Dyke Hot Springs

What to expect

Dyke Hot Springs is a small spring in a side valley on the southeast side of the Pine Forest Range, at the northeastern edge of the Black Rock Desert region in Humboldt County. Hot water comes out at the top of a small hill and runs down as a steaming creek through grass and willows. Below that is sagebrush and open desert in every direction. The elevation is about 4,250 feet.

The water is far too hot to soak in straight from the ground. Sources put the source at about 140-150°F60-66°C or 150-170°F66-77°C, and the creek below at about 115°F46°C. What made Dyke a soaking spot was the old bathtubs. Over the years, visitors set up to four of them on wooden planks in the hot stream just below the source and fed them with a length of plastic pipe. You would fill a tub, move the pipe away, and wait for the water to cool, which takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on the weather.

The tubs may be gone. A visitor comment dated May 5, 2026 on Hot Springs Locator says there are no tubs any more. Earlier accounts describe two to four. Nobody official maintains anything here, so tubs get added and removed over time. If there are none, there is nowhere safe to soak, and the trip becomes a look at the spring and a night out under very dark skies.

There are no facilities. Guides mention frogs, birds and a small artificial pond with goldfish near the spring.

Getting there

The spring is reached from NV-140, the long, lonely highway that links US 95 with Denio Junction and the Oregon line.

From Denio Junction: Drive about 25 miles south on NV-140. Just after milepost 41, turn right (west) onto Big Creek Road, also signed or mapped as Duffurena Road.

From Winnemucca: Take US 95 north, then NV-140 northwest toward Denio. Turn left (west) onto Big Creek Road between mileposts 40 and 41. Hot Springs Locator puts the spring about 83 miles northwest of Winnemucca.

Then:

1. Follow Big Creek Road 6.8 miles to its junction with Woodward Road.
2. Turn left on Woodward Road and drive 3.9 miles. You pass a ranch along the way. Respect its fences and gates.
3. About 0.85 miles past the ranch, bear left at the fork.
4. After about 1 mile, turn left into the small parking area.

The spring and tub site are a short walk from the parking area. In dry weather the dirt roads are well maintained and most passenger cars can make it slowly. After rain or snow, the clay surface turns slick, and Hot Springs Locator recommends 4WD in winter. There is no signal, so load an offline map before you leave the highway.

When to go

Spring and fall are the most comfortable times. Days are mild and the cooler air helps a filled tub reach a usable temperature faster.

Summer is hot and exposed, with almost no shade. A tub of spring water can take a long time to cool on a hot afternoon. Early mornings and evenings are better.

Winter brings cold nights, snow and muddy roads. A hot tub under a cold sky is the reward, but you need a capable vehicle, warm gear and a backup plan in case the road softens.

The spring is far from anywhere, so crowds are rarely a problem.

Rules and etiquette

Dyke Hot Springs is on BLM land according to the BLM’s surface management data, and there is no fee and no posted site rules. Standard BLM and soaking courtesy applies:

• No fee. Entry is free.
• Camping: Dispersed camping on BLM land is generally allowed for up to 14 days. Camp well away from the spring so others can use it and the creek stays clean. One guide strongly discourages camping at the spring itself.
• Drain the tubs. If tubs are in place, empty them when you finish. Standing water grows algae and bacteria quickly.
• No soap or shampoo in the tubs or the creek.
• Clothing: There is no rule, and soaking guides list it as clothing optional.
• Pack out everything, including trash left by others if you can.
• Ranch land: The roads pass private ranch property. Leave gates as you find them and do not camp on private land.

Where to stay nearby

• Denio Junction, about 40 miles north by road, has fuel, food and a motel. It is the nearest place for supplies.
• Dispersed camping on BLM land around the Pine Forest Range is the most practical way to stay close.
• Winnemucca, roughly 80 miles southeast, has the nearest full range of hotels, restaurants and services.
• Virgin Valley, on NV-140 west of Denio Junction, has a free campground beside its warm spring pool on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. See Virgin Valley Hot Springs.

Safety notes

• Scalding water: The source and the upper creek are hot enough to burn. Never step into the creek near the source. Always test a filled tub carefully, and check it again after a few minutes, since water at the bottom can stay hotter.
• Amoebas: Warm spring water can carry amoebas that are dangerous if they get up your nose. Keep your head above water.
• Tub hygiene: Algae and bacteria build up in still water. If a tub looks slimy, rinse it and refill it, or skip it.
• Remoteness: There is no cell service and no help nearby. Bring a full-size spare, extra water and food, a shovel, and warm clothes. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
• Roads: The dirt roads can turn slick and rutted after rain. If the forecast is wet, do not risk it.
• Wildlife: Watch for rattlesnakes in warm weather around rocks and brush near the creek.