# Unnamed thermal spring, New Mexico

Unnamed thermal spring in New Mexico. 106°F (41°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Taos County.

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

## Can you soak at this spring?

The water leaves the ground at 106°F, a comfortable soaking temperature. It's a short walk from the road. It's on Bureau of Land Management land. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 106°F (41°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.0 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,680 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.3 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Taos Field Office, Bureau of Land Management |
| County | Taos County |
| Nearest town | Arroyo Seco |
| Coordinates | 36.52800, -105.71300 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Las Petacas Campground, 14.7 mi |

## About Unnamed thermal spring

The record files this as an unnamed thermal point, but OpenStreetMap calls it Black Rock Hot Spring, and Wikipedia describes Black Rock Hot Springs as a small system of thermal springs west of Arroyo Hondo. It sits on BLM land in Taos County, about seven miles from Arroyo Seco, with water above a hundred degrees, hot enough to soak in comfortably. Open access, public ground.

Around 6,700 feet up, with heavy winters, close to three feet of snow across the season. Reaching it means a third of a mile of walking from a road that goes unnamed on the record, over Taos Field Office ground. For camping, Las Petacas Campground is the one on the books, about fifteen miles away. A photograph of the place does exist.

Black Rock Hot Springs, the name attached to this point on OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia, is described as a small cluster of thermal springs west of Arroyo Hondo. The USGS sampled it in July 1976.

The best months on record are the snowy ones, so check the road before you drive out. Hot enough to ease into slowly and well below scalding. A 1976 sample found mildly alkaline water with sodium in the mix. No fee on record. Las Petacas is the nearest camp, a fair drive off.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-07-22 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8 |
| Calcium | 21 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 4.6 mg/L |
| Sodium | 145 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 150 mg/L |
| Chloride | 58 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Española](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/new-mexico/espanola), 41 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in New Mexico](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico)
- [Manby Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/manby-hot-springs-2): pH 7.2, TDS 514 mg/L, Short Walk, near Arroyo Seco, Taos County
- [Manby Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/manby-hot-springs-1): 100°F source, pH 7.2, TDS 514 mg/L, Short Walk, near Arroyo Seco, Taos County
- [Ponce De Leon Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/ponce-de-leon-springs): 93°F source, pH 7.8, Short Walk, near Ranchos de Taos, Taos County
- [Statue, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/statue): 83°F source, TDS 1,140 mg/L, Short Walk, near Ohkay Owingeh, Rio Arriba County
- [Ojo Caliente Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/ojo-caliente-hot-springs): pH 6.6, Roadside, near Ohkay Owingeh, Rio Arriba County
- [Ojo Caliente (Arsenic Spring), NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/ojo-caliente-arsenic-spring): 111°F source, pH 6.6, Short Walk, near Ohkay Owingeh, Rio Arriba County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at ?**
 has a water temperature of 106°F (41°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is  located?**
 is located in Taos County, New Mexico at 6,680 feet elevation, near Arroyo Seco. Coordinates: 36.5280°N, 105.7130°W.

**How do I get to ?**
 has Short Walk road access (0.3 mi from the road).

**Is  free to visit?**
 has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.

**Can I camp near ?**
Yes, Las Petacas Campground is located nearby (14.7 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at ?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.0 (slightly alkaline).

## Sources

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