A wild hot spring gushes up in the middle of the mountain.
After a bit strenuous hike, a fish pedicure experience is available.
Caution
There is information that the area is closed due to damage from wildfires. Please consider visiting based on the latest local information.
Soda Dam Hot Springs
On New Mexico State Highway 4, just a three-minute drive north of the community of Jemez Springs, you will reach Soda Dam Hot Springs.
The parking lot is maintained in a prominent location along the highway, so you cannot miss it.
Jutting out like a bridge over the Jemez River is the travertine dome, where hot spring elements have precipitated over the years.
I was able to enter the ceiling of the dome and the interior cavity.
A small amount of water gush was observed, but it was not vigorous.
When the highway was built in the 1960s, the flow path was changed by blasting rocks, and today most of the water is dumped in a ditch-like area on the side of the road.
The water temperature at the source was =117 degrees F, but it was considered unsuitable for soaking because the amount of spring water was scarce, and the location was right next to where cars pass by.
Natural fish pedicure experience
From Soda Dam, head north for another 5 minutes.
I found a picnic area at the base of Battleship Rock on the right.
As the name suggests, it was a distinctive rocky mountain that looked like the bow of a warship.
Although camping is not allowed, there are 33 picnic sites, which can get crowded on weekends.
From here it is a 3.5-mile round-trip hike to McCauley Hot Springs
It was a popular but somewhat challenging climb.
There were many fallen trees and forks, so I had an unexpectedly difficult time.
Just follow the trail marked #137.
The hot springs were suddenly gushing up in the middle of the mountain.
There were two pools, one was the upstream source.
It was so shallow that I had to lie down to soak my entire body.
The water was clear, odorless, and tasteless with a water temp of 99 degrees Celsius.
As soon as I entered the water, I was surprised to see much small fish poking out of my body.
It was a kind of natural fish pedicure experience
The overflowing warm water poured down the slope into another pool.
This artificially dammed pool was deep enough.
It was unfortunate that the transparency of the water was lost, and the temperature was relatively lukewarm.
Shari Garland - McCauley Hot Springs, Jemez Springs, NM, USA (2020)
CC BY-SA 4.0
Since the area has many excellent wild springs, you may be able to pass on this one if hiking is not your goal.
Summary
McCauley Hot Springs, Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, U.S.
My rating
Type: Undeveloped
Rule: Clothing required
Chemical use: No
Water temp: Up to 99 degrees F
