Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado)

Mesa County, Colorado · Near Orchard Mesa
38.7648°N, 108.4255°W · 7,160 ft
51°F air · Good soaking weather 7,160 ft Open Short Walk BLM Camping nearby (15.5 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado)
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.

Warm Spring in Mesa County is a USGS thermal point on BLM ground administered by the Grand Junction Field Office. Orchard Mesa is the nearest town, around nineteen miles off. No temperature has ever been recorded here, so do not plan on soaking. The one measurement on file, from a 1980 sample, shows a fair mineral load. Public access is listed as open.

Location
24 miles from Grand Junction, CO

Public land, high desert by elevation and rainfall, with under a foot and a half of precipitation in a typical year. Snow falls in winter, a few feet of it. The spring lies about half a mile from the closest road, which the record classes as a short walk. The nearest listed campground is Aspen Leaf Cabin in the Uncompahgre National Forest, fifteen miles out.

There is no best-season ranking for this one because there is no temperature to rank it on. The sample that gave us a mineral reading dates from 1980, and nothing newer exists. Go expecting a seep or a wet spot on BLM land. A pool is not in the record. Open access means you can walk to it. How warm it runs is unverified.

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 Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado).

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the west.
Highest ground nearby
412 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
79 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 15% 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
22°
Jan
27°
Feb
38°
Mar
46°
Apr
56°
May
71°
Jun
74°
Jul
71°
Aug
63°
Sep
49°
Oct
36°
Nov
23°
Dec
Annual Precip: 16.3 in Annual Snow: 41.6 in
Current Conditions
51°F
SSW 3.6 mph 97% Good soaking weather
Today 73° Low 57° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 42% precip
Wednesday 70° Low 57° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 51% precip
Thursday 70° Low 54° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 71% precip
Friday 70° Low 51° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 68% precip
Saturday 69° Low 49° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 41% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 1980-08-07

The water at Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) contains 819 mg/L total dissolved solids.

Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Aspen Leaf Cabin (Uncompahgre National Forest, Co) 15.5 mi away

Overview Aspen Leaf is one of three cabins at the Cold Springs Work Center that welcomes guests with its homey vibe and remote mountain setting. Mountain biking and off-road vehicle trails are easily accessed here. The cabin was built in the 1930s for use by Forest Service employees. Vehicles can easily access the area, but a 4WD may be required in October, depending on weather conditions.Recreation The North Uncompahgre boasts an extensive ATV trail system known as the Divide Forks ATV comp...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,160 ft

Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) sits at 7,160 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 29% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
No data recorded
Avg Air Temp 48°F
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.5 mi
Land
Ownership FED
Agency BLM
Designation PUB
Unit Grand Junction Field Office
Manager BLM
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) located?
Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) is located in Mesa County, Colorado at 7,160 feet elevation, near Orchard Mesa. Coordinates: 38.7648°N, 108.4255°W.
How do I get to Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado)?
Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) has Short Walk road access (0.5 mi from the road).
Is Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) free to visit?
Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado) has Open access. It is managed by BLM.
Can I camp near Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado)?
Yes, Aspen Leaf Cabin (Uncompahgre National Forest, Co) is located nearby (15.5 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Warm Spring (Mesa County, Colorado)?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids. Total dissolved solids measure 819 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia