# Spence Hot Springs, New Mexico

Spence Hot Springs in New Mexico. 100°F (38°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Sandoval County.

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

## Can you soak at Spence Hot Springs?

The water leaves the ground at 100°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. It's a short walk from the road. It's on US Forest Service land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 100°F (38°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.3 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 224 mg/L |
| Elevation | 7,332 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road (Spence Hot Springs Parking Lot Road) |
| Land | Santa Fe National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Sandoval County |
| Nearest town | Jemez Pueblo |
| Coordinates | 35.84900, -106.62900 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Redondo Campground, 0.9 mi |

## About Spence Hot Springs

Spence Hot Springs has water at body temperature and a parking road named for it, and the record lists access as open. The forest is the Santa Fe, the county Sandoval, and Jemez Pueblo is about eighteen miles off. Redondo Campground is under a mile away. Wikipedia places the group north of the town of Jemez Springs and within Valles Caldera National Preserve, while the record lists it as national forest.

The walk from Spence Hot Springs Parking Lot Road is about a fifth of a mile, so this is one of the easier approaches in the Jemez. High country, over seven thousand feet, with heavy winter snow and a fairly wet year. Forest Service land, plain national forest. Average temperatures are cool. There is a picture attached.

Wikipedia describes Spence Hot Springs as a group of geothermal springs north of the town of Jemez Springs and places them in Valles Caldera National Preserve. OpenStreetMap records the name in the singular.

Body-temperature water, so no scald risk at the reading on record. Winter gets the flag, heavy snow notwithstanding, and the parking road may be the limiting factor. Redondo Campground is the nearest, under a mile. No fee recorded. The sample dates from 1972 and shows lightly mineralized water. OpenStreetMap lists it as Spence Hot Spring, singular.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1972-12-01 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.3 |
| Total dissolved solids | 224 mg/L |
| Calcium | 6 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 2 mg/L |
| Sodium | 55 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 18 mg/L |
| Chloride | 12 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Española](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/new-mexico/espanola), 33 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in New Mexico](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico)
- [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
- [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
- [Soda Dam Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/soda-dam-hot-springs): 117°F source, pH 7.0, Short Walk, near Jemez Pueblo, Sandoval 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
- [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
- [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 Spence Hot Springs?**
Spence Hot Springs has a water temperature of 100°F (38°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Spence Hot Springs located?**
Spence Hot Springs is located in Sandoval County, New Mexico at 7,332 feet elevation, near Jemez Pueblo. Coordinates: 35.8490°N, 106.6290°W.

**How do I get to Spence Hot Springs?**
Spence Hot Springs has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Spence Hot Springs Parking Lot Road (0.2 mi from the road).

**Is Spence Hot Springs free to visit?**
Spence Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near Spence Hot Springs?**
Yes, Redondo Campground is located nearby (0.9 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Spence Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.3 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 224 mg/L.

## Sources

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