San Antonio Hot Springs - Free soaking · donation encouraged in Jemez Springs, NM (2026)
Terraced stone pools cling to the hillside above the San Antonio River, fed by a steaming vent that spills into successive basins with cooling temperatures.
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San Antonio Hot Springs is a primitive Forest Service soak in northern New Mexico's Jemez Mountains — five terraced stone pools tucked into a hillside above the San Antonio River, fed by a 130°F vent and cooling progressively down the cascade. Access depends on the season: in summer (May-November), Forest Road 376 lets you drive to within a quarter-mile and walk in; the rest of the year the gate is locked and the only way in is a 5-mile hike or fat-bike. Free, no facilities, clothing-required by Forest Service rule. The Jemez Valley scenery — red-rock cliffs, ponderosa pine, Cochiti Pueblo backdrop — is the actual product alongside the soak.
What to expect
Drive Highway 4 to the Jemez Valley. In summer, take FR 376 (rough; high-clearance recommended) to within walking distance of the pools, then hike a quarter-mile uphill. In winter (December-April), park at the locked gate and hike or bike 5 miles in. Five pools, hottest at the top, coolest at the bottom. No facilities; pack out everything. Pair with the Jemez State Monument, Jemez Falls, or the Battleship Rock picnic area for a full Jemez Valley day.
Temperature
100°-108°F
Pools
5 soaking pools
Best season
May-October
Reservations
Walk-up friendly
Dog policy
Leashed dogs welcome
Family policy
Adults only
Safety notes
- Forest Road 376 is rough even when the seasonal gate is open—high-clearance 4x4 recommended.
- Source water can exceed 110°F; mix with cooler pools downstream before soaking.
Amenities & etiquette
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A half-mile forest trail climbs to travertine-lined pools perched above the East Fork Jemez River, with views down canyon toward Battleship Rock.
Editor’s picks nearby
- Ojo Caliente day pass — the four-mineral resort between Taos and Santa Fe — $75 day pass, 11 pools, strict no-phone deck, continuously operating since 1868.
- Spence Hot Springs — the easier Jemez option — half-mile path to terraced creekside pools.