Quick FactsOverview
About the Springs
Double Hot Springs, Nevada is a free geothermal site in the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area in Humboldt County, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Two deep source pools side by side, one dark and one crystal clear, reach temperatures up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Both pools are fenced and marked with warning signs. Entry into the source pools has resulted in deaths and severe injuries, including a fatality in 2000 and a case with second and third-degree burns covering most of the victim's body. Do not approach or enter the pools.
About 50 yards downstream a circular steel soaking trough, approximately six feet in diameter and three feet deep, collects cooled runoff piped from the springs. The tub provides a soakable temperature of around 105 degrees and has a view across the Black Rock Desert playa. Dispersed camping is available but no camping is permitted within 300 feet of any water source. There are no facilities of any kind at the site.
The Black Rock Desert has a long history as an emigrant travel corridor, with trail ruts from the 1840s still visible in the landscape. Natural hot springs in Nevada of this extreme character draw visitors for the spectacle of the source pools, with the downstream trough providing the only safe contact point with the water.
Location & Access
Directions and Access
The springs are in Humboldt County, approximately 75 miles from Gerlach, about three hours by road. From Gerlach, take County Road 34 north for about 12.8 miles, then continue on Soldier Meadows Road for approximately 62 miles to reach the springs. The site can also be approached across the playa from the east when conditions are dry, following the northwestern arm of the Black Rock Desert. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is mandatory for all approaches.
The playa is completely impassable when wet and turns to deep mud that can trap any vehicle. Dirt roads in the area are also muddy after rain. Access is generally limited to late spring through early fall when both the playa and approach roads are dry. Before any attempt to reach the area, check current playa conditions with the Friends of Black Rock-High Rock visitor center in Gerlach. Do not drive on the playa if conditions are in any doubt.
There is no cell service in the Black Rock Desert NCA. The nearest services are in Gerlach, approximately 75 miles away. For visitors looking for natural hot springs near Gerlach Nevada, this site and Black Rock Hot Springs about 5 miles south are the two main destinations in the northern playa area.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Should Visit
The springs suit experienced desert travelers who are self-sufficient, comfortable with remote high-desert navigation, and who understand that the source pools are completely off-limits before they arrive. The downstream soaking trough is the only usable element. The visual spectacle of the twin steaming pools and the expansive Black Rock Desert playa make this a compelling destination for photographers and geothermal enthusiasts.
The site is not appropriate for casual visitors, families with young children, or anyone without a suitable 4WD vehicle, desert navigation experience, and sufficient supplies for a multi-day emergency. There is no cell service, no facilities, and emergency response is many hours away. Pets must be on a leash at all times and must never be taken near the source pools. Dogs have entered the pools and died, and have burned their feet on hot runoff streams.
The soaking trough is clothing optional, consistent with undeveloped hot springs in Nevada. For visitors seeking natural hot springs in Nevada in an extreme remote desert setting, this site offers a combination of geological drama and playa solitude that is difficult to find elsewhere. Access is only possible in dry conditions during a narrow seasonal window, and stopping at the Friends of Black Rock-High Rock office in Gerlach before any attempt to reach the area is strongly recommended.
Safety & Etiquette
Double Hot Springs Safety Tips
The source pools are fenced and must not be entered. The water temperature reaches up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, which is near boiling and will cause fatal burns within seconds. The pool edges are steep and slippery, and escape after falling in is not possible in time to prevent life-threatening injury. People have died here. Do not approach the fence, lean over it, or dip any body part or object into the pools or any runoff stream. Streams carrying runoff from the pools are scalding for some distance from the source. Do not test the temperature of the runoff.
The downstream soaking trough is the only safe soaking point. Always test the temperature before entering, as flow through the PVC pipe system varies. The trough sits on private land; respect any posted notices. Keep dogs on a leash throughout the entire area at all times. Dogs will jump into the pools if not restrained, and dogs have burned their feet on hot runoff streams and scalded their tongues drinking from them.
There is no cell service in the Black Rock Desert NCA and emergency response would take many hours. Do not travel alone. Carry a satellite communicator or personal locator beacon. Bring substantially more water than expected, extra fuel, food for several days, and full desert survival supplies. Summer temperatures on the playa regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Check playa conditions before departure, never drive on wet playa, and check in with the Friends of Black Rock-High Rock visitor center in Gerlach before heading north into the area.
