To get the one teeny bit negative part out of the way, the temperature of the spring is not as hot or warm as I'd expected. The lower spring is lukewarm at best. The top spring is much warmer. The little cave in the top one was clear and even warmer. The drive and hike to the spring was very beautiful! read more

Spence Hot Springs - Beautiful hike on the way to the springs. - Recreation Centers Near Me - Jemez Springs, New Mexico

Came here when the Jemez springs were already packed 2 mins after they opened. This was MUCH better. They're not hot by any means, but warm and soothing. A beautiful drive up the mountain... a short hike up to the springs... and peaceful quiet. The top pool is warmer and clearer than the lower. The water is so clear. Hardly any trash or evidence of people, which is nice. Definitely would come back again. read more

See all

Let me start with the one minus: the temp is lower than advertised. Internet research suggested the temp here would hover around 110. Lies! It was *maybe* 100 - 101 degrees. Ever so slightly warmer than body temp. And that wasn't even in the main spring where it was cooler! There's a "secret" little cave. It's totally safe. I hung out in there for an hour or so. It is big enough for one full size adult, maybe 2 if they get snuggly. The cave is a bit warmer, maybe 101. It feels maybe 2 degrees warmer than the main springs, which feel like they are 99. Even in the cave, it still requires a concerted effort to stay somewhat warm. Caveat: I went in the winter (December). It was cold as all get-out in general. You wouldn't think that would affect the temp of the water coming out from the earth... but maybe the frozen earth is cooling the supply as it emerges. Who knows? The fact is, the water was not hot. The other down-side is how hard it is to find this spot. It's not a resort. There are no labels or signs. Several people have dropped gps tags you can follow, but reception is horrible. I ended up hiking around that area for a little while before I actually found Spence. A major plus is the lack of homo sapiens. After being there an hour, three people showed up with their two dogs, all of whom got into the springs. That was it though, in terms of company. It feels quite isolated, giving the beauty a raw edge to it. The views are sublime. Really stunning. Despite the low temps it is breathtaking and absolutely worth the visit... though it left me craving a legit hot soak when all was said and done!! read more

See all

Online it looked beautiful. In person, not so much. I was wrong to expect it to be nice. Like most things in the state NM, it is trashy, unkept, and it stinks. The disappointment of such a potentially beautiful place is a reflection of this state's leadership and their acceptance of low standard and poor social behaviors. This whole state is naturally beautiful, but when 82% of the NM population is on welfare, I guess we can't expect them to know how to keep things nice. Well done Governor. read more

Dear people with face tattoos: thank you for not murdering me. In fact, thank you for being super cool. It's always a risk to head down a trail on the side of the road looking for a free hot springs adventure. Will drunk people be naked? Will it be packed full? Will it be friendly, chill people on a journey just like you? Luckily, the latter was the case. I recommend taking the risk because you just might enjoy the peaceful surroundings just like we did. How? The trail head starts with a parking lot between mile marker 24 and 25 on Highway 4. From there you'll hike a nice trail with two bridges and then take a quick climb up to big rocks covered in green moss and flowers growing out of the cracks. There is even a little cave that fits one person that will warm your soul (or scare you because there are spiders). Don't snort the water in your nose (look up Naegleria Fowleri) and watch for Poison Ivy along the trail. "If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary." - Jim Rohn read more

Spence Hot Springs - Spence Hot Springs - Recreation Centers Near Me - Jemez Springs, New Mexico

The hike here wasn't too bad. It was a lot smaller than we expected. Everybody was packed in the water like sardines. It was quite an experience tho. We thought it was beautiful. Kids thought it was pretty neat how warm the water was. They especially got a kick out of the little caves. And we did have a great time. But....here's the big BUT. There were signs to not submerge your head in the water. There was a ton of people with children playing in the water, so I thought the warning couldn't be that serious. Boy was I wrong. To my horror I found out about naegleria fowleri- brain eating amoeba. My goodness there should be a warning on their website. Although i am thankful for those signs posted at the hot springs. To think my kids we're playing in those waters. It's rare, but I would have never let my kids go in that water had I known this before. Overall go & enjoy. Just don't dive in. read more

