Hot Springs Pairings
Fall 2024
Get stoked to soak with an only-in-Nevada adventure.
Some things are just better in pairs: milk and cookies, rock ‘n’ roll, Batman and Robin. Our favorite combo? A picturesque hot spring soak and an awesome only-in-Nevada experience.
The Silver State is home to hundreds of hot springs—most are set in nature, while others anchor resort-like getaways. No matter your preference, we have tried-and-true recommendations for what to pair with your next steamy dip.
1. Gold Strike Hot Springs + Chilly Jilly’z
Closest Civilization: Boulder City
The hike to Gold Strike Hot Springs isn’t for everyone, but the payoff is incredibly rewarding. You’ll descend 600 feet into a gorgeous canyon while scrambling over boulders and using fixed rope climbs to reach the Colorado River. Once you get to your ultimate destination, the hot spring oasis delivers wildlife spotting, stunning views, and a whole lotta relaxation. Plan accordingly, though, as the trail can take upwards of 3-4 hours in each direction (don’t forget you have to climb back out!) and closes during the summer due to extreme temperatures.
After your hike, treat yourself to a Dole Whip Delight at Chilly Jilly’z in nearby Boulder City. The famed theme park soft-serve gets dished up as a float, freeze, or sundae in addition to classic shakes, malts, and smoothies. Plan to sate your appetite with sandwiches, salads, and Broaster chicken tenders.
2. Soldier Meadows Hot Springs + Bruno’s Country Club
Closest Civilization: Gerlach
Venturing this far north into the Black Rock Desert–High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area is an accomplishment for off-grid adventurers. It was even more of one for the wagon-weary westward pioneers following the Applegate-Lassen Trail—a spur of the California Trail that ran through Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and California—back in the 1840s and 1850s. Luckily, the same reward still awaits: a hot creek flowing through the surprisingly lush Soldier Meadows. Terraced, rock-dammed soaking pools offer travelers glorious respite near a semi-primitive campground and first-come, first-served cabin, both managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Getting to Soldier Meadows will take you through one of the state’s most remote slices, and it’s vital to check on terrain and weather conditions before driving on the Black Rock playa. On your way out, stop in Gerlach and get the lay of the land from Friends of Black Rock High Rock. While in town, try some of the best homemade ravioli you’ll ever have at Bruno’s Country Club. Hearty breakfasts, lunch favorites, and a full bar round out the menu.
3. Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa + Virginia City
Closest Civilization: Reno or Virginia City
Steamboat Hot Springs opened in 1857 as Nevada’s first hot spring resort. The “Steamboat” name came from Mark Twain, who soaked in these mineral-rich waters himself and likened the geothermal rumbling of the natural hot springs to the sound of a river paddleboat. You can partake in the same experience that American Indians, pioneers, miners, and travelers have been enjoying for centuries at what is now Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa.
Follow further in Twain’s footsteps just 15 miles up the hill in the Comstock mining town of Virginia City. The entire community is a National Historic Landmark, and it’s also where Samuel Clemens adopted his famous nom de plume. Stroll boardwalk-lined streets past numerous saloons, museums, and shops as you continue your day of fascinating Nevada history.
4. Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs + Gold Point Ghost Town
Closest Civilization: Tonopah or Dyer
Next time you find yourself cruising the Free-Range Art Highway, deviate off U.S. 95 and reroute to Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs. Also known as Fish Lake Valley Hot Well, this county-managed site feels like you’re taking a dip in a wild outdoor pool thanks to the below-ground concrete tub that serves as the hot spring basin. Typically, the water temperature hovers around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Your soak comes with spectacular views of 13,147-foot Boundary Peak, Nevada’s tallest mountain.
The living ghost town of Gold Point also makes for a must-see detour. This former silver boomtown gives modern-day visitors a sense of what the original main street looked like. Book a stay at the Gold Point Ghost Town Bed & Breakfast to sleep in an original cabin and shoot pool on a 1909 Brunswick table at the town saloon.
5. Black Rock Hot Springs + Fly Geyser
Closest Civilization: Gerlach
Like Soldier Meadows Hot Springs, Black Rock Hot Springs is found in the ruggedly remote Black Rock Desert. Getting here requires a reliable vehicle and solid navigation skills, as you’ll be driving across the roadless playa without directional signage. Only travel on the playa when it’s bone dry: Moisture turns the ancient lakebed into quicksand-like conditions that’ll trap your vehicle. Once you arrive, a large pool of natural hot spring water surrounded by wetlands will welcome you. Camp overnight and soak under some of the starriest skies you’ll ever experience thanks to the light-pollution-free conditions on the Black Rock.
Pair those heavenly sky views with more wondrous sights on the ground. Fly Geyser is a kaleidoscopic geothermal feature that appears otherworldly, spraying near-boiling water into surrounding (and equally colorful) shallow pools. The geyser is on private property owned by the Burning Man Project, but you can schedule seasonal nature walks through Friends of Black Rock-High Rock.
6. Ruby Valley Hot Springs + Jiggs Bar
Closest Civilization: Elko
Ruby Valley Hot Springs (also known as Smith Ranch Hot Springs) takes some extra effort to get to, but a soak in these aquamarine waters will be well worth it. Go about 60 miles south of Elko and break out the four-wheel drive to traverse some rough dirt roads that lead to multiple pools, the largest of which is roughly 30 feet wide. While the water averages around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, make sure you check the temperatures before you hop in—some surrounding pools can be scalding hot.
Raise a glass to your off-grid adventure at Jiggs Bar, which will be on your way to or from Ruby Valley. The residents of this tiny town are happy to chat with travelers and share some area history and insight. The bar also features some oddball taxidermy that’ll add to your only-in-Nevada stories.
7. David Walley’s Resort + Genoa
Closest Civilization: Genoa
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, David Walley’s Resort has been a vacation getaway for more than 160 years. Like Steamboat Hot Springs, these historic mineral waters were also highly regarded by Mark Twain, who wrote, “I now leave without crutch or cane, entirely well, not only relieved from pain but gained in spirit.” A heated outdoor pool and five geothermically heated hot spring tubs (with temps ranging from 98-104 degrees Fahrenheit) are exclusively available to resort guests, and one of the tubs is specially designated for families with kids.
Go beyond David Walley’s and explore Genoa, the oldest permanent settlement in the Silver State. Have a drink at Genoa Bar & Saloon, billed as “Nevada’s Oldest Thirst Parlor,” and grab a delicious bite at The Pink House.
8. Carson City Triathlon
Closest Civilization: Carson City
Surprise! This last pairing is actually a trio of stops known as the Carson City Triathlon. Carson Hot Springs, Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint, and Shoe Tree Brewing Company are neighbors in the same parking lot, and you can visit them in any order you prefer to complete this adventure trifecta.
The natural mineral water at Carson Hot Springs comes from 35,000 feet below Earth’s surface. Four outdoor pools and hot tubs vary in temperature from 98-104 degrees Fahrenheit all year long, and they get drained and refilled every day. For some extra muscle massaging, let a concentrated stream of hot water from “The Hammer” work its magic. Carson Hot Springs also has nine private pools, perfect for up to five people.
Once you’re hungry, pop over to Sassafras and dig into one of the most diverse menus in Carson City. Specials are always enticing, but staples like the peanut butter and bacon burger will tempt you, too. Wash it down with an award-winning beer at Shoe Tree, which brews everything from IPAs and ambers to experimental sours and stouts.