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Hot Springs in New Mexico

15 hot springs in New Mexico with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Grant County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Frisco Hot Spring (Bortle 1).

Top hot springs

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & SpaHot Spring
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & SpaTaos County
Hot Spring
Faywood Hot SpringsGrant County
Hot Spring
Manby Hot SpringsTaos County
Hot Spring
Truth or Consequences Hot SpringsSierra County
Hot Spring
Black Rock Hot SpringsTaos County
Hot Spring
Frisco Hot SpringCatron County
Hot Spring
Frisco Hot SpringsCatron County
Hot Spring
Gila Hot SpringsGrant County
Hot Spring
Jemez Hot SpringsSandoval County
Hot Spring
Lyons Hunting Lodge Hot SpringGrant County
Hot Spring
Mimbres Hot SpringsGrant County
Hot Spring
San Antonio Hot SpringSandoval County

Hot Springs by county

All hot springs (15)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & SpaTaos County—Ohkay Owingeh2
Faywood Hot SpringsGrant County1,532 mHurley2
Manby Hot SpringsTaos County1,992 mArroyo Seco2
Truth or Consequences Hot SpringsSierra County—Truth or Consequences5
Black Rock Hot SpringsTaos County—Arroyo Seco2
Frisco Hot SpringCatron County1,987 mEagar1
Frisco Hot SpringsCatron County1,386 mClifton1
Gila Hot SpringsGila Cliff DwellingsGrant County1,698 mArenas Valley1
Jemez Hot SpringsSandoval County1,885 mJemez Pueblo3
Lyons Hunting Lodge Hot SpringGrant County1,770 mArenas Valley1
Mimbres Hot SpringsGrant County1,762 mBayard1
San Antonio Hot SpringSandoval County2,549 mSanta Teresa2
San Francisco Hot SpringsCatron County1,395 mClifton1
Spence Hot SpringSandoval County2,239 mJemez Pueblo2
Riverbend Hot Springs.Sierra County1,291 mTruth or Consequences5

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph hot springs

Steam is most visible on cold mornings; backlight from a low sun makes rising steam glow.

  • Keep to boardwalks and marked paths — crusts around thermal features can be thin and the water dangerously hot.
  • A polarizer brings out the colors of mineral terraces and microbial mats.
  • Respect bathers' privacy: ask before including people at soaking pools.
  • Wind direction determines where steam drifts; shoot from the upwind side to see the pool.
  • Condensation forms quickly on lenses; let gear acclimate and carry a cloth.

Season: Winter gives the most dramatic steam; some primitive springs are only accessible in summer.