Spencer Hot Springs

Springs in the Big Smoky Valley foothills

Spencer Hot Springs lies in north central Nevada. Travel Nevada places it in the foothills of the Big Smoky Valley, near Austin. A 2014 Nevada Magazine article puts it near the Toquima Range, about 18 miles southeast of Austin. The site is on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM’s Battle Mountain District hosted a 2025 cleanup there, described below.

The Mineral Resources Data System record, as reproduced by Western Mining History, lists the springs at an elevation of 5,659 feet. It gives a surface temperature of 72 degrees C and a subsurface temperature of 125 degrees C. One reference entry, partly cut off, appears to describe hot springs depositing travertine. The record cites USGS Professional Paper 492 and USGS Circular 726 and warns that its location data is unverified.

The pools

The sources describe the pools differently. Travel Nevada reports three bathing spots, sometimes four, fed by spring water piped into tubs. Two are metal cattle troughs, and one has a natural soft bottom. It says the source water sits around 130 degrees F and that bathers control the temperature by moving the water source in and out of a tub. Nevada Magazine describes a hot-tub-sized stone-lined pool at the upper spring and a smaller metal pool at the lower spring. It adds that overflow forms smaller pools downhill, where a couple dozen goldfish live year-round.

Nevada Magazine warns that springs can change temperature and advises testing the water before each soak, with a food thermometer if needed, and wearing sturdy water shoes because rocks can be slippery or sharp and broken glass is possible.

Visiting today

Travel Nevada lists admission as free, with the site open at all hours. The BLM says the site has no toilets, no drinking water and no other services, so visitors should come prepared. For National Public Lands Day on September 27, 2025, the BLM announced a volunteer cleanup there to remove trash and graffiti and replace ineffective fire rings.

Nevada Magazine gives these directions: from Austin, drive about 12 miles east on U.S. 50 to State Route 376 and turn south. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto a dirt road marked for Toquima Cave and follow it about 6 miles. The article’s general safety tips say to carry enough fuel to get there and back, plus extra food and water in case of vehicle trouble. Road conditions change, so check with the BLM before going.

Primitive camping is allowed on BLM land, first come, first served. Travel Nevada says camps must be at least 100 yards from water sources and that camping on the spring itself is prohibited because animals in the dry basin depend on it. Check current fire restrictions first. Travel Nevada also notes that the Hickison burro herd roams the area.