New Mexico

Sundial Springs [CLOSED] - Hot Springs in New Mexico

10/10/2019

The camping ground is located in the middle of nowhere around Gila National Forest.

Dip in hot springs in the quiet forest.

Caution

This place has been closed.

Lone campsite

I went to the west side of Gila National Forest in the State of New Mexico, close to the border with Arizona.

Information Board

The Sundial Springs Road was a dirt road, but normal cars can drive.

Be careful sometimes flash floods get across the road.

Gate

The entrance was closed by the steel gate.

I opened the unlocked gate as I made the reservation beforehand.

San Francisco River

The camping ground is on the slightly terrace along the San Francisco River.

Down by the river, there is San Francisco Hot Springs.

ReferenceSan Francisco Hot Springs - Hot Springs in New Mexico

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RV Site

There are six full hookup RV sites that accommodate 34-foot trailers

Tent Site

There are two tent sites; one is primitive near the canyon.

I set up a camp in the other site with a roofed picnic table.

Cabin

Also there is a rustic cabin.

It was thunderstorm in the late afternoon.

The friendly owner allowed me to escape into the cabin.

Bathhouse 1

The bathhouse has two showers, two clean toilets, and a laundry.

Bathhouse 2

Two private pools (reservation required)

Overnight guests can use private pools for an hour per night.

Path to Pools

There are two pools depending on seasons.

In a cold day the little pool for around three people is available.

Little Pool

The Big Pools consists of two step-like pools for around ten people.

The spring water is pumped from the well only on demand.

Water Providing

It takes over an hour for filling up the Big Pools.

Make sure to close the valve that gets stuck on the ground in order to soak in the lower pool.

Valve

Meanwhile thunder starts rumbling; the owner came saying that “you could use it for four hours because of the weather.”

Big Pool 1
Alpaca
Alpaca
Isn't the rule too loose?
That's great.
Capybara
Capybara

Fortunately the thunder cloud went away, and I dipped in the pools.

Water Outlet

Fresh hot water was provided with fine bubbles.

It was 106 degrees F around the water outlet.

Lower Pool

Overflowed water from the upper pool started filling the lower one.

The water does not have strong smell.

Lower Pool 2

Rather, I felt the smell of wet forest after the storm.

Summary

Sundial Springs, Gila National Forest, New Mexico, U.S.

My rating

Type: Lodging

Rule: Private pool

Chemical use: Not detected

Water temp: Up to 106 degrees F

  • Writer

Hot Springer Ken

A hot spring enthusiast based in Japan. Toured over 300 North American hot springs while working in Texas from 2016 to 2022. For updates, visit X or Instagram!

-New Mexico
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