San Ysidro Warm Springs
San Ysidro Warm Springs produces 68°F water on BLM land in Sandoval County, running roughly 13°F above the local annual average. Iron content is exceptionally high at 11,000 µg/L, and the water carries 1,800 mg/L sodium and 1,700 mg/L chloride at a slightly acidic pH of 6.1. Public access is open, reached by a short walk of about 115 meters from the road.
The spring emerges at 5,516 feet elevation in the arid Rio Puerco drainage west of the Jemez Mountains. Sparse desert scrub and saltbush cover the surrounding terrain, which receives only 9.4 inches of rain and 14.6 inches of snow annually. The landscape is dominated by eroded mesa edges and dry arroyos carved into pale sedimentary rock. The Rio Salado and Rio Puerco watersheds shape the broader geography, with open rangeland stretching in every direction.
Named for the village of San Ysidro at the junction of Highway 550 and Highway 4, the spring sits within the Rio Puerco Field Office jurisdiction of the BLM. Protection status is level 3, allowing extractive use. The area has been a travel corridor between the Rio Grande Valley and Jemez country since pre-contact times. Formal geochemical documentation appears in the 1980 NOAA thermal springs compilation.
Best visited in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate at this desert elevation. The 115-meter walk from the road is flat and straightforward. Bring water and sun protection — shade is scarce. The extremely high iron content stains rocks and soil a distinct orange-red near the source. Vista Linda Campground in the Jemez NRA is roughly 21 km to the northeast.
Is San Ysidro Warm Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Overnight camping trips
The water at San Ysidro Warm Springs is slightly acidic (pH 6.1). It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief), and sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration).
Overview Vista Linda Campground is a first come, first serve campground in the San Diego Canyon on the Jemez National Recreation Area. There are thirteen sites throughout the campground. Potable water and vault toilets are provided amenities. Each campsite has picnic tables, a fire ring, and a charcoal pedestal. Sites with shad features are available; not all sites provide shade features. Recreation Vista Linda Campground is one of five developed campgrounds in the Jemez National Recreation...