Kennecott Warm Springs
Kennecott Warm Springs emerges at a warm but unspecified temperature in Grant County, New Mexico, with USGS measurements recording 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The spring sits at 5,050 feet elevation near Hurley, with roadside access 61 meters from the road. Water chemistry shows low mineral content with just 8 mg/L chloride and 24 mg/L sulfate.
The spring surfaces in the copper mining district of southwestern New Mexico's high desert, where the landscape has been shaped by both volcanic geology and over a century of industrial extraction. At 5,050 feet, the terrain features open grassland and scattered juniper amid the basin-and-range topography of Grant County. Annual precipitation is 8.8 inches with 4 inches of snow. The Chino open-pit copper mine, one of the largest in the world, dominates the area near Hurley.
The Kennecott name directly ties this spring to the Kennecott Copper Corporation (later Kennecott Utah Copper), which operated extensive mining operations in the Santa Rita and Hurley area throughout the twentieth century. The spring's relationship to mining activity is not fully documented, though groundwater dynamics in mining districts are often altered by extraction operations. The spring appears in the 1980 NOAA thermal compilation.
The spring is near Hurley in an active mining region, so surrounding roads may be affected by industrial traffic. Silver City, the Grant County seat, is about 15 minutes east and provides full services. The mild mineral content makes the water relatively unremarkable for soaking. Fall and spring offer the most comfortable weather in this high desert setting.
Is Kennecott Warm Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Easy day trips
The water at Kennecott Warm Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.4).