Lackawanna Hot Springs
Lackawanna Hot Springs produces 95-degree water from 6,300 feet elevation in White Pine County, matching Klobe Spring as among the highest-elevation thermal features in the Nevada dataset. Located 56.4 meters from Bothwick Road near Ely, the spring creates a 46-degree differential above the 49-degree annual average in this high-altitude Great Basin environment.
The spring sits in elevated mountain country where elevation strongly moderates temperature, bringing annual precipitation of 11.6 inches and substantial snowfall totaling 45.5 inches. At 6,300 feet, the landscape transitions between sagebrush valleys and conifer-covered slopes, with aspen groves marking drainage corridors and north-facing aspects. The terrain shows the characteristic basin-and-range structure of eastern Nevada, with fault-block mountains separated by wide valleys. Ward Mountain rises to the west, while the Schell Creek and Egan ranges define the broader landscape. Continental climate patterns bring cold winters and moderate summers to this high country.
The name Lackawanna appears across multiple locations in the American West, typically brought by settlers from Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley who carried the Delaware Indian name meaning stream that forks" to new settlements. Whether White Pine County's Lackawanna Springs follows this pattern or derives from different origins remains undocumented in available sources. The Ely area developed as a major copper mining district in the early 1900s
and scattered ranching operations utilized high-country springs for livestock. The spring's current status as an undeveloped thermal feature reflects the limited accessibility and modest temperature of this remote site."
Is Lackawanna Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Ward Mountain Recreation Area and Campground sits in the shadow of its namesake, just 10 miles southwest from the city of Ely, in eastern Nevada. It sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet. Many trails are available for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Recreation Ward Mountain and the surrounding area offers miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Many of the trails offer scenic views of the surrounding high desert terrain. Facilities This campgr...