Last updated: June 9, 2026
Place
Warm Springs Nevada
Photo/L. Kreutzer
Quick Facts
Location:
Warm Springs is on the east side of US-93, 25 miles south of Wells at milepost 49, Nevada. A Trails West T marker along the highway at Warm Springs is GPS 40.749630 -115.036469. A T-rail marker on a short segment of trail is nearby, at GPS 40.749620 -115.036483.
Significance:
The area around Warm Springs (also called Mill Springs) was a popular campground for emigrants on the Hastings Cutoff in 1846-1850. The springs were a significant source of water on this stretch of the trail.
Designation:
Historic Site on the California NHT.
MANAGED BY:
Private
Amenities
2 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot
A cluster of springs near the eastern slopes of the Humboldt Mountains was notable for the plentiful, fresh water flowing from them. In 1846, Edwin Bryant “found a bold spring gushing forth a volume of water sufficient to turn the most powerful millwheel.” On Sept. 5, 1850, Sarah Davis wrote in her journal, “water cold as ice a butifull creek comin right from the mountain it roars like a cataract and springs all round in every direction and cattle are giten fat on this grass.”
Today, the area east of US-93 in this area (25-27 miles south of Wells, Nevada) is private land, often green and under cultivation. A creek and one of the springs, crowded with cottonwood trees, is visible from the highway. A brown, t-shaped trail marker with emigrant quotes stands along the fenceline above the spring.
When driving northbound on US-93 toward Wells, from milepost 48 watch ahead on the right for a grove of cottonwood trees below the highway. The trail marker is at the fenceline direction to the right of milepost 49, and the creek and spring are a short distance north of that. Stopping along the roadside here is not recommended, as this is a busy highway with fast truck traffic. Instead, continue north to the entrance to the Mustang Monument eco-ranch, park in the gravel turnout on the north side of the driveway, and walk back 300 yards along the fenceline, well off the highway shoulder, to the spring and trail marker. From here, pack parties could turn northwest and cross Secret pass, a gap between the East Humboldt and Ruby mountain ranges, to rejoin the primary California Trail on the Humboldt River. Wagons could not get through this way, so the wagon road headed southwest and crossed the Ruby Mountains through Overland Canyon.
Site Information
Location (Warm Springs is on the east side of US-93, 25 miles south of Wells at milepost 49, Nevada. A Trails West T marker along the highway at Warm Springs is GPS 40.749630 -115.036469. A T-rail marker on a short segment of trail is nearby, at GPS 40.749620 -115.036483.)