Hot Spring
This thermal spring near Wells flows at 97°F—pleasantly warm but 48.9 degrees above the 48.1°F ambient air temperature at 5,452 feet elevation. Located 646.1 meters from the nearest road on BLM's Wells Field Office land, it requires a short walk across high desert terrain. OpenStreetMap recognizes the feature, and the moderate temperature suggests possible soaking potential depending on pool configuration and flow.
The spring sits at 5,452 feet in classic northern Nevada high desert, where sagebrush dominates and annual precipitation totals just 10.9 inches with 33.0 inches of winter snow. The 48.1°F average annual air temperature reflects cold winters and warm but not scorching summers characteristic of this elevation band. Surrounding BLM land shows typical extractive-use patterns—grazing allotments and historical mineral exploration. Angel Lake lies 23.9 kilometers southwest in the East Humboldt Range, occupying a glacial cirque at 8,400 feet with dramatically different alpine ecology.
The generic name offers no clues to Indigenous use or pioneer-era discovery. Wells developed as a railroad town after the Central Pacific's 1869 completion, and ranching operations spread through surrounding valleys, but specific documentation linking this spring to 19th or early 20th-century human activity is absent from available records. Modern BLM management provides open public access under protection status allowing extractive uses alongside recreation.
Visit late spring through early fall when the 646-meter walk remains comfortable and snow has cleared. The 97°F temperature suits soaking if natural pools exist, but scout the site first—some warm springs flow through marshy seeps rather than forming discrete bathing pools. Bring wading shoes and be prepared for muddy approaches. The 5,400-foot elevation means cool nights even in summer; winter visits face subfreezing temperatures and snow cover. Angel Lake Campground offers developed sites 24 kilometers away but requires good clearance for the mountain access road.
Is Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Angel Lake Campground is located next to beautiful Angel Lake, high on the East Humboldt Mountain Range. It sits at an elevation of 8,400 feet, just 12 miles from the city of Wells, in northeast Nevada. Visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing, hiking and viewing wildlife.Recreation Angel Lake offers great canoeing and fishing for rainbow and brook trout. Smith Lake Trail begins at the campground entrance. Facilities The campground offers single and double campsites, some of which have lake...