# Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring), New Mexico

Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring) in New Mexico. 111°F (44°C). Short Walk. Rio Arriba County.

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

## Can you soak at Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring)?

The water leaves the ground at 111°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 111°F (44°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 6.6 (Slightly Acidic) |
| Elevation | 6,220 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 331 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Rio Arriba County |
| Nearest town | Ohkay Owingeh |
| Coordinates | 36.30500, -106.05300 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | RIANA - ABIQUIU LAKE, 21.7 mi |

## About Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring)

Arsenic Spring is one of the sources at Ojo Caliente, the group of thermal springs also called Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, about eighteen miles from Ohkay Owingeh. Our record places the point in Rio Arriba County while Wikipedia puts the group in Taos County. Hot, a little above 110. Sodium chloride water, slightly acidic. Access is unrecorded here, and so is the land owner.

The nearest road runs a few hundred feet off, though nobody wrote down which road. Elevation is about 6,200 feet. Close to two feet of snow falls over a winter, and the year averages cool. Nothing names the land unit or its designation. Arsenic shows up in the name and nowhere among the listed minerals, which are sodium and chloride.

Wikipedia says the Ojo Caliente springs were used by native New Mexicans for many years, and gives Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs as a second name for the group.

Hot enough to need care; test before soaking, and cooling would help. The Riana campground at Abiquiu Lake is about 22 miles away. Chemistry dates from 1974. Best months on record are December through February, which up here means snow. Access and ownership should be checked before a visit.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1974-12-03 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.6 |
| Sodium | 890 mg/L |
| Chloride | 270 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Española](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/new-mexico/espanola), 21 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in New Mexico](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico)
- [Ojo Caliente Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/ojo-caliente-hot-springs): pH 6.6, Roadside, near Ohkay Owingeh, Rio Arriba County
- [Statue, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/statue): 83°F source, TDS 1,140 mg/L, Short Walk, near Ohkay Owingeh, Rio Arriba County
- [Manby Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/manby-hot-springs-1): 100°F source, pH 7.2, TDS 514 mg/L, Short Walk, near Arroyo Seco, Taos County
- [Manby Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/manby-hot-springs-2): pH 7.2, TDS 514 mg/L, Short Walk, near Arroyo Seco, Taos County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/unnamed-spring-taos-county): 106°F source, pH 8.0, Short Walk, near Arroyo Seco, Taos County
- [Ponce De Leon Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/ponce-de-leon-springs): 93°F source, pH 7.8, Short Walk, near Ranchos de Taos, Taos County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring)?**
Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring) has a water temperature of 111°F (44°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring) located?**
Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring) is located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico at 6,220 feet elevation, near Ohkay Owingeh. Coordinates: 36.3050°N, 106.0530°W.

**How do I get to Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring)?**
Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring) has Short Walk road access (331 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring)?**
Yes, Riana   Abiquiu Lake is located nearby (21.7 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring)?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Sodium, Chloride. The pH is 6.6 (slightly acidic).

**Is it safe to soak at Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring)?**
With care. At 111°F Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring) is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojo_Caliente_Hot_Springs