Chinati Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Chinati Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Ruidosa, Texas. Reported soak temperature: 108°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Remote Chihuahuan Desert retreat 7 mi down an unpaved road north of Ruidosa near the Rio Grande (historic property once owned by Donald Judd) — OVERNIGHT RESERVATION ONLY: no day use, no walk-ins, no camping; guests without paid reservations are turned away. Cabins $150-230/night (some with private soaking tubs; communal outdoor pool, ~113F source), whole-property buyout $1,400/night.
Checked August 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 4 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Chinati Hot Springs — official Accommodations page (cabin rates $150-230, 'By Reservation Only. We do not do day-passes. No Walk-Ins.').
- Cost: Reported $150 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 108°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 — prepaid cabin reservation only. Phone (432) 229-4165; booking confirmations come under 'LODGIFY'.
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: October-April (desert heat is brutal June-Aug); book far ahead for holidays and March — Big Bend high season.
- Clothing reality: Swimsuits required in the communal pool area; private cabin tubs are your own space. Property is small and shared — no open nudity.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: none — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Operator states cabins are not handicap accessible; unpaved roads and rustic grounds.
- NO day passes, NO walk-ins, NO camping — overnight paid reservation only; unannounced visitors turned away
- 7 miles of unpaved desert road north of Ruidosa — passable for most cars in dry weather but rough; DO NOT trust GPS blindly (operator explicitly disclaims 'you use google or GPS and get lost')
- No WiFi, no cell service, no store — general store is CLOSED; bring ALL food, drinks, charcoal and supplies (nearest store is Presidio, ~1 hr)
- Check-in 2pm-9pm only (call if later); checkout 11am sharp, no late checkout
- Deposit 50% to hold booking; cancel >14 days for refund, inside 14 days forfeits entire stay
- Holiday (Nov 15-Jan 15) and spring-break (Mar 1-31) bookings: 100% deposit, ZERO refund for cancellation
- Whole-property bookings: 100% due at booking, 90-day cancellation window
- Liability waiver required from all guests (downloadable before arrival)
- Cabins are NOT handicap accessible (operator's own statement)
- Pets: leashed always, $20/pet at check-in, banned from tubs and cold pool, $100 damage/cleaning fee for bad behavior or bed-hair
- Remote US-Mexico border region — Border Patrol presence; carry ID
- Summer special June 1-Aug 15: 25% off stays of 2+ nights
- Hazard: Remote unpaved access road — flats/breakdowns far from services
- Hazard: 113F source water — soak only in designated tubs/pool
- Hazard: Desert isolation: no cell, no store, ~1 hr to Presidio
- Hazard: Summer heat 110F+
- Hazard: Flash floods can make the dirt road impassable
About this spring
Remote 640-acre desert oasis resort north of Ruidosa along the Rio Grande corridor (once owned by artist Donald Judd) — a 113°F artesian source feeds the communal outdoor pool and private cabin tubs; community kitchen, no Wi-Fi/cell. Overnight guests only. Fee: Cabins $150-230/night — overnight guests only, NO day passes. No day use. Bring all food/supplies — nearest store ~1 hr. No cell service.
Chinati Hot Springs, also known as Ruidosa Hot Springs and Kingston Hot Springs, are volcanic thermal springs and historical oasis located north of Ruidosa, Texas, in the Big Bend region of the Chihuahuan Desert, near the town of Presidio.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Chinati Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
FM-170 to Ruidosa (37 mi NW of Presidio), then 7 mi gravel Hot Springs Rd to the dead end. Do NOT trust GPS.
Texas geothermal context
Texas has very few true hot springs — nearly all of them sit in the Chihuahuan Desert around Big Bend and the Chinati Mountains, where thermal water rises along faults through limestone. Most are on private ranchland or state park property with controlled access. Extreme summer heat makes winter the only comfortable window for most visitors.
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 | 108°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 108°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $150 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Chinati Hot Springs — official Accommodations page (cabin rates $150-230, 'By Reservation Only. We do not do day-passes. No Walk-Ins.') |
Chinati Hot Springs FAQ
Is Chinati Hot Springs open right now?
Remote Chihuahuan Desert retreat 7 mi down an unpaved road north of Ruidosa near the Rio Grande (historic property once owned by Donald Judd) — OVERNIGHT RESERVATION ONLY: no day use, no walk-ins, no camping; guests without paid reservations are turned away. Cabins $150-230/night (some with private soaking tubs; communal outdoor pool, ~113F source), whole-property buyout $1,400/night. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked August 2026.)
Is Chinati Hot Springs free?
Chinati Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Ruidosa. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Chinati Hot Springs?
Chinati Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 108°F and a historical source temperature of 108°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Chinati Hot Springs clothing optional?
Chinati Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Chinati Hot Springs?
Chinati Hot Springs is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Overnight options and spring admission
Book rooms, cabins or soaking times directly with the operator.
Check overnight options with the operatorSources & references
- Chinati Hot Springs — official Accommodations page (cabin rates $150-230, 'By Reservation Only. We do not do day-passes. No Walk-Ins.') — operator · 2026-09
- Chinati Hot Springs — official Policies page (deposits, pets, check-in window, waiver, no camping) — operator · 2026-09
- Chinati Hot Springs — official homepage (no WiFi/cell, store closed, Ruidosa TX) — operator · 2026-09
- CATravelTimes — Chinati Hot Springs visitor guide (113F source, 7-mi unpaved road) — community · 2026-08
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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