Spence Hot Springs - Free soaking · donation encouraged in Jemez Springs, NM (2026)
A half-mile forest trail climbs to travertine-lined pools perched above the East Fork Jemez River, with views down canyon toward Battleship Rock.
Spence Hot Springs is the most accessible primitive soak in New Mexico's Jemez Valley — three travertine-lined pools perched above the East Fork Jemez River, reached via a 0.7-mile uphill walk from a marked Forest Service pullout on Highway 4. Free, no permit beyond the parking-pass requirement, family-doable in daytime hours. The trail is moderate, the pools are scenic with views down toward Battleship Rock, and the cottonwood-and-ponderosa setting is classic Jemez. Crowded on weekends, often quiet midweek and in shoulder seasons.
What to expect
Park at the Spence Hot Springs pullout on Highway 4 (between La Cueva and Battleship Rock; the pullout is signed but small). Walk the half-mile uphill trail (10-15 minutes). Three travertine pools at the top, hottest at the source vent and cooling progressively. Clothing-required by Forest Service rule (rarely enforced). No facilities. Pack out everything. Best mid-week and in shoulder seasons; weekends fill the small parking lot by 10 AM.
Temperature
98°-105°F
Pools
3 soaking pools
Best season
May-October
Reservations
Walk-up friendly
Dog policy
Leashed dogs welcome
Family policy
Family windows available
Safety notes
- Parking lot fills by mid-morning on weekends—have a backup plan if the Forest Service closes the gate.
- Stay on the stone trail; vent areas around the pools are fragile and can collapse.
Amenities & etiquette
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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.
- San Antonio Hot Springs — the high-elevation Jemez wild soak — 5-mile round-trip on FR-376 (closed in winter).