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 National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) is a nexus of research, stewardship, outreach and information for caves and karst while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, created by the US Congress in 1998 in partnership with the National Park Service, State of New Mexico, and the City of Carlsbad.
NCKRI is located in Carlsbad, NM, and is a research center of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Established by congress in 2006, the Great Basin National Heritage Area is a federally designated National Heritage Area in White Pine County, Nevada and Millard County, Utah. The area was defined to recognize and promote the scenic and cultural resources associated with this central portion of the Great Basin.
In 2016, concurrent with the NSS Convention in Ely, the heritage area's partnership arm helped fund a mural recognizing Absolom Lehman's explorations in the Lehman Caves of Great Basin National Park. Designed by NSS cave artist, Carolina Shrewsbury, the mural is now permanently installed on Highway 50 in downtown Ely.
The National Heritage Area includes Great Basin National Park and portions of Humboldt-Toiyabe and Fishlake National Forests, as well as Fort Deseret, Sevier Lake and the Topaz War Relocation Center.
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