# Soda Dam Hot Springs, New Mexico

Soda Dam Hot Springs in New Mexico. 117°F (47°C). Short Walk. Sandoval County.

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

## Can you soak at Soda Dam Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 117°F, hotter than any hot tub. 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 | 117°F (47°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.0 (Neutral) |
| Elevation | 6,462 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.1 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Sandoval County |
| Nearest town | Jemez Pueblo |
| Coordinates | 35.79300, -106.68500 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | JEMEZ FALLS CAMPGROUND, 4.7 mi |

## About Soda Dam Hot Springs

Soda Dam Hot Springs, Sandoval County, is a cluster of fifteen hot springs whose mineral deposits have built a travertine dam across the Jemez River. The water is hot, well above a comfortable soak. Jemez Pueblo is about thirteen miles away. Who manages it and who may enter are both unrecorded, and the record gives no land unit. There is a photo, and the formation itself is the reason most people know the name.

A short walk from a road, a few hundred feet; the road is nameless on the record. Elevation is moderately high, in snowy Jemez country with a middling yearly precipitation and cool average temperatures. Jemez Falls Campground lies under five miles off. The entry leaves out who manages the ground and any fee.

Wikipedia describes the Soda Dam as a grouping of fifteen hot springs whose calcium carbonate and travertine deposits have formed a bridge over the Jemez River. It is also called the Jemez Springs Soda Dam, or Soda Dam for short.

Hot water. Test it before trusting any pool. The best-time note says winter, and the snow here is real, so plan for it if you take that note literally. Water chemistry on record stops at pH and chloride, sampled in 1975. No fee is recorded. Camp at Jemez Falls if you want to stay nearby. Access is not stated, so check locally.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1975-08-07 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7 |
| Chloride | 1,510 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Rio Rancho](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/new-mexico/rio-rancho), 35 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in New Mexico](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico)
- [Jemez Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/jemez-springs): 169°F source, pH 7.3, Roadside, near Jemez Pueblo, Sandoval County
- [Mccauley Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/mccauley-hot-springs): 99°F source, pH 8.0, Short Walk, near Jemez Pueblo, Sandoval County
- [Spence Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/spence-hot-springs): 100°F source, pH 7.3, TDS 224 mg/L, Short Walk, near Jemez Pueblo, Sandoval County
- [Sulphur Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/sulphur-springs-3): 189°F source, pH 1.9, TDS 1,730 mg/L, Short Walk, near Santa Teresa, Rio Arriba County
- [San Antonio Hot Spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/san-antonio-hot-spring): 129°F source, pH 7.7, Short Walk, near Santa Teresa, Rio Arriba County
- [San Antonio Warm Spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/san-antonio-warm-spring): 101°F source, pH 6.7, Roadside, near Santa Teresa, Rio Arriba County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Soda Dam Hot Springs?**
Soda Dam Hot Springs has a water temperature of 117°F (47°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Soda Dam Hot Springs located?**
Soda Dam Hot Springs is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico at 6,462 feet elevation, near Jemez Pueblo. Coordinates: 35.7930°N, 106.6850°W.

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

**Can I camp near Soda Dam Hot Springs?**
Yes, Jemez Falls Campground is located nearby (4.7 miles away). Standard Nonelectric              $20.00 for the 2025 Season.

**What minerals are in the water at Soda Dam Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Chloride. The pH is 7.0 (neutral).

**Is it safe to soak at Soda Dam Hot Springs?**
With care. At 117°F Soda Dam Hot Springs 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/Soda_Dam_Hot_Spring