# Gillard Hot Springs, Arizona

Gillard Hot Springs in Arizona. 180°F (82°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Greenlee County.

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

## Can you soak at Gillard Hot Springs?

Yes. Gillard Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 180°F (82°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| Elevation | 3,330 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.1 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Safford Field Office, Bureau of Land Management |
| County | Greenlee County |
| Nearest town | Clifton |
| Coordinates | 32.97100, -109.35000 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Owl Creek Campground, 2.5 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Getting there | side road off Black Hills Byway, then about 0.25 mi hike downhill; old bridge washed out |
| Operator | Bureau of Land Management Safford |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/hot-springs-tour/hot-springs.php, https://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=22001

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 180°F, the source water at Gillard Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Gillard Hot Springs

Gillard Hot Springs comes out of the ground at 180 degrees, hot enough to scald skin on contact and close to a simmer. It is on BLM land under the Safford Field Office, about five miles from Clifton in Greenlee County, with access listed as open. Someone has photographed it. Nobody should think of this as a soaking spring at the source; the water has to cool a long way first.

The closest road is unnamed on file and passes about five hundred feet away, so the walk is short. Public land, Bureau of Land Management. The elevation is moderate, and the climate dry, with roughly a foot of rain a year and snow as a light dusting most years. Owl Creek Campground is close by this record's standards, about two and a half miles away.

Winter is on file as the season, December through February. The approach is a short walk. Owl Creek Campground is near enough to camp and walk over. The water is scalding. At 180 degrees it will burn instantly, so stay out of the source and any channel close to it, and test anything downstream before touching. Fees: nothing listed. Access is open.

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Safford](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/arizona/safford), 22 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Arizona](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona)
- [Clifton Hot Springs, AZ](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/clifton-hot-springs): 102°F source, TDS 13,900 mg/L, Roadside, near Clifton, Greenlee County
- [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
- [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
- [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 Gillard Hot Springs?**
Gillard Hot Springs has a water temperature of 180°F (82°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Gillard Hot Springs located?**
Gillard Hot Springs is located in Greenlee County, Arizona at 3,330 feet elevation, near Clifton. Coordinates: 32.9710°N, 109.3500°W.

**How do I get to Gillard Hot Springs?**
Gillard Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).

**Is Gillard Hot Springs free to visit?**
Gillard Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

**Can I camp near Gillard Hot Springs?**
Yes, Owl Creek Campground is located nearby (2.5 miles away).

**Is it safe to soak at Gillard Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Gillard Hot Springs reaches 180°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

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