Manby Hot Springs

Taos County, New Mexico · Near Arroyo Seco
36.5133°N, 105.7256°W · 6,610 ft
51°F air · Good soaking weather 6,610 ft Open Short Walk BLM Camping nearby (14.5 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Manby Hot Springs

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

Manby Hot Springs sits on BLM land in Taos County, a bit under eight miles from Arroyo Seco, and the access status is open. The record gives no temperature, so nobody should promise you a hot soak from this entry. The water sample is recent, 2015, and shows middling mineral content with iron present. Wikipedia knows the place as Stagecoach Hot Springs too.

Location

From the nearest road you walk a bit under half a mile. The Taos Field Office manages this stretch of public land. Elevation is fairly high, well above six thousand feet. Winters bring solid snow, and rainfall over the year is moderate. Average temperature is cool. Las Petacas Campground is about fifteen miles off, the closest camp in the entry.

No best months are set for this spring. Given the snow, the walk in is easier outside winter. Land is BLM and open, so no fee is recorded and no permission is needed, though the road has no name here and the route is not described. No temperature is on record, so test before soaking. The 2015 sample is the newest figure in the entry.

History of Manby Hot Springs

Wikipedia lists the springs under two names, Manby and Stagecoach, and puts them near Arroyo Hondo. It describes water discharging into three rock pools with sandy bottoms, close to the ruins of an old bathhouse and a historical stagecoach stop.

Terrain

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

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
68 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
119 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 71% 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
24°
Jan
29°
Feb
40°
Mar
48°
Apr
56°
May
70°
Jun
71°
Jul
69°
Aug
63°
Sep
51°
Oct
37°
Nov
26°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.1 in Annual Snow: 34.1 in
Current Conditions
51°F
Clear S 25.0 mph 89% Good soaking weather
Today 79° Low 47° Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 34% precip
Wednesday 78° Low 47° Showers And Thunderstorms 80% precip
Thursday 76° Low 44° Showers And Thunderstorms 91% precip
Friday 77° Low 41° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 60% precip
Saturday 78° Low 41° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 16% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 2015-08-26

The water at Manby Hot Springs is neutral (pH 7.2) with 514 mg/L total dissolved solids.

pH 7.2 Neutral
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 26 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 5 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 134 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 127 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 51 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 40 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Las Petacas Campground 14.5 mi away

Set in a beautiful canyon quite close to Taos, there is good access to Rio Fernando de Taos for fishing.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 6,610 ft

Manby Hot Springs sits at 6,610 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 26% 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 49°F
Access
Open
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.4 mi
Land
Ownership FED
Agency BLM
Designation PUB
Unit Taos Field Office
Manager BLM
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manby Hot Springs located?
Manby Hot Springs is located in Taos County, New Mexico at 6,610 feet elevation, near Arroyo Seco. Coordinates: 36.5133°N, 105.7256°W.
How do I get to Manby Hot Springs?
Manby Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.4 mi from the road).
Is Manby Hot Springs free to visit?
Manby Hot Springs has Open access. It is managed by BLM.
Can I camp near Manby Hot Springs?
Yes, Las Petacas Campground is located nearby (14.5 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Manby Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.2 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 514 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia