Spence Hot Spring
- Free
- 95°F
- 1 hr 41 min from Albuquerque
- Roadside
A popular warm spring on a hillside above the Jemez River, reached by a short trail from a small paved lot on NM 4 about 7 miles north of Jemez Springs. The Forest Service says the spring has cooled over the years to roughly body temperature (listed at 95°F), and its small pool holds only a few people. It is day use only, nudity is cited under state law, and glass, camping and fires are banned.
- Price
- Free
- Water
- 95°F
- Nearest town
- Jemez Springs
- From Albuquerque
- 1 hr 41 min
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
Rules
| Swimwear |
|
|---|---|
| Dogs | Yes |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: ages, camping nearby.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
201 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 7.3
- Temp at source
- 104°F
- Lithium
- 0.69 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 0.75 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.07 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “19n.03e.28.143 Spence Sp”, sampled 1947–1973 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
What's here
- Santa Fe National Forest
- day use only
- small pool, limited capacity
- no glass, camping or campfires
- poison ivy along trail
Getting there
- From Albuquerque1 hr 41 min67 mi
- From Los Alamos54 min31 mi
- From Albuquerque (ABQ)1 hr 47 min70 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 7,327 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Trail | Short trail from the lot down to the Jemez River and up the other side to the spring |
| Parking |
|
Things to do near Jemez Springs
Jemez Historic Site
State historic site in Jemez Springs with the ruins of Giusewa Pueblo and San Jose de los Jemez mission.
Valles Caldera National Preserve
NPS preserve around a volcanic caldera up NM 4 from Jemez Springs; hiking and wildlife viewing.
Campgrounds
Trailheads
- Banco Bonito Trailhead1 mi
- Alamo Canyon Trailhead5.1 mi
- Las Conchas5.9 mi
- Valle Jaramillo Trailhead8.8 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
McCauley Warm Springs
Two large warm pools at about 99°F in a forest meadow between Battleship Rock and Jemez Falls, reached on East Fork Trail #137. State tourism puts the hike at about 2 miles from the Battleship Rock picnic area. The village tourism site says these public-land springs are day use only, with no camping, fires or facilities.
Jemez Hot Springs
Formerly Giggling Springs, this walk-in soaking spot in the village has four outdoor mineral pools kept at 98-105°F beside the Jemez River. Soaks are sold by the hour on a first-come basis, swimsuits are required, and visitors must be 14 or older. The pools use UV light instead of chemicals and are drained and cleaned every night.
Jemez Springs Bath House
A historic bathhouse on the plaza owned and run as a non-profit by the Village of Jemez Springs, with eight oversized private cement tubs and four massage rooms. Tubs fill with 100% spring water, mixed from hot water and water cooled overnight in tanks so bathers can set their own temperature. Tubs are individual, swimsuits aren't needed, and children under 14 are not allowed.
McCauley Warm Springs: 2 mi · Jemez Hot Springs: 6 mi · Jemez Springs Bath House: 6 mi
Sources (6)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.