Nevada State Prison Spring
Nevada State Prison Spring flows at 75°F on state-owned land within the Nevada State Maximum Security Prison facility at 4,670 feet elevation. Located just 50 feet from the nearest road but with public access completely closed, this warm spring emerges 21 degrees above the ambient 54°F annual average temperature. The spring is associated with the larger Carson Hot Springs system in Eagle Valley, where geothermal water originates from 6.6 miles below the surface.
The spring sits within the confines of the Nevada State Maximum Security Prison in Carson City, embedded in the Eagle Valley at 4,670 feet elevation. The area receives 17.5 inches of annual precipitation and 60.6 inches of snow, creating cold-season conditions that contrast with the warm spring discharge. Carson City occupies a high desert valley flanked by the Sierra Nevada to the west and the Carson Range, with sagebrush and pinyon-juniper communities characterizing the surrounding slopes. The spring's roadside position within the prison grounds places it in a developed institutional landscape.
The spring takes its name from the Nevada State Prison, which operated on this site for over 150 years. Carson Hot Springs, the larger thermal system to which this feature belongs, has been documented since early European settlement of the Eagle Valley. The prison facility utilized the valley's natural resources, including water from nearby sources. The spring currently exists within the grounds of a maximum-security correctional facility managed by the Nevada State Department of Natural Resources, making it one of the state's most inaccessible thermal features.
This spring is completely off-limits to the public, located within the secure perimeter of an active prison facility. No legitimate visiting opportunities exist. Those interested in Carson City's geothermal features can explore the region's mining history and hot spring heritage through local museums and historical markers. Mount Rose Campground, 22 kilometers away off Mount Rose Highway, provides a base for exploring the nearby Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe, though it offers no connection to this closed thermal site.
Is Nevada State Prison Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Mount Rose Campground is conveniently located between Reno and Lake Tahoe just off scenic Mount Rose Highway. Visitors love the campground for its proximity to excellent hiking trails and recreational opportunities at Lake Tahoe.Recreation Hiking is the most popular pastime at Mount Rose. Several trails, including the Tahoe Meadows, Tahoe Rim, Mount Rose Wilderness and Mount Rose Summit Trails, begin very close to the campground.Facilities Mount Rose contains single and double-family...