Unnamed Thermal Spring
This unnamed spring near Silver City in Grant County flows at 77 degrees Fahrenheit with a notably alkaline pH of 8.7 and just 5.2 mg/L chloride — among the freshest thermal waters in southern New Mexico. USGS-confirmed at 25 degrees Celsius, the water runs 15.3 degrees above ambient. A 216-meter walk from the nearest road accesses the spring at 4,600 feet elevation.
At 4,600 feet, this is one of Grant County's lower-elevation thermal features, sitting in Chihuahuan Desert grassland where tobosa grass, mesquite, and scattered yucca dominate. The terrain is open and gently rolling, with distant views toward the Pinos Altos Range to the north and the Burro Mountains to the southwest. Annual precipitation of 12 inches and just 6.6 inches of snow maintain semi-arid conditions. The Gila River drainage shapes the broader watershed, though the immediate surroundings remain dry upland.
Documented in the 1980 NOAA/NCEI thermal springs inventory without a formal name. The spring's alkaline pH of 8.7 and low mineral content suggest circulation through volcanic rock with limited contact time with evaporite formations. No development, naming, or specific historical documentation exists in available records beyond geological surveys. Silver City, founded during the 1870s silver mining boom, serves as the nearest population center.
A short 216-meter walk from the road makes this one of the more accessible unnamed springs in the area. Water temperature provides modest warmth — best experienced during cooler months from November through March. No facilities or shade exist on site. Silver City, immediately to the north, provides all services including the gateway to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. No permits are required, but confirm current land status before visiting as ownership data is incomplete.
The water at This spring is alkaline (pH 8.7).