Hot Springs
This hot spring in Greenlee County, New Mexico, sits within the Gila National Forest at 4,640 feet elevation. USGS measurements record water temperature at 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), with a neutral pH of 7.3 and elevated sodium and chloride concentrations. Access requires a short walk of roughly 816 meters from the nearest road.
The spring emerges along the forested slopes of the Gila National Forest, where ponderosa pine and mixed conifers give way to riparian corridors at lower elevations. Annual precipitation of 14 inches and 10.6 inches of snow support denser vegetation than surrounding lowlands. The landscape is shaped by the Mogollon Rim country of southwestern New Mexico, with steep canyons cut by tributaries of the Gila and San Francisco rivers.
The spring carries the generic name Hot Springs and lacks a distinct historical identity in available records. It appears in the 1980 NOAA thermal springs compilation with a temperature classification of H (hot). The Gila National Forest, established in 1899 as the first forest reserve in the region, encompasses numerous geothermal features along the volcanic belt of southwestern New Mexico.
Access requires an 816-meter walk from the road, so sturdy footwear is recommended. The Gila National Forest is open to the public year-round, though winter snow at this elevation can make access difficult. Water chemistry shows 200 mg/L sodium and 310 mg/L chloride. Check with the Gila National Forest ranger district for current trail conditions.
The water at Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3). It is notably rich in chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).