Spring
This unnamed Gila National Forest thermal spring produces 88°F water at 6,024 feet elevation near Arenas Valley, running about 32 degrees above the local average air temperature. It sits over 6 kilometers from Upper Scorpion Camp Ground Road, making it one of the more remote springs in Grant County. No water chemistry data is on record. The spring is on open-access federal land managed by the US Forest Service.
The spring surfaces in the high backcountry of the Gila wilderness area, surrounded by mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forest at an elevation where montane conditions prevail. Annual snowfall reaches 19.1 inches, and 15.7 inches of rain falls mostly during summer monsoon season. The terrain is steep and deeply cut by tributary canyons of the Gila River system, with exposed volcanic cliffs and narrow riparian corridors. Meadow openings break the forest canopy at intervals along the drainage, and the surrounding landscape remains largely roadless.
This is a serious backcountry destination requiring a hike of nearly 4 miles from the nearest road. Multi-day trip planning is advisable. Bring topographic maps, GPS, and backcountry essentials including water purification and bear canisters. Summer monsoon storms create flash flood danger in narrow canyons. Winter snow can make high-elevation access impractical. Forks Campground, about 12.4 kilometers away, provides the closest established camping. No permits are currently required but check with the Gila National Forest ranger district.
No specific historical documentation exists for this unnamed spring. It occupies the same geothermal system as several other thermal features scattered through the upper Gila River drainage, an area used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years before Anglo-American settlement. The Gila National Forest, established in 1924, has maintained these springs in their natural state. No development or improvement has been recorded at this site.
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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 6,024 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 24% 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.
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