Unnamed Thermal Spring
This warm spring in Elko County emerges at 5,784 feet elevation with temperature data listed simply as W (warm) without specific measurements. The thermal feature requires a 1,000-foot walk from Clover Valley Road through high-elevation terrain that receives 12.5 inches of annual precipitation including 45.7 inches of snow.
Situated in the mountainous country northeast of Wells near the East Humboldt Range, the spring occupies terrain shaped by basin-and-range topography at elevations where juniper and mountain mahogany give way to sagebrush and grassland. The landscape experiences continental climate extremes with mean air temperatures of 48°F, cold winters with substantial snowpack, and dry summers. Angel Creek Campground sits 7.5 kilometers distant in the grassy foothills below Angel Lake.
Documentation provides no name for this feature, and historical records remain silent on Indigenous use or early settlement-era discovery. The thermal characteristics suggest a modest geothermal system compared to Nevada's hotter springs, though the specific discharge temperature remains unrecorded in available data sources.
Late spring through early fall offers the most accessible conditions; winter snowpack can make approach difficult. The short walk from Clover Valley Road requires standard hiking footwear. Angel Creek Campground provides nearby overnight accommodations with reservable sites. Elevation and weather variability call for layers and preparedness for rapid temperature changes typical of Nevada's high country.
Is this spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
Overview Angel Creek Campground is located on the grassy foothills of the East Humboldt Mountain Range, just eight miles southwest of Wells, Nev. It sits at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Visitors enjoy making the short drive to Angel Lake for canoeing and fishing.Recreation Beautiful Angel Lake is just four miles from the campground, offering great canoeing and fishing for rainbow and brook trout.Smith Lake Trail begins at the entrance to Angel Lake Campground, with a designated day use parking...