# Gila Hot Springs, New Mexico

Gila Hot Springs in New Mexico. 151°F (66°C). Roadside. Grant County.

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

## Can you soak at Gila Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 151°F, hot enough to burn skin. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 151°F (66°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.5 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 421 mg/L |
| Elevation | 5,800 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 160 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Grant County |
| Nearest town | Arenas Valley |
| Coordinates | 33.19900, -108.20900 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Forks Campground, 1.1 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 151°F, the source water at Gila 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 Gila Hot Springs

Scalding is the word for Gila Hot Springs, well past what a hand can take and nowhere near something you would sit in. Grant County, New Mexico. Arenas Valley is the nearest town listed, roughly thirty miles. Nobody has recorded who owns the ground or whether the public may use it, so do not assume the name means a soak. A photo exists. USGS has tracked the site since at least the mid seventies.

The road runs within a stone's throw, call it fifty paces, and that is the whole of the walk. Elevation is middling for this part of New Mexico, foothill country well short of the high peaks. Winters drop enough snow to matter some years, and the rainfall tally is lean. Average temperatures run mild across the year. Land unit and designation go unfilled, and the road carries no name here.

The water is hot enough to scald, so keep skin away from the source and test any outflow before trusting it. Forks Campground is about a mile away and is the camp on file. December and the two months after it carry the better-window flag. Chemistry and temperature alike come from a survey taken in 1974, and nobody has updated the access status since, so confirm ownership before you go.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1974-12-05 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 |
| Total dissolved solids | 421 mg/L |
| Calcium | 12 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0 mg/L |
| Sodium | 120 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 45 mg/L |
| Chloride | 100 mg/L |
| Iron | 0 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Silver City](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/new-mexico/silver-city), 23 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in New Mexico](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico)
- [Unnamed thermal spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/unnamed-spring-grant-county-4): 149°F source, pH 7.9, Short Walk, near Arenas Valley, Grant County
- [Lyons Hunting Lodge Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/lyons-hunting-lodge-hot-springs): 126°F source, pH 8.1, Roadside, near Arenas Valley, Grant County
- [Spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/spring-grant-county-2): 111°F source, pH 8.1, Short Walk, near Arenas Valley, Grant County
- [Spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/spring-grant-county-1): 149°F source, pH 7.8, TDS 505 mg/L, Short Walk, near Arenas Valley, Grant County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/unnamed-spring-grant-county-3): 94°F source, pH 7.8, TDS 505 mg/L, Hike, near Arenas Valley, Grant County
- [Spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/spring-grant-county-3): 93°F source, pH 7.8, TDS 505 mg/L, Hike, near Arenas Valley, Grant County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Gila Hot Springs?**
Gila Hot Springs has a water temperature of 151°F (66°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Gila Hot Springs located?**
Gila Hot Springs is located in Grant County, New Mexico at 5,800 feet elevation, near Arenas Valley. Coordinates: 33.1990°N, 108.2090°W.

**How do I get to Gila Hot Springs?**
Gila Hot Springs has Roadside road access (160 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Gila Hot Springs?**
Yes, Forks Campground is located nearby (1.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Gila Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.5 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 421 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Gila Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Gila Hot Springs reaches 151°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