Eagle Creek Hot Springs

Greenlee County, Arizona · Near Morenci
33.0460°N, 109.4400°W · 3,620 ft
97°F 62°F air · Good soaking weather 3,620 ft Short Walk Camping nearby (9.5 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Eagle Creek Hot Springs

The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

A warm spring in Greenlee County, six miles or so from Morenci. The water sits at body temperature, so you could stay in it as long as you liked. That is about all the good news here. No owner is named, and nothing at all is said about access. There is no chemistry and no photograph, though the USGS inventory does list it.

Location

The nearest road, unnamed on file, passes within a few hundred feet, so it is a short walk from wherever you park. It sits at a middling height in country where winters drop a little snow, rarely much, and around eleven inches of rain fall. On average the year runs in the mid sixties. Owl Creek Campground sits roughly nine or ten miles away.

The record favors winter, December through February. Reaching the spring takes a short walk from an unnamed road. Stay at Owl Creek Campground. The big unknowns are ownership and access, both blank, so find out who holds the ground before visiting. The water is warm and safe to touch, with no heat caution needed. No fee information is on file.

Terrain

USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
750 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
94 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 38% 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
44°
Jan
48°
Feb
55°
Mar
64°
Apr
73°
May
83°
Jun
84°
Jul
82°
Aug
77°
Sep
66°
Oct
53°
Nov
44°
Dec
Annual Precip: 11.3 in Annual Snow: 4.1 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 44°F · Water 97°F · +53° contrast
December Air 44°F · Water 97°F · +53° contrast
February Air 48°F · Water 97°F · +49° contrast
January offers 40°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
62°F
SSW 18.0 mph 77% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 87° Low 68° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 26% precip
Spring is +10° warmer
Wednesday 84° Low 67° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 84% precip
Spring is +13° warmer
Thursday 85° Low 66° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 55% precip
Spring is +12° warmer
Friday 87° Low 65° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 20% precip
Spring is +10° warmer
Saturday 87° Low 65° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 10% precip
Spring is +10° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Owl Creek Campground 9.5 mi away

Located in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area in Arizona, Owl Creek Campground has seven campsites, picnic tables, grills, ramadas, trash receptacles, and restroom facilities available to make your stay more enjoyable. There is no potable water available at the campground. Three of the campsites are pull-through sites, and four are pull-in sites, making the campground suitable for trailers and RVS.  The campground is a stop on the Black Hills Back Country Byway, and it is also j...

Stay limit In the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, camping at developed sites — and primitive camping elsewhere — is limited to 14 consecutive days in a 28-day period.
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
97°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 97°F (36°C)
Avg Air Temp 65°F
Above Ambient +33°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Eagle Creek Hot Springs?
Eagle Creek Hot Springs has a water temperature of 97°F (36°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Eagle Creek Hot Springs located?
Eagle Creek Hot Springs is located in Greenlee County, Arizona at 3,620 feet elevation, near Morenci. Coordinates: 33.0460°N, 109.4400°W.
How do I get to Eagle Creek Hot Springs?
Eagle Creek Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).
Can I camp near Eagle Creek Hot Springs?
Yes, Owl Creek Campground is located nearby (9.5 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS