Kachina Mineral Springs Spa

What to expect

Kachina Mineral Springs Spa is a small, family-run day spa on West Cactus Road, in the farm country of the Gila Valley about 6 miles south of downtown Safford. It is not a resort with lodging or a big public pool. You book a time, check in at the front desk, and get a private tub, a towel and drinking water.

The hot water comes from a deep artesian well that, according to the spa, was drilled on the property around 1949. That is typical of the Safford area, where hot water from deep artesian aquifers reaches the surface through faults and wells. The Garzon family bought the property in 1993 and still runs it. A 2010 Arizona Daily Star column says the place was earlier known as Glad’s Baths, after an owner named Gladys Blan, and that the two mineral spas in this little corner south of Safford are tied by family rather than in competition.

There are two ways to soak. The indoor tubs are private rooms booked for one person, a couple or a small group. Outside there is a pond area with two mineral hot tubs and a cool, swimmable pond, which you can reserve for your group alone. Guests on review sites describe using the pond as a cold plunge between hot soaks, with a view of Mount Graham on clear days.

The spa also runs a massage room and sells packages that pair a massage with soaking before and after. Reflexology, Reiki and sweat wraps are on the menu too.

The tubs and pond

• Private indoor tubs: booked for 60 minutes, for one or two people. They are private, so swimsuits are optional. The spa does not publish the number of tubs or their temperatures.
• Arizona Room family soak: a larger room booked for 90 minutes on Sundays, for groups of up to 10. The spa lists the water at 104°F40°C.
• Outdoor pond and hot tubs: a 120-minute private reservation that includes the pond and two outdoor mineral hot tubs. Swimsuits are required, and everyone must be 12 or older.

Every guest gets a towel and drinking water. You can bring your own reusable bottle or insulated flask. Ask at check-in about changing space and showers if you plan to drive on afterward.

Prices and booking

Prices below are from the spa’s online booking page in October 2026.

Service	Time	Price
Private indoor soak, one person	60 min	$20
Private indoor soak, couple	60 min	$40
Arizona Room family soak (Sundays, up to 10)	90 min	from $65
Outdoor pond and hot tubs, private	120 min	from $35
60-minute massage with hot springs	60 min	$120
90-minute massage with hot springs	90 min	$170
Couples 60-minute massage with hot springs	60 min	$240

The family soak price covers two guests 13 or older. Children 12 and under are free, and each extra guest 13 or older costs $15. There are also 80-minute packages that add reflexology or a sweat wrap, and group massage packages for three or four people.

Most services can be booked online through the spa’s Vagaro page, which is linked from its website. Couples, groups and some specialty services may need a phone call to (928) 235-4590. The spa says appointments are recommended. Hours are not posted on the website at the time of writing. Third-party listings show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Mondays, and older listings give different days, so check the booking calendar rather than turning up on spec.

Getting there

The spa is at 1155 West Cactus Road, Safford, just west of US 191.

• From Safford: Drive south on US 191 for about 6 miles and turn west onto Cactus Road near milepost 115. The spa is a short way along Cactus Road.
• From Tucson and I-10: Leave I-10 at exit 352 east of Willcox and take US 191 north. Turn left onto Cactus Road just past milepost 115.
• From Phoenix: Take US 60 and US 70 east to Safford, then head south on US 191.

When to go

The spa is open all year, but Safford summers are very hot, and a hot tub feels best when the air is cool. October through April is the comfortable season. Weekday mornings are the easiest time to get the slot you want, especially for the outdoor pond, which is reserved one group at a time. Book a few days ahead for weekends, holidays and anything involving a massage.

Where to stay nearby

Kachina does not list any lodging, so plan to stay elsewhere.

• Essence of Tranquility, a few hundred yards away on Lebanon Loop Road, rents casitas, a bunkhouse and tent sites, and overnight stays include use of its own mineral tubs. It is closed Sundays and Mondays.
• Roper Lake State Park, about a mile east off US 191, has a lakeside campground.
• Safford, 15 minutes north, has chain motels, restaurants and groceries.

Nearby stops worth adding

Dankworth Pond, about 3 miles south on US 191, is a day-use state park unit built around a warm-spring-fed fishing pond. It has a 1.75-mile trail but no soaking. For a public tub under open sky, Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area is about 40 miles away by road, with two BLM tubs fed by a 106°F41°C well. The historic Indian Hot Springs resort near Eden, north of the Gila River, is on private land and closed to the public.

Safety notes

• Heat: keep soaks to the booked hour or less, drink water and get out if you feel dizzy. Mineral water in the 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C range raises your core temperature quickly.
• Medical conditions and pregnancy: check with your doctor before hot soaking. The spa offers a prenatal massage, but ask staff before using the hot tubs if you are pregnant.
• Kids: children under 12 cannot use the outdoor pond and hot tubs area. Supervise children closely in the family room.
• Driving: US 191 south of Safford carries farm and truck traffic. Slow down well before the Cactus Road turn.