# (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring, New Mexico

(Upper) Frisco Hot Spring in New Mexico. 98°F (37°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Catron County.

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

## Can you soak at (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring?

The water leaves the ground at 98°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 | 98°F (37°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 9.7 (Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,480 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.6 mi from the nearest road (Forest Road 35) |
| Land | Gila National Forest, US Forest Service |
| County | Catron County |
| Nearest town | Reserve |
| Coordinates | 33.83100, -108.80000 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Apache Creek Campground, 9.9 mi |

## About (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring

Upper Frisco is a named soaking spring in the Gila National Forest, Catron County, New Mexico, something under nine miles out of Reserve. The water comes up at roughly body temperature, a long warm sit on a cool day. The ground is Forest Service and open to anyone. The name carries a parenthetical Upper, and the water is strongly alkaline, enough that it will feel slick on the skin.

Park on Forest Road 35 and walk a bit over half a mile. That is the whole approach on record. The forest here is mid-elevation for western New Mexico, dry most of the year, with winters that put down some snow, seventeen inches in an average season. The record does not say if the forest road stays open through that.

The file favors the three winter months. Apache Creek Campground is the nearest camping the file gives, about ten miles away. The chemistry comes from a 1958 survey and came back very alkaline, so take the pH as old and the slick feel as likely. No fee shows. Body-temperature water will not burn anyone.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1958-05-22 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 9.7 |
| Sodium | 66 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 6.6 mg/L |
| Chloride | 5 mg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Most alkaline of New Mexico's 47 springs with a pH reading: pH 9.7

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Reserve](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/new-mexico/reserve), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in New Mexico](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico)
- [Frieborn Canyon Spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/frieborn-canyon-spring): 92°F source, Hike, near Reserve, Catron County
- [Aragon Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/aragon-springs): 70°F source, pH 8.0, TDS 160 mg/L, Short Walk, near Reserve, Catron County
- [Unnamed thermal spring, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/unnamed-spring-catron-county): 72°F source, Roadside, near Reserve, Catron County
- [Hannah Hot Spring, AZ](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arizona/hannah-hot-spring): 133°F source, Hike, near Clifton, Greenlee County, primitive pools, pools 105°F, free
- [San Francisco Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/san-francisco-hot-springs): 120°F source, pH 7.3, Roadside, near Clifton, Greenlee County
- [Hot Springs, NM](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/new-mexico/hot-springs-greenlee-county): Hot, pH 7.3, Short Walk, near Clifton, Greenlee County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring?**
(Upper) Frisco Hot Spring has a water temperature of 98°F (37°C). This is a warm thermal spring.

**Where is (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring located?**
(Upper) Frisco Hot Spring is located in Catron County, New Mexico at 6,480 feet elevation, near Reserve. Coordinates: 33.8310°N, 108.8000°W.

**How do I get to (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring?**
(Upper) Frisco Hot Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Forest Road 35 (0.6 mi from the road).

**Is (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring free to visit?**
(Upper) Frisco Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.

**Can I camp near (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring?**
Yes, Apache Creek Campground is located nearby (9.9 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at (Upper) Frisco Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 9.7 (alkaline).

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals