Unnamed Thermal Spring
An unnamed 68°F warm spring on BLM land in Cibola County at 5,759 feet, located 346 meters from Petaca Pinta Road. Water temperature runs 10.8 degrees above ambient. Chemistry shows heavily sulfate-dominated mineralization at 2,010 mg/L with comparatively low chloride at 113 mg/L, distinguishing it from the chloride-rich springs found further east in the county.
The spring issues from public land managed by the BLM's Rio Puerco Field Office in western Cibola County. Rolling mesa terrain of sandstone and shale characterizes the area at 5,759 feet. Juniper, pinyon, and sagebrush dot the surrounding slopes, with more barren, eroded badlands in adjacent drainages. Annual precipitation averages 10 inches with 12.5 inches of snow — slightly wetter than the lower-elevation sites to the east. The Rio Puerco watershed drains the region northward toward the Rio Grande.
Open to the public on BLM land. A short walk of about 350 meters from Petaca Pinta Road reaches the spring. The road may require high-clearance vehicles depending on conditions; check with the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office before visiting. No developed facilities or campgrounds are nearby. Bring all water and supplies. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for exploration.
No specific historical documentation has been found for this spring. The Rio Puerco basin has a long history of pastoral use dating to the Spanish colonial period, with extensive sheep and cattle grazing through the 19th and 20th centuries. Overgrazing contributed to significant arroyo cutting and erosion across the watershed. The BLM now manages the surrounding land for multiple uses including grazing, recreation, and wildlife habitat.
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this spring sits at 5,759 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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this spring is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear.
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