- Trail
- 2 mi one way
- Fee
- $5 per vehicle per day at Battleship Rock and at Jemez Falls Trailhead (America the Beautiful passes honored)
- Hours
- Trailheads day use only
- Season
- Battleship Rock Trailhead year-round (when open); Jemez Falls Trailhead seasonal
- Coordinates
- 35.8200, -106.6274
- Status
- McCauley Springs Fire (started June 24, 2026, 716 acres). As of July 8, 2026, Battleship Rock, Jemez Falls Trailhead and the East Fork Trail from Battleship Rock to Hwy 4 (the segment with the spring) remained closed until further notice; area closure order ran to Aug 11, 2026 unless rescinded. Reopening of that segment not confirmed.
The NOAA Thermal Springs List gives a source temperature of 99°F (37°C) for McCauley Hot Springs, the entry that matches this place. The land is managed by Santa Fe National Forest, Jemez Ranger District (USDA Forest Service). The usual route is 2 mi one way from Battleship Rock Trailhead (East Fork Trail #137). Fee: $5 per vehicle per day at Battleship Rock and at Jemez Falls Trailhead (America the Beautiful passes honored).
McCauley Warm Spring sits on the East Fork Trail (#137) in the Jemez Mountains, on the Santa Fe National Forest's Jemez Ranger District. The Forest Service places it roughly midway between the Battleship Rock and Jemez Falls trailheads, and the U.S. Geological Survey lists it as McCauley Spring in Sandoval County. The East Fork Trail runs about 10 miles in all, from Battleship Rock up to the Las Conchas Trailhead, with two more trailheads in between.
Battleship Rock Trailhead is off NM 4, about 5 miles north of the Village of Jemez Springs, at 7,360 feet. From there the Forest Service lists 2 miles to McCauley Warm Spring and 4 miles to Jemez Falls Trailhead, rated moderately difficult and mostly uphill. Both trailheads charge a $5 day-use fee per vehicle and are day use only. Backpackers must camp more than 400 feet from the spring and 200 feet from the river, and not within a quarter mile of a trailhead. Glass containers are banned on the trail, and dogs must be leashed.
The McCauley Springs Fire started on June 24, 2026, east of Battleship Rock and burned 716 acres. As of July 8, 2026, Battleship Rock, the Jemez Falls Trailhead and the East Fork Trail from Battleship Rock to Highway 4, the segment that passes the spring, remained closed until further notice. The area closure order ran to August 11, 2026, unless rescinded. A burned-area assessment released July 9, 2026 mapped more than 80 percent of the fire as low soil burn severity. Jemez Falls, the highest falls in the Jemez Mountains, is a short walk from its trailhead, and Spence Hot Spring is a few miles up NM 4. Jemez Springs is the nearest village.
Getting there and local rules
- Road: Paved NM 4; Battleship Rock Trailhead about 5 mi north of the Village of Jemez Springs, paved parking
- Trail: 2 mi from Battleship Rock Trailhead (elev. 7,360 ft), moderately difficult uphill; 4 mi from Battleship Rock to Jemez Falls Trailhead, so roughly 2 mi downhill from Jemez Falls
- Camping: Backpack camping only more than 400 ft from McCauley Warm Spring and 200 ft from river and springs; no overnight camping within 1/4 mi of trailheads
- No camping within 400 ft of McCauley Warm Spring or 200 ft of the river and springs
- No overnight camping within 1/4 mile of trailheads
- No glass containers on the trail
- Dogs leashed at trailhead and on trail
- Pack out all trash
History
- The McCauley Springs Fire started June 24, 2026, east of Battleship Rock and burned 716 acres; over 80% was mapped as low soil burn severity (USFS BAER release, July 9, 2026).
- The East Fork Trail (#137) runs about 10 mi from Battleship Rock to Las Conchas Trailhead, with McCauley Warm Spring about midway between Battleship Rock and Jemez Falls.
Weather by month near McCauley Warm Spring
The nearest NOAA climate station with 30-year normals is Jemez Springs, about 4 miles away at 6,262 ft. Its average daily high peaks at 88.6°F in Jul, and the coldest nights average 18.9°F in Jan. Normal snowfall there adds up to about 23 inches a year. Conditions at the place itself can differ, especially with a large change in elevation.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47.6 | 18.9 | 1.02 | 6.1 |
| Feb | 52 | 22.2 | 0.83 | 2.7 |
| Mar | 60.1 | 27.7 | 0.99 | 3.5 |
| Apr | 67.5 | 32.7 | 0.86 | 1.6 |
| May | 76.4 | 40.9 | 0.78 | 0 |
| Jun | 87.2 | 50 | 0.68 | 0 |
| Jul | 88.6 | 55.3 | 2.61 | 0 |
| Aug | 86.2 | 54 | 2.62 | 0 |
| Sep | 80.2 | 47 | 1.57 | 0 |
| Oct | 70.1 | 36.4 | 1.37 | 0.4 |
| Nov | 56.4 | 26.3 | 0.88 | 2.6 |
| Dec | 47 | 19 | 0.94 | 5.9 |
Other springs within 60 miles
From the NOAA list, by straight-line distance from McCauley Warm Spring. Most of these are not developed sites and some are on private land.
- Spence Hot Springs2 mi north100°F
- Soda Dam Hot Springs4 mi southwest117°F
- Jemez Springs5 mi southwest169°F
- Sulphur Springs6 mi north189°F
- San Antonio Hot Spring8 mi north129°F
- San Antonio Warm Spring11 mi north101°F
- Indian Springs17 mi southwest123°F
- Warm Springs19 mi southwest129°F
Other places with a page within 150 miles of McCauley Warm Spring, by straight-line distance: San Antonio Hot Springs (8 mi north), Rainbow Hot Springs (118 mi north).
McCauley Warm Spring is also listed on these pages: hot springs near Colorado Springs, hot springs near Santa Fe, hot springs near Taos, hot springs near Buena Vista, hot springs near Albuquerque, New Mexico hot springs.
Guides and tools: what a hot spring is, hiking time calculator, hot springs camping rules on public land.
Sources: NOAA NCEI, Thermal Springs List for the United States (source temperature, about 1980); fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; ladailypost.com; NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Facts checked October 2026.
Source temperature from the NOAA Thermal Springs List (measured around 1980). Conditions, access and rules change; check with Santa Fe National Forest, Jemez Ranger District before you go. This page is for trip planning only.