Spence Hot Spring
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Spence Hot Spring is a primitive hot spring listed near Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Reported soak temperature: 95°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Popular free USFS (Santa Fe NF, Jemez Ranger District) travertine pools above Hwy 4 ~7 mi north of Jemez Springs — a 0.7 mi uphill hike from a tiny paved pullout (~7 cars) to three pools plus a cave pool (~84-100F), day-use only, open year-round sunrise-to-sunset; REOPENED July 7, 2026 after a brief closure for the 712-acre McCauley Springs Fire.
Checked July 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in the Jemez Valley for its bathhouses and forest springs.
Jemez Springs is about 7 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 National Forest — Spence Hot Spring Trailhead page.
- 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 95°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — free day use on Santa Fe National Forest; confirm no new alerts with Jemez Ranger District 575-829-3535.
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings or shoulder seasons; weekends the tiny lot fills by mid-morning. Avoid during/after heavy monsoon rain (flash-flood risk from the 2026 burn scar).
- Clothing reality: Clothing REQUIRED by Forest Service rule at this heavily-visited site, though the rule is reportedly rarely enforced — expect a mix; swimwear is the safe default given families and crowds.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible — a moderately steep 0.7 mi rocky trail with ~145 ft of gain.
- REOPENED July 7, 2026 after the McCauley Springs Fire (started June 24, 712 acres, 100% contained July 14) — but several neighbors remain CLOSED until further notice: Battleship Rock, Jemez Falls Campground/Trailhead/Picnic Area, San Diego Overlook, and the East Fork Trail segment from Battleship Rock to Hwy 4
- Post-fire flash-flood risk: BAER team warns heavy monsoon rain can send runoff/debris out of the burn scar toward Hwy 4 and downstream sites — check weather before visiting and leave if storms build
- DAY USE ONLY — sunrise to sunset; no overnight camping at the springs; small paved lot holds only ~7 vehicles and fills by ~10am on weekends
- 0.7-mile uphill hike (~145 ft gain) from the Hwy 4 pullout; the spring itself is unsigned — look for the trail from the parking area ~5 mi north of the Jemez Ranger District office
- Free, no permit; no facilities or trash service — pack everything out
- Pools are travertine and the vent areas are fragile — stay on the stone trail; water is warm (~84-100F), not hot
- Coordinate note: correct location is GNIS/USFS 35.8494,-106.6292 (Jemez Springs quad, ~2 mi SSE of La Cueva) — some directories publish wrong coordinates ~7 mi south
- Hazard: Post-wildfire flash flooding and debris flows (McCauley Springs Fire burn scar, June 2026)
- Hazard: Burned stump holes and hazard trees in the fire area
- Hazard: Fragile/collapsible travertine around source vents
- Hazard: Crowded weekends and limited parking
About this spring
Group of small geothermal pools terraced on a hillside above the Jemez River in Santa Fe National Forest, near Soda Dam. Main spring feeds a sandy-bottomed pool (~95°F per USFS), a cave pool, and lower terraces. IMPORTANT: USFS warns Naegleria fowleri (a potentially fatal amoeba) has been found in the water — do not submerge your head. Naegleria fowleri documented — do NOT let water enter your nose. Day use only; no facilities.
Spence Hot Spring is a group of small geothermal pools terraced on a hillside above the Jemez River in Santa Fe National Forest, near Soda Dam about seven miles north of Jemez Springs. A short uphill trail from a tiny paved pullout on NM-4 leads to three sandy-bottomed pools (roughly 84–100°F) plus a cave pool. Day use only, free, with no facilities, and the pullout holds only about seven cars.
One warning overrides everything else here: the USFS reports that Naegleria fowleri — a potentially fatal amoeba — has been found in the water. Never submerge your head or let water enter your nose. The site reopened July 7, 2026 after the McCauley Springs Fire, though several neighboring recreation sites remained closed; avoid visiting during or after heavy monsoon rain given flash-flood risk in the burn area.
Directions & trailhead access
Small unmarked paved lot on the east side of NM-4 ~7 mi north of Jemez Springs; short trail down into the canyon, across a footbridge, and up to the pools.
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 | 95°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS Santa Fe National Forest — Spence Hot Spring Trailhead page |
Spence Hot Spring FAQ
Is Spence Hot Spring open right now?
Popular free USFS (Santa Fe NF, Jemez Ranger District) travertine pools above Hwy 4 ~7 mi north of Jemez Springs — a 0.7 mi uphill hike from a tiny paved pullout (~7 cars) to three pools plus a cave pool (~84-100F), day-use only, open year-round sunrise-to-sunset; REOPENED July 7, 2026 after a brief closure for the 712-acre McCauley Springs Fire. (Status verified against an official source, last checked July 2026.)
Is Spence Hot Spring free?
Spence Hot Spring 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 Spence Hot Spring?
Spence Hot Spring has a reported soak temperature of 95°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Spence Hot Spring clothing optional?
Spence Hot Spring is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Spence Hot Spring?
Spence Hot Spring 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 7 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 National Forest — Spence Hot Spring Trailhead page — official · 2025-02
- USFS Santa Fe NF news release — Temporary closure order extended for McCauley Springs Fire area (Spence reopened July 7, 2026) — official · 2026-07
- NM Fire Info — McCauley Springs Fire reaches 100% containment — official · 2026-07
- Albuquerque Journal — Jemez closures extended due to wildfire (Spence reopened) — news · 2026-07
- USGS GNIS via TopoQuest — Spence Hot Spring coordinates — official · 2026
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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