Jordan Hot Springs
- Free
- 90–94°F
- 7 mi hike
A warm spring pool about 20 feet across and 3 feet deep at roughly 90-94°F, deep in the Gila Wilderness. It is about 7 miles one way from the TJ Corral trailhead via Little Bear Canyon, or 8.5 miles up the Middle Fork, with many river crossings either way. The NPS recommends it as an overnight trip and notes it is crowded at busy times such as spring break.
Gila NF reported high flows and flood closures in Oct 2026; check river levels before river crossings.
- Price
- Free
- Water
- 90–94°F
- Nearest town
- Gila Hot Springs
- Hike (one way)
- 7 mi
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Pools | 1 |
|---|---|
| Lodging | No |
| Camping nearby | Yes |
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
166 mg/L
Lightly mineralized
- pH
- 7.9
- Temp at source
- 95°F
- Lithium
- 47 mg/L
- Boron
- 46 mg/L
- Iron
- 149 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at a USGS sampling site (0.1 mi from Jordan Hot Springs), sampled 1976 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
What's here
- Gila Wilderness
- 20-ft pool about 3 ft deep
- campsites above and below the spring
- many river crossings
- recommended as an overnight
Getting there
| Elevation | 6,012 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Hike | 7 mi one way, about 630 ft of climbing |
| Trail |
|
Things to do near Gila Hot Springs
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Mogollon cliff dwellings at the end of NM 15, reached by a 1-mile loop trail.
Gila Visitor Center
Forest Service/NPS visitor center near the Middle Fork trailhead; check trail and river conditions here.
Campgrounds
- Upper Scorpion Campground4.3 mi
- Lower Scorpion Campground4.4 mi
- Gila Hot Springs Campground7.6 mi
- Forks Campground8.4 mi
Trailheads
- Gila Cliff Dwellings Trailhead4.4 mi
- TJ Corral Trailhead4.7 mi
- Woody's Corral4.8 mi
- Mid Fork4.9 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Lightfeather Hot Springs
A hot spring that pulses from the base of a hill into the Middle Fork of the Gila, about three-quarters of a mile up Trail 157 from the Gila Visitor Center. The source is scalding, about 130-140°F according to the NPS, so visitors soak in rock-lined pools in the river where the hot water mixes with river water. The short walk includes several river crossings.
Gila Hot Springs Ranch
A family-run ranch in the hamlet of Gila Hot Springs, 4 miles south of Gila Cliff Dwellings, with apartments, a historic cabin, an RV park and tent sites. The ranch has a natural hot springs jacuzzi, and its lodgings and RV hookups are piped with hot spring water. NM 15 from Silver City is about 2 hours of winding road; rigs over 20 ft should use NM 35.
Turkey Creek Hot Springs
Springs deep in the Gila Wilderness that reach about 165°F at the source and are cooled by Turkey Creek. State tourism says rock-lined pools are built here but often wash out, and a larger swimming hole with warm seepage gives a more reliable soak. Getting there takes a tough drive and a hike, and it is well known, so expect company.
Lightfeather Hot Springs: 5 mi · Gila Hot Springs Ranch: 8 mi · Turkey Creek Hot Springs: 18 mi
Sources (7)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.