# Clifton Hot Springs, Arizona

Clifton Hot Springs in Arizona. 102°F (39°C). Roadside. Greenlee County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/clifton-hot-springs
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Clifton Hot Springs?

The water leaves the ground at 102°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. You can drive right up to it. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 102°F (39°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Total dissolved solids | 13,900 mg/L |
| Elevation | 3,500 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 4 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Greenlee County |
| Nearest town | Clifton |
| Coordinates | 33.05500, -109.29500 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Owl Creek Campground, 6.2 mi |

## About Clifton Hot Springs

Clifton Hot Springs is a hot spring in Greenlee County, Arizona, a couple of miles outside Clifton, where the water measures 102, right in the soaking range. The water itself is the oddity: a decades-old sample put dissolved solids near 14,000 milligrams per liter, with iron on the mineral list. Neither access nor ownership is recorded. A photograph is on file.

the road distance on record says four feet, which means the road runs past the spring. Mid-elevation country, mild through the year, dry, with hardly any snow. Owl Creek Campground is about six miles away, the closest listed. No owner or unit shows in the file.

Winter is the recommended window. The temperature is good for a soak, but nobody has recorded an owner or an access status, so ask in Clifton first. The mineral load is very high and the sample is decades old. No fee is on record. Owl Creek Campground, a few miles out, is the listed place to camp.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1978-06-22 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Total dissolved solids | 13,900 mg/L |
| Calcium | 880 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 22 mg/L |
| Sodium | 3,300 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 60 mg/L |
| Chloride | 7,000 mg/L |
| Iron | 40 µg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Tied for most minerals of Arizona's 9 springs with a dissolved minerals reading: 13,900 mg/L
- Tied for hardest water of Arizona's 22 springs with calcium and magnesium readings: 2,288 mg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Safford](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/arizona/safford), 28 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Arizona](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona)
- [Seep, AZ](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/seep-1): 95°F source, TDS 13,900 mg/L, Roadside, near Clifton, Greenlee County, not a soaking spring
- [Hot Spring, AZ](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/hot-spring-greenlee-county): 138°F source, TDS 13,900 mg/L, Short Walk, near Clifton, Greenlee County
- [Gillard Hot Springs, AZ](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/gillard-hot-springs): 180°F source, Short Walk, near Clifton, Greenlee County, primitive pools, free
- [Eagle Creek Hot Springs, AZ](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/eagle-creek-hot-springs): 97°F source, Short Walk, near Morenci, Greenlee County, primitive pools, pools 97°F, free
- [Warm Spring, AZ](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/warm-spring-greenlee-county): 73°F source, Short Walk, near Morenci, Greenlee County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/unnamed-spring-greenlee-county): 69°F source, TDS 2,290 mg/L, Roadside, near Clifton, Greenlee County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Clifton Hot Springs?**
Clifton Hot Springs has a water temperature of 102°F (39°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Clifton Hot Springs located?**
Clifton Hot Springs is located in Greenlee County, Arizona at 3,500 feet elevation, near Clifton. Coordinates: 33.0550°N, 109.2950°W.

**How do I get to Clifton Hot Springs?**
Clifton Hot Springs has Roadside road access (4 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Clifton Hot Springs?**
Yes, Owl Creek Campground is located nearby (6.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Clifton Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. Total dissolved solids measure 13,900 mg/L.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals