Spring
This unnamed spring in Grant County's Heart Bar Wildlife Management Area produces 149°F water — 92°F above the local annual average — making it one of the hottest thermal sources in New Mexico. USGS measurements confirm 60.6°C. Total dissolved solids reach 505 mg/L at pH 7.8 with virtually no iron detected. Public access is restricted on this state conservation land, and the spring lies 886 meters from the nearest road.
The spring emerges at 5,743 feet elevation in the rugged canyon country of the upper Gila River drainage, where the Mogollon Mountains transition into pinyon-juniper woodland and scattered Ponderosa pine. Annual precipitation reaches 15.3 inches with 18.1 inches of snow, supporting denser vegetation than the surrounding lowlands. Rocky outcrops and steep drainages characterize the terrain, carved by tributaries of the Gila River. The Heart Bar Wildlife Management Area encompasses the immediate surroundings, managed for habitat conservation.
Access is restricted — contact New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for current entry requirements before visiting. The 886-meter walk from the road crosses rugged terrain requiring sturdy boots and route-finding ability. At 149°F, this water causes severe burns on contact; do not attempt to soak. Forks Campground on the West Fork of the Gila River is 6 km away and features riverside cliffs. The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is 15 miles to the north.
The spring sits within the Heart Bar Wildlife Management Area, managed by New Mexico's State Fish and Wildlife agency with level-2 permanent protection status. The Gila region's geothermal activity stems from the same volcanic system that created the Gila Cliff Dwellings area to the north. The Mogollon and Apache peoples inhabited this region long before European contact. Specific historical documentation for this particular spring is limited beyond its inclusion in the 1980 NOAA compilation.
The water at Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 7.8) with 505 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).
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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.
Spring sits at 5,743 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 23% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.
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Spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot — bring water shoes and test pools carefully.
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