Spence Hot Springs - Recreation Centers Near Me - Jemez Springs, New Mexico

It isn't a far hike, was kinda muddy but not bad. People have left many items of clothing and small personal belongings within the surrounding rocks, and the water is only about 80-90 degrees. This is more of a WARM spring than a hot one. Very beautiful though, would be nice in the summer read more

Spence Hot Springs - Spring, rock, dog - Recreation Centers Near Me - Jemez Springs, New Mexico

See all

Time is our greatest asset. Ive seen so many bad reviews about nature pertaining to this particular hot spring as if nature owes us something, as well as trash and cigarette butts. I guess when you take care of nature, it shall take care of you. This was the clearest hot spring I have seen to date. We were all alone for 2 hours, but that will take a little dedication to time. The key is to be the first one there. I believe one reviewer referred to the hot spring as completely black and dirty. That would be silt caused by an interruption of nature. I saw maybe one cigarette butt and absolutely no trash. I was however worried about the need to go to the bathroom and figured out after we saw a bathroom randomly on our left side that this route has a bathroom every 2 miles or so. The air is thin. The trail is riddled with poison ivy so where long pants. I wore shorts, but somehow did not get any traces. Have fun everyone. Check out the video on instagram @mj_siddle read more

See all

I actually loved this place unlike the other reviews! Yep I noticed a little bit of trash on the trails but none in the water. I met a few people there while relaxing with friends and they were all friendly and very into nature....definitely the respectful type! It is a HIKE though. Only a mile or so but you need good shoes for it...almost fell a few times! read more

Spence Hot Springs - Loved it! - Recreation Centers Near Me - Jemez Springs, New Mexico

--Contaminated-- I remember this place when I was growing up and no one knew about it. Now the water is dirty and stinky. I was in Jemez recently and decided to go and take a dip. When I reached the springs and much to my disappointment I found used condoms floating in the water and on the perimeter stones. Not to mention cigarette butts and toilet paper. Too many Californians and Texans are moving into the State, learning about our hidden treasures, and trashing them. Sad. read more

I am fully aware that most people in NM who spend time outdoors do so with respect and really care about the condition that they leave any particular trail/area. Then...there are the morons who drink loads of beer and leave junk everywhere. Ok. Rant over...sorta. This is the most accessible of the 3 free hot springs located in and around Jemez Springs. It's on US Forest land and is just off the road, where you can park on a paved parking lot and walk about half a mile to a couple of natural pools filled with hot springs. Should be nice...but it's pretty gross. I got up there and found a bunch of people packed into the upper pool eating and drinking. There were old dirty (and continuously wet) underwear and other clothing thrown around. There were beer bottle tops. There was even trash IN the pools of water. I was really saddened and angered that I'd come so far to see a beautiful spot polluted by what were probably only 5-10 people who probably should have just stuck to bathing in their own pee-water at home. Spence Hot Springs, in summation, is the Walmart of the hot springs...way too accessible and cheap, and so full of garbage. It's sad...I would strongly encourage you to find hot springs that are much much harder to reach or to go to some where you have to pay to get in. At least that way you might have a better shot of not soaking in someone else's offal or stepping on broken glass. read more

Easy to find and beautiful view I went when it was later afternoon and we got the springs to ourselves it was Beauitful

What a muddy hike today. The snow has begun to melt and left a muddy mess. Parts of the trail were icy and snowy but we had a wonderful time! It snowed up there a little today but the weather was nice - not too cold and not too warm. read more

See all

Disgusting. Don't go. People eating and drinking in the water. Plastic grocery bags, doritos, and empty beer cans floating in one of the pools. read more

I remember this place so much nicer!!! After a long hike we decided to stop by, I was so disappointed the water is disgusting!!!!! And dirty and black and kinda stinky and there's always tons of people up there. I felt very nervous taking the kids up there because the water is full of parasites. I will not be returning. read more