McCauley Hot Springs Soakable

McCauley Hot Springs reads 99°F at the source (NCEI, historical reading); the pools people soak in usually run cooler than the source. Managed by the Santa Fe National Forest (checked 2026-08-19).

Cool Warm Hot Boiling-class 99°F

99°F / 37°C

Warm range at the source — bath-warm

Reading from the NCEI Thermal Springs List (historical reading, 1981 compilation). Source temperature — lower pools usually run cooler.

Water temperatures change with flow and season — test before entering, and never submerge your head in warm natural water. CDC guidance on Naegleria fowleri.

Access

The Forest reaches McCauley Warm Spring by East Fork Trail #137, two miles from the Battleship Rock Trailhead off NM 4 about five miles north of the Village of Jemez Springs; the trail leaves through the picnic area on the east side of the pavilion. Day use, year-round, $5 per vehicle per day payable through the Recreation.gov app. Paved parking, a vault toilet and a trail information kiosk; no potable water. No overnight camping within a quarter mile of the trailhead, and backpack camping must stay 400 feet from McCauley Warm Spring and 200 feet from the river and springs. No glass containers — use only plastic; leashed dogs only; pack out all trash.

Trailhead: Battleship Rock Trailhead, NM 4 north of Jemez Springs

Winter: The Forest lists Battleship Rock Trailhead as day use only, open year-round.

Access notes read from the manager's own page, checked 2026-08-19.

Worth knowing: The McCauley Springs Fire burned this part of the Jemez Ranger District in summer 2026. The Forest’s closure order for it ran July 7 through August 11, 2026 and has expired, but the Forest’s McCauley Warm Springs page has not been updated since March 2025 — check the Santa Fe National Forest alerts page before going. The Jemez National Recreation Area plan also directs the Forest to maintain current use at McCauley by not developing additional trailheads.

Check current conditions with the Santa Fe National Forest

Nearby springs

Identity, coordinates, and temperature quoted from the NCEI Thermal Springs List (historical reading, 1981 compilation).