People like to escape to the Jemez Valley and the nearby San Antonio National Forest to relax, unwind and rejuvenate in the area’s natural mineral springs after days spent exploring the volcanic and pine-filled valleys nearby. Those heading to the local commercial hot springs enjoy the quirky historic village built up over centuries by the Native Indians and European settlers.
In 1860, settlers at Jemez Pueblo heard a roar and found that one of the hot springs had shot out of the earth as a geyser. This was later enclosed and its water used to feed the first Bath House (where you can still bathe today!). The springwater in this source has so many minerals in it that the well has to be regularly drilled out to stop it getting blocked. Another example of such dramatic mineral build-up can be explored at the nearby Soda Dam.
We love the Jemez area, and we think you will too, so we’ve put together a list of our seven favorite soaks for you to explore. We also have a brilliant and fuller article of recommended hot spring soaks throughout New Mexico, and a more local selection of the best hot springs in or near the town of Truth or Consequences New Mexico. Read on for more on Jemez Springs…
1. Jemez Springs Hot Springs – 0.2 Miles
Jemez Springs (sourced by the Giggling Springs) boasts a delightful selection of desert-styled, easy-to-access hot mineral pools in lush, colorful gardens – a tranquil, feel-good oasis ideal for enjoying with your partner or friends.
What To Expect
At Jemez Springs Hot Springs, four therapeutic mineral water pools with built-in seating, and temperatures ranging between 98 and 105°F, greet you on a well-kept site. Note that this is a natural landscape built into/using the smooth rocks, and as such the areas between pools are not always completely level.
Laze in the sun on a sun lounger with a juice or smoothie, or cool off on the shaded pool-side seating and soak up the positive vibes, view of the mountains and sound of the Jemez River.
The natural, untreated, flow-through hot water boasts over 17 healing minerals, high in lithium and silica for a great mood and smooth skin. What’s even better – while containing beneficial sulfates, you won’t find that sulfur smell that puts so many people off. The pools are cleaned with ultraviolet light and an oxygen inversion system, and are drained and pressure-sprayed every night.
Don’t Miss…
- A juice delivered to you poolside
- A stay in their cabins or cottage
Good To Know
Jemez Hot Springs boasts two tastefully decorated cabins and one cottage, each with a queen bed, separate room or day bed for extra guests, a living area, AC, a private bathroom with shower, a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette, Wi-Fi, a personal deck area, and onsite parking. There are no TVs, as management likes to encourage quiet and relaxation. Book your stay on Airbnb via the Jemez Hot Springs website.
Each overnight guest gets two hours of complimentary soaking (between 10 am and 5 pm).
Walk-ins welcome. Limit of up to 30 guests.
No admittance for children under 14.
No pets allowed.
Soaking rates:1 Hour Property Pass/Soak: $25/person, 2-Hour Property Pass/Soak: $50/person
Towel and bathing suit rental available, as are clean changing rooms, and a shared bathroom and shower area.
Buy non-alcoholic drinks onsite or bring your own in non-glass containers.
Hungry? Highway 4 Cafe and Bakery down the road and the Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon just across the street both serve delicious food.
Open: Weekdays 10 am – 6 pm (Friday 7pm). The pools are CLOSED Tuesdays. Saturday – Sunday 9am – 7pm.
Clothing required.
2. Jemez Springs Bath House – 0.3 Miles
On one edge of the grassy village center in Jemez Springs, you’ll find the Historical Bath House, the first built here, its entrance housed in a quaint, rustic cabin that was constructed very near the 800 feet deep source in the 1880s. A locally-run non-profit, Jemez Springs Bath House offers hot and cold mineral baths and an inspiring selection of spa services.
What To Expect
Inside Jemez Springs Bath House, you’ll find eight individual stone bath tubs. Each tub allows you the chance to adjust the temperature to your own taste and even add natural sweet-smelling bath salts to the water for the ultimate relaxation – bring your own (check with the staff before using them) or buy some in the Gift Shop.
The 154-186°F degree mineral water is pumped from the source outside and combined with the mineral water which is held in two holding tanks overnight to cool – this means that your soak is 100% pure. The water here is high in carbonate, aluminum, calcium, chloride, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicate, sodium and sulfate.
Healing massages are offered by licensed therapists in private treatment rooms. Blanket or Herbal Wraps are available, and both include a 25 minute hot mineral soak as part of the treatment. Customers can choose between a 30 minute, 60 minute and 90 minute massage. Chair massage is also available.
