Mountainous northern Nevada has an abundance of geothermal activity that provides clean energy for hundreds of thousands of homes in the region. This geothermal activity also means lots of hot springs, most of which are remote and undeveloped, making them adventures in themselves.
Sometimes, though, you just want to enjoy the benefits of naturally warm mineral water without the hassle and risk of entering remote hot springs. This is where the Reno Steamboat Hot Springs and the Historic Carson Hot Springs come in.
Photo: The soaking tubs at Steamboat Hot Springs can be temperature controlled from lukewarm to piping hot.
Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center and Spa
In South Reno near the Virginia Foothills, Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center and Spa draws its geothermal water from the same sources that supply renewable power to Reno. Set in a historic building constructed in the Spanish style, Steamboat acquired its name from cracks in the earth emitting steam. Sheds constructed over these cracks provided steam baths, and a sixty-foot geyser was a major attraction. In 1861 a 34-bed hospital was constructed by Dr. Ellis to treat patients using the natural healing properties of the hot springs. Dr. Ellis received his hydrotherapy training in Bavaria, and Steamboat was the first location in the world outside of Bavaria to apply the hydrotherapy techniques later replicated in the famous spas of Europe.
Photo: Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center and Spa offers a variety of healing modalities in addition to hot-spring soaks.
Today, Steamboat continues its long tradition of natural health by offering a wide variety of healing massages, chakra alignment therapies and, of course, soaking sessions in the mineral-rich water that is pumped directly from deep under the earth – without losing its strength in pipes and holding tanks.
Each of the seven private rooms at Steamboat Hot Springs is designed around a different color of the rainbow associated with a chakra energy center that heightens certain aspects of your mood and promotes distinct positive energies. The rooms’ soaking tubs are sure to satisfy everyone’s unique preferences by providing complete control over the temperature of the water, whether piping hot or lukewarm.
Some notable elements in the water include silica, a revitalizer of skin and hair; lithium, a mental relaxant and mood enhancer; potassium, a vital nutrient for the human body; and boron and magnesium, which alleviate muscle aches.
Photo: Carson Hot Springs will warm you up even when it's cold outside.
Carson Hot Springs
Situated in north Carson City near the Comstock Casino, Carson Hot Springs boasts several outdoor pools, indoor baths, sauna rooms, waterfalls and fountains, all filled with water from the springs running 35,000 feet beneath the earth. The hot spring water is refreshed daily from underground sources and is never mixed with any city water or harsh pool chemicals.
Long touted as an elixir for multiple ailments, geothermal spring water is known to improve skin health, mood, muscle function, bone and muscle strength and much more. And it certainly relaxes the mind and muscles to soak in hot water that naturally wards off pathogens without the aid of chlorine.
Prices at the Carson Hot Springs are very reasonable, starting at $17 per adult in the outdoor baths. What’s more, right at the hot springs is the Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint that specializes in foods combining various styles and ethnic traditions, and Shoe Tree Brewing, a gold medal-winning brew company that produces 600 barrels of beer annually. Better yet, the hot springs are open year-round, making them an enjoyable visit in sun, snow, rain, sleet or anything in between.
Natural Healing Right in Your Backyard
So, it turns out you don’t need to fly to Iceland to experience hot springs in the snow or in view of steep mountain passes. With the picturesque Sierra Nevadas towering in the background of the Steamboat and Carson hot springs, you can have an experience just as authentic and enlivening, with a rich history dating back to the early 1800s. Next time you feel stiff and stressed, give the historic baths in Reno or Carson a try.
About the Author Dan Bablinskas
Dan Bablinskas is a relentlessly curious person with a passion for travel, foreign languages, affordable food and lodgings, well-fashioned cappuccinos and refreshing craft brews. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in creative writing, he traveled through Europe and South America while working as an English teacher and travel blogger. After trying a number of different careers, he settled into technical and content writing for his day job. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the Reno-Tahoe area by foot, car, bike and ski. He lives in Reno with his wife and two kids. 
