Seep

Greenlee County, Arizona · Near Clifton
33.0750°N, 109.2980°W · 3,500 ft
95°F 59°F air · Good soaking weather 3,500 ft Roadside Camping nearby (7.5 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Seep LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Seep
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.

The record calls this one Seep, nothing more, a warm spring a few miles outside Clifton in Greenlee County. It is warm, close to a pleasant soaking temperature. The interesting thing is the water itself: a 1978 sample showed dissolved solids near fourteen thousand milligrams a liter, which is very salty water. Ownership and public access are both blank on file.

Location

Greenlee County, about 3,500 feet up, and the road you would park on is 260 feet away, unnamed in the record. Mild weather. Eleven inches of rain in a year and enough snow to dust the ground in winter. Nobody wrote down a land manager, so who owns this is an open question. Owl Creek Campground is seven and a half miles off.

Winter months are listed as best. Roadside, so no real walk. The salinity figure is from 1978 and the chemistry, like the temperature, could be different now. With access unrecorded and no owner named, ask in Clifton before treating it as open.

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 Seep.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
225 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northeast
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
98 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 45% 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
49°
Feb
58°
Mar
66°
Apr
73°
May
85°
Jun
85°
Jul
83°
Aug
77°
Sep
67°
Oct
55°
Nov
44°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.6 in Annual Snow: 3.4 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 44°F · Water 95°F · +51° contrast
December Air 44°F · Water 95°F · +51° contrast
February Air 49°F · Water 95°F · +46° contrast
January offers 41°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
59°F
SE 18.0 mph 86% Good soaking weather
Today 90° Low 68° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 27% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Wednesday 87° Low 66° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 86% precip
Spring is +8° warmer
Thursday 88° Low 66° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 58% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Friday 90° Low 65° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 22% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Saturday 90° Low 65° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 12% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1978-06-22

The water at Seep contains 13900 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration), and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).

Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 880 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 22 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 3,300 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 60 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 7,000 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 40 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Owl Creek Campground 7.5 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
95°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 95°F (35°C)
Avg Air Temp 65°F
Above Ambient +30°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 261 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Seep?
Seep has a water temperature of 95°F (35°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Seep located?
Seep is located in Greenlee County, Arizona at 3,500 feet elevation, near Clifton. Coordinates: 33.0750°N, 109.2980°W.
How do I get to Seep?
Seep has Roadside road access (261 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Seep?
Yes, Owl Creek Campground is located nearby (7.5 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Seep?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. Total dissolved solids measure 13,900 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS