San Antonio Hot Spring, Jemez Springs, New Mexico

Description

The water pours out of metal pipes from a hillside at around 105 degrees. There are several rock lined pools going down the hillside, the largest pool being big enough for 10 people to soak. Cows are grazing all around, the water is pristine, the tubs have a sandy bottom which you can see clearly, amazing views of the valley, and mtns. Just don’t go on a weekend.

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/prabhukhalsa/2640137398/

Nearest Address

At the north end of forest road 376 near Jemez Springs, NM.

Directions from Nearest Address

From Jemez Springs follow hwy 4 north to state road 126, head west on 126 for 3 miles, then turn north up forest road 376. For this part you’ll need a high clearance vehicle, we saw several compact cars make it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The spring is at the north end of 376. a 5 1/2 mile hike if you choose not to take the car. At the end of 376 you’ll cross a creek on your right, and scramble up a steep hill to the springs.

Vital Information

  • Fee: None
  • Access: Public
  • Flow: Continuous
  • TDS: N/A
  • Temp: 105° F
  • pH: N/A

Hours Spring is Open:

Supposed to be day use only, but people seem to camp here anyway. 376 is closed in winter.

GPS:

35.938 N, 106.646 W

Map Link: San Antonio Hot Spring Map

Submitted by: Victoria Gray

Responses

  1. June 23, 2012  Forest Service has put in a new gate and parking lot about 300 yards south of the hot springs.  Makes for a 15 minute walk to the springs.  Very easy walk.  The climp up the hillside is also pretty easy.  I have to agree about the low clearance vehicles.  Did see several small cars, even a mini van.  i have a 4WD truck.  Those folks with the cars are braver souls than me.

  2. Does anyone have an idea if there is usually much snow up there at the end of October?  Also, 376 was closed for the fires in June 2011, does anyone know if it is opened since then? Thanks.

  3. I accessed your info and found it very informative. I think you might want to include the altitude. Thanks again for your work.
    I was up there yesterday and additional natural improvements have been made making it easier and safer to get in and out of.
    I’ve been visiting this spring since the 70’s.
    Ted Rocafort

  4. I also have enjoyed these springs on many occasions, all seasons. I concur that weekends are not the best, but in the winter the roads are closed and the bathers, sometimes nude, arein much better shape. Chuckles! I have used this water for emergency hydration, and so have friends, with no ill effects.

    1. Hi Galen,

      I’m looking for drinking water that hasn’t been treated with chemical filtration processes (i.e. any type of carbon filters). Thanks for sharing that you’ve consumed this water for emergency hydration with no ill effects.

      Do you have any advice/insight into whether this water can be used for regular drinking needs? Do you know of any other naturally filtered water sources in NM or Southern CO?

      Thanks!

  5. ***Lost Go Pro on the trail, if found, please call 2067195879. Lost in snow, 13 December 2015, may appear when snow melts. Priceless photos from 2 week roadtrip***

    Trail was awesome, be prepared if going during the winter because it gets cold, but the view from the hot springs is totally worth it. 5mile hike in snow took 2hrs from trailhead to hot springs. The water temp was perfect, even with the snowfall around us.
    Recommend waterproof shoes & gloves if hiking in snow.

How to Collect Spring Water

Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.

The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.

FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.

Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.

Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug

When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.

When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.

How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.

How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.

I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.

Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.

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