Lyons Hunting Lodge Hot Springs
Lyons Hunting Lodge Hot Springs flows at 126 degrees Fahrenheit in Grant County, New Mexico, with USGS-confirmed temperature of 52 degrees Celsius. At 5,800 feet elevation along East Fork Road, the spring sits 93 meters from the road. Water is mildly alkaline at pH 8.1 with low sulfate (22 mg/L) and moderate chloride (59 mg/L).
The spring emerges in the forested canyon country of the upper Gila River watershed, where the East Fork of the Gila River cuts through volcanic terrain. At 5,800 feet, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests cover the surrounding mountains, with cottonwoods and willows lining the river. Annual precipitation of 15.3 inches and 18.1 inches of snow make this one of the wetter zones in southwestern New Mexico. The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument lies roughly 15 miles to the north.
The name references a hunting lodge once operated in this remote stretch of the Gila country, where big game hunting has drawn sportsmen since the territorial period. The Gila Wilderness, designated in 1924 as the world's first official wilderness area through Aldo Leopold's advocacy, encompasses much of the surrounding terrain. The hot spring has been used informally by hikers and hunters for decades.
Forks Campground sits just 2.6 km away along the West Fork of the Gila River, with free first-come, first-served sites (overnight camping in upper section only; lower section is day-use). The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is 15 miles north. NM Highway 15 to this area is winding and slow. Water temperature of 126 degrees requires caution; test before entering.
Is Lyons Hunting Lodge Hot Springs worth visiting?
Best for
- Hot spring soaking
- Easy day trips
- Overnight camping trips
The water at Lyons Hunting Lodge Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 8.1).
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This campground features beautiful cliffs along the West Fork of the Gila River.This campground is a great place to stop on the way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (15 miles north). Overnight camping is allowed in the upper portion of Forks; however, the lower portion of the Forks Recreation Site along the West Fork of the Gila River is day use only.