Astin Spring
Astin Spring in southeastern Arizona flows at 75 degrees Fahrenheit at 3,800 feet elevation in Cochise County near Douglas, emerging 9.4 degrees above ambient. This modest thermal feature sits within the Malpai Borderlands Group conservation area, a pioneering landscape-scale protection initiative.
The spring occupies a short walk of 167 meters from Geronimo Trail through semi-desert grassland terrain. The high desert landscape features scattered oak, juniper, and bunch grasses typical of the Arizona-New Mexico borderlands. The conservation area protects a dramatic landscape of rugged mountains and productive grasslands.
The thermal water reflects deep circulation through the Precambrian basement rocks underlying the transition zone between the Chiricahua and Peloncillo Mountains. The Malpai Borderlands Group represents a unique conservation approach integrating private, state, and federal lands in this rugged country.
Access requires permission from the Malpai Borderlands Group; public access is currently restricted due to conservation management policies. Visitors interested in this spring should contact the organization about visiting opportunities. The site remains valuable for its ecological significance and water resources.