Agua Caliente Springs

Maricopa County, Arizona · Near Gila Bend
32.9840°N, 113.3240°W · 449 ft
102°F 85°F air 449 ft Roadside Camping nearby (16.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Agua Caliente Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Agua Caliente Springs
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Agua Caliente Springs is the Maricopa County one, about 35 miles from Gila Bend, Arizona, with water at 102 degrees, a true soaking temperature. The name is Spanish for hot water. It sits low, on the desert floor, in a climate that sees very little rain in a year and no snow at all. Access and ownership are not on record, and no water sample has been taken.

Location

Roadside off West Old Agua Caliente Road, less than two hundred feet in. Desert floor, hot year-round by the averages, bone dry. Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground is the closest camping in the file, a bit over sixteen miles away. The file names no land unit and no designation.

December, January and February are the listed months, which makes sense in a place this hot in summer. The water temperature is right for soaking. Ownership is unrecorded, and so is the question of whether it is open; sort that out before you plan on getting in. No fee is listed.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Agua Caliente Springs.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the north.
Highest ground nearby
155 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the north
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
76 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 11% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
57°
Jan
60°
Feb
67°
Mar
74°
Apr
83°
May
91°
Jun
96°
Jul
95°
Aug
90°
Sep
78°
Oct
65°
Nov
55°
Dec
Annual Precip: 5.0 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 55°F · Water 102°F · +47° contrast
January Air 57°F · Water 102°F · +45° contrast
February Air 60°F · Water 102°F · +42° contrast
December offers 41°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
85°F
Clear ESE 29.0 mph 56%
Tuesday 102° Low 81° Sunny 2% precip
Wednesday 101° Low 81° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 19% precip
Spring is +1° warmer
Thursday 103° Low 79° Sunny 2% precip
Friday 106° Low 80° Sunny
Saturday 107° Low 80° Sunny
Where to Stay

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Camping
Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground 16.4 mi away

Overview Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, approximately 90 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona, provides visitors the opportunity to view an archaeological site containing hundreds of figures and designs carved into rocks, known as petroglyphs. These were produced centuries ago by indigenous peoples. This site is considered important and even sacred to many of the Native American tribes in southern Arizona. Please keep this in mind when you visit and be respectful. Climbing on the rocks is prohi...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
102°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 102°F (39°C)
Avg Air Temp 76°F
Above Ambient +26°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road West Old Agua Caliente Road
Distance to Road 166 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Agua Caliente Springs?
Agua Caliente Springs has a water temperature of 102°F (39°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Agua Caliente Springs located?
Agua Caliente Springs is located in Maricopa County, Arizona at 449 feet elevation, near Gila Bend. Coordinates: 32.9840°N, 113.3240°W.
How do I get to Agua Caliente Springs?
Agua Caliente Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being West Old Agua Caliente Road (166 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Agua Caliente Springs?
Yes, Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground is located nearby (16.4 miles away).
Sources: Wikipedia