Hannah Hot Spring

Greenlee County, Arizona · Near Clifton
33.4000°N, 109.1520°W · 4,912 ft
133°F 55°F air · Good soaking weather 4,912 ft Open Hike US Forest Service Camping nearby (19.7 mi)

A hot spring deep in the Apache National Forest, Hannah Hot Spring lies in Greenlee County nearly thirty miles from Clifton and more than four miles of walking from the closest road. The water comes out hot, well above what most people can sit in without mixing, so the draw is the remoteness and the heat together. Getting there is most of the undertaking. Access is open.

Location

National forest land at close to five thousand feet. That elevation and thirty-odd inches of snow a year mean winter can shut the approach entirely. The walk from the end of the road is listed at four and a half miles or so, classed as a full hike, and no road name is recorded, so plan from a map and go in knowing the last stretch is on foot.

December through February score best on the climate averages, though the snowfall figure argues for caution in a hard winter. Honeymoon Campground is the nearest developed camping, around twenty miles away, so this is a long day or an overnight under your own arrangements. Water this hot will burn skin on contact; test before you touch. No fee is recorded.

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 Hannah Hot Spring.

Aerial view of the ground around Hannah Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Hannah Hot Spring
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.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
547 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the south
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
87 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 26% 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
39°
Jan
42°
Feb
49°
Mar
57°
Apr
66°
May
76°
Jun
77°
Jul
75°
Aug
70°
Sep
59°
Oct
48°
Nov
39°
Dec
Annual Precip: 20.0 in Annual Snow: 30.7 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 39°F · Water 133°F · +94° contrast
December Air 39°F · Water 133°F · +94° contrast
February Air 42°F · Water 133°F · +91° contrast
January offers 38°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
55°F
N 10.8 mph 77% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 84° Low 64° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 40% precip
Spring is +49° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 64° Showers And Thunderstorms 87% precip
Spring is +53° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 64° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 70% precip
Spring is +52° warmer
Friday 84° Low 62° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 35% precip
Spring is +49° warmer
Saturday 84° Low 61° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 25% precip
Spring is +49° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Honeymoon Campground 19.7 mi away

Located next to Eagle Creek, the area is ideal for camping, picnicking, fishing and wildlife viewing. It is a quiet, remote site with lots of shade provided by sycamore and cottonwood trees along with pinyon and juniper trees.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
133°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 133°F (56°C)
Avg Air Temp 58°F
Above Ambient +75°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 4.6 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Apache National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hannah Hot Spring?
Hannah Hot Spring has a water temperature of 133°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Hannah Hot Spring located?
Hannah Hot Spring is located in Greenlee County, Arizona at 4,912 feet elevation, near Clifton. Coordinates: 33.4000°N, 109.1520°W.
How do I get to Hannah Hot Spring?
Hannah Hot Spring has Hike road access (4.6 mi from the road).
Is Hannah Hot Spring free to visit?
Hannah Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Hannah Hot Spring?
Yes, Honeymoon Campground is located nearby (19.7 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Hannah Hot Spring?
With care. At 133°F Hannah Hot Spring is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.