Don’t Miss…
- Their spa services, including body scrubs, waxing, and other cosmetology treats – we recommend the Sweet Detox wrap with lavender, rosemary and uplifting peppermint!
- A browse of their gift shop – they sell clothes, natural bath and beauty products, books, jewelry and local souvenirs.
Good To Know
No under 14s.
No pets.
Towel rental is available.
Hungry? Head along to the cute and cozy Highway 4 Cafe and Bakery down the road for breakfast and the Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon for something more substantial for dinner.
Open: 10am – 5pm, closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Soaking rates: $18 for 25 minutes, $25 for 50 minutes.
Wrap rates: $35 – blanket wrap, $48 – herbal wrap. Both include a complimentary 25-minute mineral water soak.
Swedish and deep tissue massages are available from $50 – $150 depending on the length of time you require.
Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended. Call 575-829-3303 to make a reservation.
Clothing optional.
Address: 062 Jemez Springs Plaza, Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
Website: jemezspringsbathhouse.com
3. Cañon Del Rio Retreat And Spa – 1 Mile
Cañon Del Rio Retreat and Spa is a beautiful, fresh and at the same time cozy adobe-style inn and day spa set on three green acres in Jemez Springs.
What To Expect
There is an outdoor, seasonal, rectangular, 60 – 80°F mineral swimming pool surrounded by a large patio and an expansive green lawn, and a 100 – 104°F hot springs Jacuzzi that’s great for stargazing at night. Both the pool and hot tub have a view of Virgin Mesa and are treated with chlorine.
30-, 60-, and 90-minute massages are available in the two-room spa, alongside hydration wraps, “salt glows,” mud wraps, and hot-stone treatments.
Surround yourself with authentic indigenous art decor in the lounge, a relaxing seating area where you can serve yourself coffee and tea and where overnight guests get a light, self-serve breakfast.
Don’t Miss…
- A morning walk from the property along the Jemez River
- Pick a private spot in the courtyard or garden to meditate, read or have a picnic
Good To Know
Cañon Del Rio Retreat and Spa features six individually decorated adobe style rooms from which you can wake up to views of their cute Zen koi pond, the Jemez River, and the rugged mountains beyond the property. All the beautiful rooms have Saltillo tile floors, AC, a complete bathroom and Wi-Fi.
Walk-ins welcome – grab a one hour spa treatment and get complimentary day use of the sauna, hot-tub, cold pool, and riverside grounds.
Online check-in.
Massages are available Saturdays and Sundays only, 10am – 6pm.
Clothing required.
Address: 16445 Hwy. 4, Jemez Springs, New Mexico
4. Soda Dam Hot Springs – 1.7 Miles
This hot spring makes an unusual but worthy addition to our list, as you can stand on it but not soak in it- this hot spring is solidly covered! Jemez Valley’s 7000-year-old Soda Dam and waterfall is one of the area’s most primitive hot springs and is right by the highway.
What To Expect
The Soda Dam is a massive rock-and-cave formation which has seen calcium and carbonate building up, layer-by-layer, for over 7000 years. It sits on a natural spring source on the Jemez River, which was sadly damaged by highway developments, meaning it is going to degrade and disappear over time. The formation has become a natural dam some 300 feet long and 50 feet high, and makes a fun place to stop at on your way past.
Good To Know
Watch out for slippery rocks when climbing!
Address: 9219 NM-4, Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
5. Spence Hot Springs – 7.3 Miles
Spence Hot Springs is more a warm water spring than hot, but it is a superb addition to this list for the rock-pools’ stunning views over the pine-blanketed Santa Fe National Forest.
What To Expect
Spence Hot Springs is made up of two 2 feet deep, 81 – 95°F rock-edged and sandy-bottomed hot spring pools for up to 10 people each, perched atop a cliff that overlooks the evergreen depths of the Santa Fe National Forest. For those seeking solitude, grab a few minutes in the natural, small “sauna” grotto in the rocks.
It is an easy 0.6 mile ( 20 minute) hike from the parking area to get to these springs, along a multiple-option set of trails, across a bridge and uphill. Note- the uphill part can be muddy and slippery in winter, so take the right footwear!
Don’t Miss…
- Getting there early for a sunrise soak
Good To Know
This pool is known to contain amoeba which can cause meningitis. Keep your soak “shin to chin” and do not put your head into the water.
