Trego Hot Springs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trego Hot Springs
Trego, Hot Springs, Kyles Hot Springs,
Butte Spring, and Butte Hot Spring |
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Trego hot springs
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| Etymology: Named after nearby Mount Trego | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Pershing |
| Elevation | 3,940 ft (1,200 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
Trego Hot Springs is a special place in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. It used to be a train station called Trego on the Western Pacific Railroad. The name "Trego" became popular in the early 1900s after the railroad was built. Before that, the hot springs had different names like Hot Springs, Kyles Hot Springs, Butte Spring, and Butte Hot Spring.
Today, Trego is famous for its natural hot springs. The water flows into a long, narrow ditch with a soft, muddy bottom. The hottest part of the springs is near the railroad tracks, and the warm water flows south. The water can be very hot, sometimes as warm as 187 degrees Fahrenheit (86 degrees Celsius)! Unlike some other hot springs, Trego Hot Springs is on public land, so many people can visit it.
Contents
History of Trego Hot Springs
People have used the area around these springs for thousands of years. Evidence shows that groups lived here seasonally between 4,000 and 1,000 years ago.
Early Discoveries and Trails
In 1856, two men named Ladue Vary and Fred Hines found the springs. They were taking a shortcut across the Black Rock Desert. When they reached the Humboldt River, they met a group of travelers on the Nobles Emigrant Trail. Vary and Hines told them about the hot springs. Because of this, the Nobles Emigrant Trail was changed to include the springs. You can even see "Hot Spr" marked on an 1857 map of the area.
The Hand-Dug Trench
In 1860, a group led by Frederick W. Lander dug a 400-foot-long trench by hand. This trench helped cool the hot water before it flowed into a large tank. This made the water safer and more useful for travelers.
Traveler's Diary Entries
A diary from 1861, written by Edith Lockhart, mentions the springs. Here are some parts of her entries:
- "August 18: Pleasant day. Started at noon and went 18 miles to Rabbit Hole Springs, rested a couple of hours and went 18 more miles by the next day to Hot Springs."
- "Aug. 19. A warm day - got into camp at 10 oclock in this morning, laid over till evening - when we went 12 miles to Granite Creek or Wells."
How Trego Got Its Name
The area was named Trego around the time the railroad was built in the early 1900s. It was named after a nearby mountain called Mount Trego. This mountain is also known as Old Razorback Mountain. The name Mount Trego mostly appears on maps from Pershing County. An old newspaper article from April 29, 1912, is one of the first times "Trego" was mentioned. It reported that minerals, like "borax," in the water might have caused a train engine's boiler to explode.
Art and Community Events
In 1993, an event called Desert Siteworks took place at Trego. This was a series of art events led by William Binzen, with help from Judy West and John Law. These events happened for three years, from 1992 to 1994. Many of the ideas used at Desert Siteworks, like "Leave-No-Trace" (meaning to leave no trash or damage behind), were later used by the famous Burning Man event.
Safety Warnings
In 2020, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) shared an important warning. They reported that the water at Trego Hot Springs had some harmful germs, including E. Coli and other bacteria. Because of this, they advised people not to bathe in the springs. It's always a good idea to check for safety warnings before visiting natural hot springs.
