 23 kilometers distant in the higher Schell Creek elevations.
The name references the Campbell Ranch operation that likely utilized the spring for stock watering during White Pine County's ranching development in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Specific documentation of the ranch and its operators remains limited in readily available historical records, though scattered homesteads dotted these mid-elevation slopes where reliable springs provided essential water sources.
Access via unpaved BLM roads from McGill; verify current conditions as mountain weather can close routes during winter and spring. Temperature of 76 degrees Fahrenheit limits bathing appeal compared to hotter springs. Best visited May through October when roads dry and temperatures moderate. High-clearance vehicle required for rough approach roads. East Creek Campground 23 kilometers distant provides developed camping with forest access. Combine with exploration of the Schell Creek Range or visits to Great Basin National Park 60 miles south. Carry water and emergency supplies.
Is Campbell Ranch Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Located high on the slopes of the Schell Creek Range in the Duck Creek Basin, sitting in the middle of an alder, pinyon and juniper forest, East Creek Campground offers a wide range of recreation opportunities to the forest visitor. Hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle riding are just some of the popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Elevation is 7,400 feet, located approximately 20 miles from Ely, Nevada. Recreation The Ranger Trail can be accessed from thi...