Paradise Valley Hot Springs

What to expect

The spring known as Paradise Valley Hot Springs, or Little Humboldt Hot Springs, sits in an open agricultural valley north of Winnemucca, on the bank of the Little Humboldt River. It has two parts, and it matters that you know which is which.

The first thing you see near where you park is the source: a crater rimmed with travertine, where water wells up from depth at more than 130°F54°C. It collects in a natural walled pool that looks inviting and is not. Do not get in it, and keep children and dogs well back from the edge.

The soak is downhill. Water from the crater overflows into a small creek that runs toward the river, and part of that flow is piped or diverted into a large stock-tank tub set beside the river. By the time the water reaches the tub it has cooled, though sometimes not enough, so test it first. The tub is usually clear, and someone has built a sturdy wooden platform next to it where you can leave your clothes and towel.

From the tub the view is mostly sky, brush and mountains. The valley floor is ranch country, but down at river level the houses and fields drop out of sight, and the only sounds are the creek and the wind. The surrounding hills show bands of white, gray and cream rock with patches of green after wet springs.

There are no facilities of any kind: no toilet, no trash cans, no water. Bring a towel, sandals for the walk down the creek, and drinking water, and plan to carry out everything you bring in.

Getting there

The springs are roughly 45 miles northeast of Winnemucca.

From Winnemucca, head north on US 95. Between mileposts 23 and 24 (at about 23.9), turn right onto NV-290 toward the town of Paradise Valley. Drive about 11.8 miles, then turn right onto Shelton Road and continue about 9.4 miles to a dirt road heading down to the Little Humboldt River. Bear right and drive the last 0.3 miles on dirt to the springs.

The county roads are graded gravel, but a high-clearance vehicle is recommended for the final dirt sections, and four-wheel drive is worth having after rain. Park well away from the crater rim. From the parking area, follow the creek down toward the river to find the tub.

Mileage-based directions like these can drift as roads change. Check your route against an offline map before you lose signal, and do not follow a phone app onto private ranch roads.

When to go

The springs are reachable year-round in dry weather. Spring and fall are the most comfortable: cool air, and the tub water feels right rather than too hot. Summer afternoons in the valley are hot and the tub gets less appealing, so go early or at dusk. Winter soaks are good when the roads are frozen or dry, but snowmelt and rain can turn the dirt tracks into mud.

The Little Humboldt River also rises with spring runoff. A riverside tub can be swamped or silted up after high water, so if you are driving a long way, look for a recent trip report first.

Because the site is small, a single group fills the tub. Weekdays give you a much better chance of having it to yourself.

Rules and etiquette

This is private land, and access is a privilege the owner can end at any time. The way to keep it open is to be a guest nobody notices:

• No camping. Camping is not allowed at the springs.
• Obey signs and gates. Leave gates as you found them. If new signs say the site is closed, go home.
• Stay out of the source crater. It is scalding and the travertine rim is fragile.
• No soap or shampoo in the tub, creek or river.
• Pack out everything, including bottle caps and cigarette butts.
• Keep it short when others are waiting. There is one tub.
• Leave no trace near the river. Do not dig new pools or reroute the creek.

Where to stay nearby

There is no camping at the springs. Winnemucca, about 45 miles southwest, is the base for most visitors, with motels, RV parks, restaurants and fuel. The small ranching town of Paradise Valley is on NV-290 along the way, but plan to buy fuel and supplies in Winnemucca before you head north.

Safety notes

• The source will burn you. Water in the crater is above 130°F54°C. People have been seriously hurt at springs like this by stepping or falling into a hot vent. Treat the whole crater rim as off limits.
• Test the tub. Water piped from the creek can arrive hotter than expected, especially on cold days when it cools less on the way.
• Head above water. Untreated hot spring water can carry harmful organisms. Do not put your head under.
• River hazards. The Little Humboldt can run high and cold in spring. Watch children and dogs near the bank.
• Remoteness. Cell coverage is unreliable. Tell someone your plan and carry water, a spare tire and a paper map.

Nearby

Kyle Hot Springs, southwest of Winnemucca, often appears on the same lists, but it is on private land with no confirmed public access and is listed as closed. Farther northwest, the Black Rock Desert springs such as Black Rock Hot Springs and Trego Hot Springs are on BLM land.