Upper Frisco Hot Springs
- Free
- Roadside
A spring on the upper San Francisco River in the Gila National Forest, reached from the Forest Service's Upper Frisco Hot Springs trailhead on Frisco Divide Trail #124. The trailhead is at the end of Forest Road 35, 12.3 miles off US 180 between Reserve and Luna. The Forest Service does not publish the hike distance or pool details.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Reserve
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
Rules
| Dogs | Yes |
|---|
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, 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
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
185 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–chloride (salty, brine-like water)
- pH
- 9.7
- Temp at source
- 98°F
- Fluoride
- 1 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.04 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “05s.19w.35.132 Frisco Hot Springs”, sampled 1958 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
- Gila National Forest
- Frisco Divide Trail #124
- no motorized vehicles or e-bikes on trail
Getting there
| Elevation | 6,504 ft |
|---|---|
| Road | US 180 between Reserve and Luna, mileposts 14-15: north on FR 35 (Highland Rd) 12.3 mi to the road's end |
| Trail |
|
| Parking |
|
Things to do near Reserve
Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary
Gila NF campground off US 180 north of Alma, certified for dark night skies.
Campgrounds
- Apache Creek Campground9.9 mi
- Head of the Ditch Campground11 mi
- Cottonwood Campground15.6 mi
- Pueblo Park Campground18.8 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
San Francisco Hot Springs
A few undeveloped pools beside the San Francisco River about 2 miles southwest of Pleasanton, reached by Trail #250 from a signed Forest Service trailhead off US 180. The trailhead is day use (dawn to dusk) with no fee. State tourism notes a second trailhead with a short, scenic hike to another soaking spot.
Jordan Hot Springs
A warm spring pool about 20 feet across and 3 feet deep at roughly 90-94°F, deep in the Gila Wilderness. It is about 7 miles one way from the TJ Corral trailhead via Little Bear Canyon, or 8.5 miles up the Middle Fork, with many river crossings either way. The NPS recommends it as an overnight trip and notes it is crowded at busy times such as spring break.
Lightfeather Hot Springs
A hot spring that pulses from the base of a hill into the Middle Fork of the Gila, about three-quarters of a mile up Trail 157 from the Gila Visitor Center. The source is scalding, about 130-140°F according to the NPS, so visitors soak in rock-lined pools in the river where the hot water mixes with river water. The short walk includes several river crossings.
San Francisco Hot Springs: 41 mi · Jordan Hot Springs: 48 mi · Lightfeather Hot Springs: 53 mi
Sources (4)
· 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.