Bog Hot Springs

What to expect

Bog Hot Springs is not a pool. It is a long, narrow ditch of hot water cutting through flat sagebrush in Bog Hot Valley, a few miles south of the Oregon border in northern Humboldt County. Several springs rise near the head of the ditch at about 131°F55°C. The water then flows roughly a mile through the desert to a collection reservoir, Bog Hot Reservoir, cooling as it goes.

Visitors have built small rock dams along the ditch to make a string of soaking spots, usually four to six of them. Each one is a little cooler than the one above it. The water in the main soaking areas usually sits at around 100-108°F38-42°C and is 1.5 to 3 feet deep. The bottom is sand, gravel and silt, and in places more mud than sand. It clouds up when you move, then settles.

The setting is open and quiet. The Pueblo Mountains rise to the west, and there is almost nothing else in sight except sage, sky and the occasional cow. At night the stars are bright and the only sound is running water.

The springs are on a working cattle ranch. The water is used for stock and irrigation and flows on to the ranch’s reservoir. The owners allow free public use. That makes good behavior here more important than at a spring on public land.

Getting there

Bog Hot is in the far northwest corner of Nevada, a long way from anywhere. Most people come from Winnemucca to the south, from Burns or the Alvord Desert in Oregon to the north, or from Lakeview, Oregon to the west.

The key landmark is Denio Junction, where NV-140 meets NV-292. From there:

1. Drive west on NV-140 (the Denio-Adel road) for about 9 miles.
2. Turn right onto Bog Hot Road, an unpaved road heading north.
3. Follow Bog Hot Road for about 4 miles, then turn left onto a short spur of less than half a mile to the ditch.

The total is about 14 miles from Denio Junction. Park at the dirt pull-outs beside the ditch, then walk a few yards down a short embankment to the water.

The highways are paved. The last miles are dirt and gravel, which is fine for most cars when dry. After rain or snowmelt the road turns slick and sticky, and high clearance or 4WD becomes a real help. The spur to the ditch is rougher than Bog Hot Road itself.

Fill your tank before you leave Denio Junction or Fields, Oregon. There are no services out here.

When to go

October through May is the most comfortable time. Days are mild, the water feels its best, and there are fewer bugs. Spring rain can cool the pools for a while and make the road muddy.

Summer is hot. Daytime highs often top 95°F35°C in the valley, and the upper pools can feel scalding at midday. Soak early in the morning or after sunset.

Crowds are light to moderate. Weekends bring overlanders and campers, especially around Memorial Day. On a weekday you may have the whole ditch to yourself.

Rules and etiquette

There is no fee and no staff. The ranch allows visitors, so treat it like someone else’s yard:

• Respect the ranch. Close gates, give cattle space, and do not block access roads or the ditch.
• Clothing is optional in practice. Keep a towel handy for when other people arrive.
• No soap, shampoo or detergent in or near the water. It flows to the ranch’s stock water.
• No glass near the ditch.
• Dogs should be under control and kept out of the hot water near the source.
• Drive only on existing tracks. Desert soil takes years to recover from new tire marks.
• Pack out all trash. There is no garbage service. Reports differ on whether there is a pit toilet, so plan to deal with your own waste.

Where to stay nearby

Camping by the ditch is widely reported, but the springs are on private land and there is no posted camping permission. The land on both sides of the ranch is part of Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows camping only at designated campgrounds or with a backcountry permit, for up to 14 days in any 30. Do not pitch a tent on refuge land outside those rules.

The best-known refuge campground is Virgin Valley Campground, farther west off NV-140. It is open year-round and has pit toilets, drinking water, a rustic shower house and a warm spring pool.

Denio Junction, about 14 miles away, has fuel and basic supplies. Fields Station in Fields, Oregon, about 20 miles north, has a café and fuel. For a motel room, plan on the nearest full-service towns, Winnemucca to the southeast or Lakeview, Oregon to the west, both a long drive away.

Safety notes

• Hot source water: The springs leave the ground around 131°F55°C. That is hot enough to burn. Stay well away from the upper ditch, test every pool with your hand, and keep children and dogs close.
• Red mites: Small red mites (often called harvest bugs) bite around the waterline, especially on grassy banks. Keep towels and clothes off the ground and away from the edge.
• Mosquitoes can be thick on warm, still evenings in late spring.
• Muddy roads: A wet road can strand you. Carry water, food, a spare tire and a shovel.
• No signal: Cell coverage is very poor to none. Tell someone your plans.
• Water quality: As with any natural hot spring, keep your head above water.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Virgin Valley area of Sheldon refuge is known for fire opals, and the campground’s warm pool makes a good second soak. To the north in Oregon, the Alvord Desert and its hot springs are within about an hour’s drive, and the Pueblo Mountains just west of Bog Hot offer open, trail-free hiking.