Nevada's Great Basin region contains the most active geothermal field in North America. The same geomorphology that created the basin and range landscape has caused Earth's crust to be very thin in this area. This close proximity to subsurface magma pockets allows super-heated water to form hot springs across the region.
The information on this page should be used with care. Not all hot springs are really hot (some are just in the "warm" category.) Other springs can be scalding and physically dangerous. The information provided here is simply meant as a reference. Do your own research and proceed with caution!
Click on the following map icons to get more information about each hot spring. The locations marked with red stars tend to be the most popular and accessible. Locations marked with an orange dot have extended descriptions available. Locations with a blue dot
only have geochemical data. Most of the minor locations haven't been field-checked in years, so do your own research before you head out. Not all hot springs are suitable for public soaking. Use your own discretion.
Cave ecosystems are often dependent on organic material carried in by water, which serves as the primary food source for the environment. In arid climates with minimal surface rainfall, the input of organic matter and nutrients into caves becomes limited, affecting the overall energy flow within these environments. The intricate interplay between surface conditions and cave biota presents unique management challenges for modern cave biologists. Image courtesy of Dr. Jean K. Krejca, Zara Environmental LLC.
The Cave Research Foundation is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to:
Facilitating research, management and interpretation of caves and karst resources; Forming partnerships to study, protect and preserve cave resources and karst areas; Promoting the long term conservation of caves and karst ecosystems.
One of the major ecological threats to the sagebrush-dominated Great Basin ecosystem is the introduction and spread of dozens of species of non-native plants. The most important of these, cheatgrass (or downy brome) covers the largest area: 25 million acres, one-third of the area of the Great Basin.
Campfire Coffee Mug
Stay up all night with our personalized ceramic coffee mug. This 13oz mug is perfect for school, campfire socials, marathon thesis proofreading, and all-night grant-writing sessions.
Registration for the 2025 symposium has been briefly delayed as we try to interpret the impact global tariffs will have on our financial model. A lot of items we purchase for the conference are sourced from international markets (convention bags, merchandise, etc.) We should have this figured out in the next few days and will send an email to past attendees when that system comes online.
Feel free to join our mailing list if you would like to receive occasional updates on our plans.