Faywood Hot Springs

Grant County, New Mexico · Near Hurley
32.5540°N, 107.9940°W · 5,000 ft
129°F 64°F air · Good soaking weather 5,000 ft Roadside
Aerial view of the ground around Faywood Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Faywood Hot Springs
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.

A dozen or so miles from Hurley in Grant County, Faywood puts out water hot enough that it would need cooling before anyone got in. Wikipedia lists other names for it, Bull Spring and Hudson Hot Springs among them, and puts it directly south of City of Rocks State Park. Public access is missing from our record, though the spring has a long human history.

Location

The spring is a stone's throw from the road, sixty-some feet. Wikipedia places it two miles northeast of US 180 and half a mile west of NM 61. Mid elevation desert at about 5,000 feet, dry most of the year, and snow is rare enough to be a novelty. The land owner is blank in the record.

Hot water, somewhere around 130, so test it before touching. Access and ownership are unrecorded, which means a phone call or a look at county records before a trip. The water sample is from 1974. The cool months are the pleasant ones in this corner of the state. No campground is listed within range.

History of Faywood Hot Springs

People have been coming to this water since the time of the Mimbres culture, according to Wikipedia. Over the years the same spring has been known as Bull Spring and as Hudson Hot Springs, and Wikipedia adds Mimbres Hot Springs to the list.

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 Faywood Hot Springs.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the northeast.
Highest ground nearby
79 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
93 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 37% 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
41°
Jan
46°
Feb
55°
Mar
62°
Apr
69°
May
81°
Jun
80°
Jul
79°
Aug
72°
Sep
63°
Oct
51°
Nov
41°
Dec
Annual Precip: 8.8 in Annual Snow: 4.0 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 41°F · Water 129°F · +88° contrast
December Air 41°F · Water 129°F · +88° contrast
February Air 46°F · Water 129°F · +83° contrast
January offers 40°F more contrast than June
Current Conditions
64°F
Clear WNW 25.0 mph 88% Good soaking weather
Today 86° Low 63° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 29% precip
Spring is +43° warmer
Wednesday 83° Low 61° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 56% precip
Spring is +46° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 60° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 39% precip
Spring is +48° warmer
Friday 82° Low 58° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 38% precip
Spring is +47° warmer
Saturday 82° Low 57° Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 26% precip
Spring is +47° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1974-12-05

The water at Faywood Hot Springs is neutral (pH 7.1) with 384 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 7.1 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 34 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 7 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 79 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 49 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 17 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 60 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Temperature
129°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 129°F (54°C)
Avg Air Temp 62°F
Above Ambient +67°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 67 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Faywood Hot Springs?
Faywood Hot Springs has a water temperature of 129°F (54°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Faywood Hot Springs located?
Faywood Hot Springs is located in Grant County, New Mexico at 5,000 feet elevation, near Hurley. Coordinates: 32.5540°N, 107.9940°W.
How do I get to Faywood Hot Springs?
Faywood Hot Springs has Roadside road access (67 ft from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Faywood Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.1 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 384 mg/L.
Is it safe to soak at Faywood Hot Springs?
With care. At 129°F Faywood Hot Springs 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.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia