San Antonio Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
San Antonio Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Free primitive terraced pools on a steep hillside in Santa Fe National Forest ~12 mi north of Jemez Springs — 0.7-mi uphill trail from the FR-376 trailhead, but FR-376 is closed to motorized vehicles roughly Mar-Jul 1 (wildlife closure) plus winter storms, turning the approach into a ~5-mi hike/bike along the road.
Checked May 2025 · verified against an official source · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in the Jemez Valley for its bathhouses and forest springs.
Jemez Springs is about 12 mi from the spring (straight line).
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 USFS Santa Fe NF — San Antonio Hot Springs page (0.7-mi trail, FR-376 access, pool description).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — free Santa Fe National Forest land. Check Jemez Ranger District (575-829-3535) or the SFNF MVUM for current road status.
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings; July-October when FR-376 is drivable. Winter soaks are possible but mean a long snow-hike in — check SFNF road status first.
- Clothing reality: Official: disputed — one guide cites a Forest Service clothing-required rule; most sources describe long-customary clothing-optional use with no enforcement signage confirmed. Customary: mixed nude/suited. Legal: nudity tolerated at traditional springs but verify posted orders on site.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — stream crossing then a steep ~0.7-mi unmaintained hillside trail; pools are rock-lined on a slope.
- FR-376 motorized closure March 3 - July 1 (annual wildlife closure per 2025 order) — gate locked, adds a ~5-mile walk/bike-in each way on the road
- Even when open, FR-376 is rocky, rarely graded — high-clearance/4x4 recommended
- Reach FR-376 from the NORTH off NM-126 (6 mi past La Cueva); southbound FR-376 is blocked at the Gilman Tunnels rock-stabilization closure
- Day-use only — camping at or near the pools prohibited; dispersed camping further along FR-376 OK
- Source ~129-130F — upper pools 105-110F; test before entering and never enter water directly below the source
- Trail crosses San Antonio Creek at the trailhead, then climbs a steep, shadeless hillside — bring water and sun protection
- Very popular Albuquerque-area weekend spot — arrive early; some visitors report nudity
- Hazard: Scalding source ~129F above the pools
- Hazard: Steep exposed trail — heat, no shade, loose rock
- Hazard: San Antonio Creek crossing at trailhead can run high
- Hazard: 5-mile road walk-in required during seasonal closure; area has burn-scar flash-flood risk in monsoon season
About this spring
Primitive geothermal spring in Santa Fe National Forest on a steep hillside above San Antonio Creek, ~12 miles north of Jemez Springs. Several small rock-lined pools cascade at different temperatures (~95-110°F; source ~129°F) with valley views. No facilities; day use only. FR-376 gate often closed in winter/spring — becomes a 10+ mile round trip. Source water scalding. No facilities.
San Antonio Hot Springs — historically also called Murray Spring — is a cluster of geothermal vents in Santa Fe National Forest, about 12 miles north of Jemez Springs at 8,400 feet elevation. Water emerges at roughly 129°F from fractures in rhyolite porphyry and discharges about 150 gallons per minute, feeding several primitive rock-lined pools that step down a steep hillside above San Antonio Creek; each successive pool runs cooler, the uppermost hovering near 105°F. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the rock pools in the 1930s, when the springs were bolstered to sustain a regular flow.
The site is day-use only and reached by a steep 0.7-mile hike after a rough five-mile drive up Forest Road 376. A seasonal gate closure — typically January through June — turns the visit into a 10-plus-mile round trip on foot or skis from NM-126.
Directions & trailhead access
From Jemez Springs, NM-4 north ~6 mi to NM-126, west ~3 mi to FR-376, then ~5 rough miles (high-clearance/4WD recommended) to a small parking area; hike ~0.7 mi uphill. When the FR-376 gate is closed (roughly Jan-Jun), hike the full road from NM-126.
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 primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 129°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS Santa Fe NF — San Antonio Hot Springs page (0.7-mi trail, FR-376 access, pool description) |
San Antonio Hot Springs FAQ
Is San Antonio Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive terraced pools on a steep hillside in Santa Fe National Forest ~12 mi north of Jemez Springs — 0.7-mi uphill trail from the FR-376 trailhead, but FR-376 is closed to motorized vehicles roughly Mar-Jul 1 (wildlife closure) plus winter storms, turning the approach into a ~5-mi hike/bike along the road. (Status verified against an official source, last checked May 2025.)
Is San Antonio Hot Springs free?
San Antonio Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Sandoval County, New Mexico. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is San Antonio Hot Springs?
San Antonio Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 129°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is San Antonio Hot Springs clothing optional?
San Antonio Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access San Antonio Hot Springs?
San Antonio Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager 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 about 12 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- USFS Santa Fe NF — San Antonio Hot Springs page (0.7-mi trail, FR-376 access, pool description) — official · 2025
- USFS Santa Fe NF press release — Jemez Ranger District seasonal road update (FR-376 motorized closure Mar 3-Jul 1, 2025; Gilman Tunnels closure) — official · 2025-04
- Albuquerque Journal — Jemez camping/road report (FR-376 status, Gilman Tunnels rock slide, San Antonio CG reopening) — news · 2025-05
- AllTrails — San Antonio Hot Springs (735 reviews; 4x4 recommended, dogs leashed, crowds, nudity reports) — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — San Antonio Hot Springs (temps 95-110F, day-use rule, driving directions) — community · 2025
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
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