Warm Spring

Greenlee County, Arizona · Near Morenci
33.0620°N, 109.4820°W · 3,620 ft
73°F 59°F air · Good soaking weather 3,620 ft Open Short Walk Bureau of Land Management Camping nearby (12.1 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Warm Spring

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

Warm Spring in Greenlee County, about nine miles from Morenci. Public land, BLM Safford Field Office, open to the public. Tepid water, about what a swimming pool runs in summer. The spring lies about five hundred feet off Black River Road.

Location

A bit over 3,600 feet, with rain around eleven inches and snow a few. Black River Road, then a very short walk. No designation beyond public land, and no fee noted. Riverview Campground is twelve miles away. Temperatures average on the cool side of the low sixties, and nothing on file says anything about a fee.

Midwinter, per the record. Open access, barely a walk. Riverview for camping at twelve miles. The USGS lists it; no chemistry on file and no photo. Beyond the name Black River Road, nothing about the approach is written down. Temperature is tepid and there is nothing else measured, so do not drive out for a hot soak.

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
647 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

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

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

Heat Below
91 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 33% 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
40°
Jan
45°
Feb
53°
Mar
60°
Apr
68°
May
80°
Jun
80°
Jul
79°
Aug
72°
Sep
62°
Oct
50°
Nov
41°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.9 in Annual Snow: 4.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 40°F · Water 73°F · +33° contrast
December Air 41°F · Water 73°F · +33° contrast
February Air 45°F · Water 73°F · +29° contrast
January offers 40°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
59°F
SE 18.0 mph 86% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 79° Low 64° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 27% precip
Wednesday 76° Low 64° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 84% precip
Thursday 77° Low 62° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 56% precip
Friday 79° Low 62° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 21% precip
Saturday 79° Low 61° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 10% precip
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Riverview Campground 12.1 mi away

Riverview Campground offers a fantastic camping experience in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area and is a short drive from Safford, Arizona. It is situated on a northern bench overlooking the Gila River and is surrounded by various day use sites along the river. There are 13 first come, first served campsites at Riverview Campground. Each site has picnic tables, fire rings, grills, and shade structures. The campsites were recently enlarged to improve access for trailers and RVs....

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
73°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 73°F (23°C)
Avg Air Temp 61°F
Above Ambient +12°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Nearest Road Black River Road
Distance to Road 0.1 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Safford Field Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Warm Spring?
Warm Spring has a water temperature of 73°F (23°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Warm Spring located?
Warm Spring is located in Greenlee County, Arizona at 3,620 feet elevation, near Morenci. Coordinates: 33.0620°N, 109.4820°W.
How do I get to Warm Spring?
Warm Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Black River Road (0.1 mi from the road).
Is Warm Spring free to visit?
Warm Spring has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Can I camp near Warm Spring?
Yes, Riverview Campground is located nearby (12.1 miles away).
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia