Williams Hot Spring
Williams Hot Spring produces 127-degree water at 6,293 feet elevation on Bureau of Land Management public lands in White Pine County, flowing 208 meters from 4H Camp Road near Ely. Recent USGS analysis documented 53 degrees Celsius water with pH 9.2, showing strongly alkaline chemistry with extremely low calcium at 1.6 milligrams per liter and 61 sodium in a sodium-dominated system. The spring emerges on Bristlecone Field Office lands with open access, standing 76.5 degrees above ambient temperature.
The spring sits at relatively high elevation in east-central Nevada's basin terrain, where 6,293 feet places the feature in a setting receiving 11.9 inches of annual precipitation and 42 inches of snow. The surrounding landscape features sagebrush and scattered pinyon-juniper woodland, with the nearby Schell Creek Range providing dramatic relief to the east. The elevation and continental climate create average annual temperatures of 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit, with pronounced seasonal variations and winter conditions dominating several months. Ancient bristlecone pines survive on the highest peaks of nearby ranges, giving the BLM field office its name.
The spring's name origin remains unclear, though it may reference a homesteader, rancher, or early explorer in the Ely area. The region lies within traditional Goshute and Western Shoshone territories, where Indigenous peoples maintained seasonal rounds and utilized springs as critical water sources. Ely's development as a copper mining center in the early 1900s brought population influx and infrastructure to the broader area, though this spring appears to have remained undeveloped. Current BLM management maintains public access without recreational facilities, allowing the spring to function in its natural state on lands subject to multiple uses including grazing.
Access requires a short walk across open terrain, feasible from late spring through fall when snowpack melts and roads clear. The 42 inches of annual snowfall creates winter access challenges requiring four-wheel drive and appropriate preparation. Exercise caution with the 127-degree source water and note the high pH of 9.2, which indicates strongly alkaline conditions that can irritate skin. Bring drinking water and sun protection for the exposed high desert environment. Ward Mountain Campground sits 36.8 kilometers away at 7,400 feet elevation, offering developed facilities and access to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback trails with views across the high desert terrain.
Is Williams Hot Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Williams Hot Spring is alkaline (pH 9.2).
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...