Derry Warm Springs

Dona Ana County, New Mexico · Near Hatch
32.7950°N, 107.2760°W · 4,120 ft
92°F 66°F air · Good soaking weather 4,120 ft Roadside
Aerial view of the ground around Derry Warm Springs

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

Derry Warm Springs is a roadside warm spring in Dona Ana County, eleven miles from Hatch in the lower Rio Grande valley. The water is soaking warm, a shade above body heat, which makes it one of the few entries in this part of the state at a temperature you could sit in without cooling. Nobody has recorded who owns the land or if the public may use it.

Location

Eighteen feet from the road. You could see it from a car window. Low, hot country at around 4,000 feet, dry enough that four inches of snow in a year counts as a lot. The land unit and owner never made it into the record. No land designation either, so the ground could be private or public.

Look before you assume anything. Access is unknown and the spring is close enough to the road that somebody owns the frontage. The analysis dates to 1974, and a temperature can drift over fifty years. Midwinter is the comfortable stretch down here. No campground is listed nearby.

Terrain

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

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
302 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
86 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 25% 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
43°
Jan
49°
Feb
58°
Mar
65°
Apr
72°
May
84°
Jun
84°
Jul
83°
Aug
75°
Sep
65°
Oct
53°
Nov
43°
Dec
Annual Precip: 8.0 in Annual Snow: 3.5 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 43°F · Water 92°F · +49° contrast
December Air 43°F · Water 92°F · +49° contrast
February Air 49°F · Water 92°F · +43° contrast
January offers 41°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
66°F
Mostly Cloudy ENE 20.7 mph 88% Good soaking weather
Today 94° Low 66° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 16% precip
Wednesday 91° Low 63° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 50% precip
Spring is +1° warmer
Thursday 88° Low 62° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 36% precip
Spring is +4° warmer
Friday 88° Low 60° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 43% precip
Spring is +4° warmer
Saturday 87° Low 60° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 26% precip
Spring is +5° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1974-12-04

The water at Derry Warm Springs is neutral (pH 7.2). It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration), sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation), and chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits).

pH 7.2 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 45 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 15 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 300 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 290 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 170 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Temperature
92°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 92°F (33°C)
Avg Air Temp 65°F
Above Ambient +27°F
Warm air, warm water September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 18 ft

Hike 1 waterfall near Derry Warm Springs

Looking for more outdoor adventures? Explore waterfall hikes near Derry Warm Springs, New Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Derry Warm Springs?
Derry Warm Springs has a water temperature of 92°F (33°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Derry Warm Springs located?
Derry Warm Springs is located in Dona Ana County, New Mexico at 4,120 feet elevation, near Hatch. Coordinates: 32.7950°N, 107.2760°W.
How do I get to Derry Warm Springs?
Derry Warm Springs has Roadside road access (18 ft from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Derry Warm Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 7.2 (neutral).
Sources: USGS NWIS