Expect some algae growing in/on the water. It’s a sign that all is natural, and it won’t harm you beyond making the surfaces slippery.
Head there early or on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
Beware of poison ivy on the trail.
Clothing is officially required, though you may come across nude bathers.
No camping allowed.
6. McCauley Hot Springs – 13.5 Miles
Like Spence Hot Springs, you’ll find the warm spring pools of McCauley in the depths of the beautiful Santa Fe National Forest. It is one of the most popular hot springs in the state.
What To Expect
Also like Spence, McCauley Hot Springs offers eager soakers two, 95°F primitive pools for around a dozen people which are surrounded by pines, and boast an unbeatable view along the canyon.
To get to McCauley Hot Springs, you’ll need to hike two moderately challenging miles each way.
Don’t Miss…
- Battleship Rock nearby
- Birdwatching
Good To Know
Get there early or on weekdays if you prefer a quiet soak.
Keep your head out of the water to avoid dangerous amoeba that like to live in warm hot springs.
Expect algae on the edges of the pool. This is both natural and harmless.
Expect (and avoid!) snakes.
Clothing is required, though you might well see nude soakers.
No overnight camping allowed.
7. San Antonio Hot Springs – 17.6 Miles
San Antonio Hot Springs is the hardest natural hot springs to get to on this list, but it is hotter than both Spence and McCauley and boasts equally stunning views while you soak away your aches and cares.
What To Expect
San Antonio Hot Springs offers four 85 – 105°F shallow rock-walled pools on a steep mountainside, at an elevation of 8,000 feet, overlooking a valley of coniferous trees.
The top pool is the biggest and hottest, being closest to where the underground spring flows to the surface. Three pipes there pump out a constant flow of hot minerals for you to enjoy – a waterfall that offers a bonus massage! The water then cascades down to the pools below, cooling as it goes. Minerals in the springwater here include calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride and silica – all brilliant for your health!
To get to San Antonio Hot Springs, you’ll need to drive 5 miles on a dirt road (high clearance only) to the trailhead. After that, it’s a one-mile uphill walk to the hot springs.
Don’t Miss…
- Wildlife spotting, particularly deer and elk
- Discovering the Santa Fe National Forest
Good To Know
In winter, the dirt road from FS-376 to the trailhead is cut off by snow, making the hike a full 10-mile round trip.
Head there early or on weekdays if you prefer a quiet soak.
Keep your soak “shin to chin”.
No camping allowed.
Clothing is officially required, but you might see nude bathers.
Watch out for poison ivy on the trail.
Where To Stay Near Jemez Springs For Campers
The Valles Caldera Preserve doesn’t have established campgrounds or backcountry camping permits, but the Santa Fe National Forest has some lovely camping areas that range in elevation, type (desert, forest), and style (primitive, developed). Here are some suggestions for you:
Jemez Falls Campground (May-November), surrounded by ponderosa pine and forest meadows and offering 52 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Paved roads provide access for trailers and RVs up to 40 feet. There are no RV hookups. Drinking water is available on-site, as are pit toilets. $10/vehicle/night.
San Antonio Campground, also in the pine forest at 7600 feet elevation, has 20 tent/RV campsites, six of which have hookups. You’ll also find drinking water and pit toilets here.
The Redondo Campground (May-October) is nestled in the midst of ponderosa pines and meadows with 62 campsites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. The site can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet long. There are no hookups or drinking water available here, but there are pit toilets. $10/vehicle/night. Reserve up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov or by calling toll-free 1-877-444-6777.
What Else Can I See And Do In The Area?
Visit the 14th century Jemez Historic Site
Walk on the Valles Caldera Volcanic Field (Valles Caldera is the oldest of three young supervolcanoes that exist in the United States!).
Drive or ride through the Valles Caldera Preserve’s backcountry (permit required).
Hike the Cerro La Jara and Banco Bonito trails.
Explore the Valles Caldera Cabin District.
Disappear for a while in the ponderosa forest History Grove.
In the winter, go snow-shoeing.
Disclaimer
While we at Traxplorio do our very best to give you the latest information about these hot springs sites, life happens, weather happens, and property owners happen. We always recommend you go to the official hot springs’ web page and/or the relevant state authority page to check conditions, times, and prices (where relevant) before you head out. Thanks for understanding, and enjoy your soak!
