Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) is a resort hot spring listed near Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Reported soak temperature: 101°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Small commercial springs (formerly Giggling Springs, renovated 2016) beside the Jemez River in the village of Jemez Springs on Hwy 4: four natural-stone pools at 98-105°F, WALK-INS ONLY ($25/hr or $50/2hr, max 35 people), ages 14+, closed Tuesdays; current hours Mon/Wed/Thu 10-5, Fri/Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in the Jemez Valley for its bathhouses and forest springs.
Jemez Springs is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Jemez Hot Springs — Rates & Hours (official).
- Cost: Reported $25 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 101°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: none — commercial admission
- Best time to go: Weekday (Mon/Wed/Thu) mornings — 35-person cap means weekend afternoons queue; arrive at opening or be prepared to buy a later slot.
- Clothing reality: Official: swimsuits REQUIRED in all pools at all times (rentals available if forgotten). Customary reality: suited soaking. Not clothing optional.
- Kids: Minimum age 14.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Small ground-level facility next to Hwy 4 parking; natural stone pools with built-in seating but no published lift — call ahead.
- WALK-INS ONLY — no individual reservations; if at the 35-person cap you can buy the next available time slot
- CLOSED TUESDAYS; in January also closed Wednesdays (per third-party); closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
- Last admission 1 hour 15 minutes before close; overstays incur extra charges
- Ages 14+ only — no young children
- NO sunscreen, oils or lotions before soaking (face sunscreen OK) to keep untreated water pristine
- No alcohol on property; no smoking/vaping near pools (designated area at upper Hwy 4 parking lot); no pets on property
- Pools are unchlorinated — disinfected by UV, ionizers, oxygen inversion; flow-through
- Bring water bottle + towel; towel/robe rentals available for fee
- Groups of 10+ can book private before-hours sessions by phone (575-829-9175)
- Not to be confused with free primitive springs up the road (Spence, McCauley/Soda Dam) — this is the paid facility in the village
- Hazard: Source water is 142°F — pools are cooled to 98-105°F but temps vary
- Hazard: Hwy 4 through San Diego Canyon can ice over in winter; wildfire/flood closures have hit the Jemez corridor in past years
About this spring
Four outdoor mineral pools beside the Jemez River beneath San Diego Canyon — 142°F source water from beneath the Valles Caldera, chlorine-free and flow-through. Renamed from Giggling Springs after a 2016 renovation. Fee: $25/1-hr, $50/2-hr pass; closed Tuesdays. Fee: $25/1-hr or $50/2-hr pass; walk-in only. Ages 14+. Limited capacity — arrive early on weekends. Closed Tuesdays.
The four outdoor pools at Jemez Hot Springs are fed by geothermal water that, per the resort, originates beneath the Valles Caldera about 17 miles up the mountain — ancient sea water trapped on the mountain and infused with minerals over eons, yielding 'sweet' water with no sulfur odor. The pools are maintained at 98-105°F with built-in seating, and the operation is walk-in only, capped at 35 soakers ages 14 and up.
The property carries earlier layers of the village's resort history: a ramshackle riverside building on the bank is the bathhouse built by merchant Moses Abousleman, tree-ring dated to 1895-96 and destroyed in the 1941 flood. Four rental cabins were later moved onto the property, remodeled in 1996 as the upscale 'Giggling Star,' and the site was converted to a soaking spa in 2004 — now operating as Jemez Hot Springs, formerly Giggling Hot Springs.
Directions & trailhead access
040 Abousleman Loop, Jemez Springs, NM on Hwy 4 ~60 mi NW of Albuquerque.
New Mexico geothermal context
New Mexico's springs follow the Rio Grande rift — the deep fault system that lets magma-heated groundwater rise along the river corridor from Colorado to Texas. The Jemez Mountains and Gila Wilderness hold most of the natural pools; monsoon season (July–September) brings violent afternoon storms and flash-flood risk to canyon sites.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
October – April (Fall, Winter & Spring)Desert thermal zones experience high summer ambient heat. The cooler months from late autumn to early spring offer the most refreshing ambient conditions for open-air soaking.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 101°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 101°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $25 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Jemez Hot Springs — Rates & Hours (official) |
Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) FAQ
Is Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) open right now?
Small commercial springs (formerly Giggling Springs, renovated 2016) beside the Jemez River in the village of Jemez Springs on Hwy 4: four natural-stone pools at 98-105°F, WALK-INS ONLY ($25/hr or $50/2hr, max 35 people), ages 14+, closed Tuesdays; current hours Mon/Wed/Thu 10-5, Fri/Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) free?
Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) is listed with reported fees near Jemez Springs. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs)?
Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) has a reported soak temperature of 101°F and a historical source temperature of 101°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) clothing optional?
Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs)?
Jemez Hot Springs (formerly Giggling Springs) is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Jemez Springs
Stay in the Jemez Valley for its bathhouses and forest springs. Forest-road closures and pool admission are separate checks.
Jemez Springs is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Jemez Hot Springs — Rates & Hours (official) — operator · 2026-09
- Jemez Hot Springs — home page (official) — operator · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Guides — Jemez Hot Springs (updated 2026-04-17) — community · 2026-04
- SoakDestinations Jemez guide — community · 2026
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.