San Antonio Hot Springs

What to expect

San Antonio Hot Springs sits high in the Jemez Mountains of the Santa Fe National Forest, about 12 miles north of Jemez Springs and close to the western edge of the Valles Caldera. The water comes out of several sources on a steep, forested hillside above San Antonio Creek at roughly 8,400 feet. It collects in a series of primitive rock-lined pools, each one a step lower and a little cooler than the last.

Those pools are older than they look. The Civilian Conservation Corps shored up the springs and built the rock basins in the 1930s, according to a New Mexico hot springs guidebook cited on Wikipedia. Today the hot water arrives through pipes at the top pool. A 2026 Albuquerque Journal piece described water at about 125°F52°C flowing from three large pipes into the uppermost pool, then spilling down into the lower ones. The source itself has been measured at about 129°F54°C, and a state survey recorded a flow of around 150 gallons a minute, which keeps the pools fresh.

The top pool is the hottest and the smallest. If it feels like too much, move down.

There are no facilities at the springs. The Forest Service lists no potable water, and there are no trash cans. Bring water, and carry out everything you bring in.

Getting there

The springs are off Forest Road 376, which leaves NM 126 a few miles west of La Cueva.

• From Albuquerque: Take I-25 north and US 550 northwest to San Ysidro, then go north on NM 4 through Jemez Pueblo and Jemez Springs to La Cueva. Turn left onto NM 126. After 3.8 miles, just past mile marker 35, make a sharp right onto FR 376.
• On FR 376: Follow the road north for about 5 miles to the trailhead parking. It is unpaved and usually fine for a two-wheel-drive car in dry weather. Allow about 15 minutes. The Forest Service describes a small parking area.
• The walk: From the lot, walk up the road past the gate for about half a mile. Then cross San Antonio Creek and climb a short, very steep trail up the hillside to the pools. The whole walk is under a mile, but the climb is stiff at this altitude.

Do not plan to come in from the south. The southern part of FR 376 was blocked at the Gilman Tunnels in 2025, so use the NM 126 approach.

When FR 376 is closed (normally from January or the first heavy snow until July 1), the road is still open to people on foot, bikes and skis. Park at the NM 126 junction without blocking the gate, and plan on about 5 miles of road travel each way before the short climb to the pools.

When to go

July to October is the drive-in season. The Forest Service closes FR 376 to vehicles every winter and spring to protect wildlife during breeding season and when animals are low on winter energy. For the 2025-26 season the road closed on Jan. 2, 2026. In recent years it has reopened on July 1, and the Albuquerque Journal noted in 2025 that the closure could run later than that, so check before planning an early-July trip.

Fall is the best time to go. The road is open, crowds thin after Labor Day, and the hot water feels best on a cold mountain morning. Snow can arrive early at this elevation, and an early storm can close the road for the season.

Winter and spring visits mean a long, cold approach, but the pools are quiet. Skis or snowshoes make the road easier after snowfall.

Summer weekends are busy. Monsoon storms build most afternoons in July and August, so soak early and be off the exposed slope before lightning starts.

Fire closures: the springs can be closed when fire danger is high. In June and July 2026 the McCauley Springs Fire burned about 712 acres east of Battleship Rock, south of La Cueva, and closed several Jemez sites. That fire did not close San Antonio Hot Springs, and the Forest Service lists the site as open. Still, check current alerts before any summer trip.

Rules and etiquette

• Day use only. No camping, no campfires and no overnight visits at the springs.
• No fee or permit is needed.
• Swimsuits required. Santa Fe National Forest order 10-494 bans public nudity on all forest land, roads and trails, and also bans alcohol for anyone under 21. It is in effect through Dec. 31, 2026; check for a renewal if you visit later.
• Camping limits: the same order allows no more than 14 days of camping in any 45-day period anywhere on the forest.
• Dogs are welcome at the springs. Keep them leashed and out of the pools. Dogs are not allowed in the Valles Caldera National Preserve backcountry, and the preserve charges fees.
• Leave soap and glass at home, and pack out all trash, including food scraps.
• Share the space. The upper pools are small. Rotate if others are waiting.

Where to stay nearby

• San Antonio Campground on NM 126, about 2 miles from La Cueva, sits beside the San Antonio River at 7,600 feet. It has 20 single sites, six with water and electric hookups, vault toilets and drinking water. Sites cost $10 a night, or $15 with hookups, and are reservable on Recreation.gov. It is seasonal, with a 14-day limit.
• Jemez Springs, about 12 miles south, has small inns and the nearest services, and there is more lodging around La Cueva on NM 4.
• Dispersed camping is not allowed at the springs. Ask the Jemez Ranger Station (575-829-3535) where you can camp outside developed campgrounds and whether fire restrictions apply.

Safety notes

• Altitude and the climb: The trail is short but very steep, and you start at well over 8,000 feet. Take it slowly, especially coming down in wet shoes.
• Hot water: The water entering the top pool is far too hot to sit in directly. Test with your hand and keep your head above water.
• Creek crossing: San Antonio Creek is usually small, but snowmelt and summer storms can raise it quickly.
• Weather: Afternoon lightning is common in summer. In winter the road walk can be icy, and the temperature drops fast once the sun leaves the canyon.
• No signal: Cell coverage is patchy. Tell someone your plan, especially if you are walking in while the road is gated.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary is about 2.7 miles beyond the springs along the creek, with little elevation change. That makes it an easy add-on hike, though the preserve’s own fees and no-dog rule apply once you cross in. Back down NM 4, Jemez Springs has its own bathhouse, and the Soda Dam mineral formation sits beside the highway just north of town. Other natural springs in the area, including Spence and McCauley, are reached from NM 4 south of La Cueva. Check for any lingering closures from the 2026 McCauley Springs Fire before heading to them.