Goat Camp Spring
Goat Camp Spring discharges at 69 degrees Fahrenheit on BLM land in Greenlee County, New Mexico, only 4.8 degrees above ambient air temperature. At 4,400 feet elevation with roadside access just 35 meters from the nearest road, this is a marginally thermal feature on federally managed public land.
The spring sits in the arid terrain along the New Mexico-Arizona border near Clifton, where annual precipitation averages just 9.5 inches and snowfall barely reaches 3 inches. The surrounding BLM landscape at this mid-elevation is characterized by sparse desert scrub and rocky slopes typical of the Gila region. The land carries a protection status that permits extractive use, and the broader area includes the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area across the state line in Arizona.
Documentation on Goat Camp Spring is limited. The name suggests historic livestock grazing in the area, consistent with ranching traditions across this stretch of the border country. The spring appears in the 1980 NOAA/NCEI thermal springs compilation. No significant development or commercial use has been recorded at the site.
The nearest campground is Owl Creek Campground, 28.6 km away in Arizona's Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, with seven first-come, first-served sites and no potable water. A 14-day stay limit applies. Summers are hot, with average air temperatures around 64 degrees Fahrenheit annually. Bring all water and supplies.
Is Goat Camp Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
Located in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area in Arizona, Owl Creek Campground has seven campsites, picnic tables, grills, ramadas, trash receptacles, and restroom facilities available to make your stay more enjoyable. There is no potable water available at the campground. Three of the campsites are pull-through sites, and four are pull-in sites, making the campground suitable for trailers and RVS. The campground is a stop on the Black Hills Back Country Byway, and it is also j...