Montezuma Hot Springs
- Free
- 2 hr 19 min from Albuquerque
- Roadside
Natural springs that flow from a hillside into a row of rock and cement soaking tubs of varying temperatures beside NM 65, six miles northwest of Las Vegas. They were once part of the Montezuma Castle resort and sit near the United World College campus, which is otherwise closed to the public. State tourism calls them family-friendly since no hike is needed.
No current hours or rules published by the owner; confirm before visiting.
- Price
- Free
- Nearest town
- Las Vegas
- From Albuquerque
- 2 hr 19 min
- Hike (one way)
- Roadside
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season | Open year-round |
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price |
|
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | Private |
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 private before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
What's here
- roadside on NM 65
- rock and cement soaking tubs
- historic Montezuma Castle resort site
- on United World College land
Getting there
- From Albuquerque2 hr 19 min127 mi
- From Santa Fe1 hr 23 min71 mi
- From Santa Fe (SAF)1 hr 32 min80 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 6,734 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
Things to do near Las Vegas
Campgrounds
- El Porvenir Campground8.2 mi
- Blue Haven Youth Camp8.2 mi
- E.V. Long Campground8.3 mi
- Johnson Mesa Campground11 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
A historic spring resort below mesa cliffs on the Rio Ojo Caliente, with nine communal mineral pools named for their iron, soda, lithia and arsenic content, running about 80-105°F. Day passes are sold at the door with no reservations, and the springs are for ages 13 and up. The property also has a spa, a restaurant and wine bar, a 1916 hotel, cottages and an RV and tent campground.
Manby Hot Springs
Two hot pools beside the Rio Grande at the stone ruins of an old stagecoach stop, southwest of Arroyo Hondo near Taos. State tourism describes an easy hike from the John Dunn Bridge, following the river south to the rocks that mark the pools.
Black Rock Hot Springs
A small group of springs bubbling up along the Rio Grande in the gorge north of Taos, captured into one soaking pool whose depth changes with the river level. State tourism describes it as well known, easy to reach and often busy, and reached by a short walk downstream from parking across the John Dunn Bridge.
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa: 62 mi · Manby Hot Springs: 64 mi · Black Rock Hot Springs: 65 mi
Sources (5)
· 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.