Spring

Valencia County, New Mexico · Near Los Chavez
34.8080°N, 107.0910°W · 5,581 ft
86°F 64°F air · Good soaking weather 5,581 ft Unknown Short Walk DESG
Aerial view of the ground around Spring

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

A warm spring on Laguna Pueblo land in Valencia County, listed on the record under the name Spring and nothing else. Los Chavez is under two miles away, so this is close to settled ground. The water runs a little below body heat. Because it lies on tribal land, access is listed as unknown, and that fact outweighs everything else about the place.

Location

High desert at around 5,600 feet, dry most of the year with light winter snow. The nearest road is under a mile off, an easy walk in distance terms, yet the ground between is Pueblo land and the road goes unnamed on file. The record says nothing about the spring itself beyond its temperature and its position on the map.

Contact the Pueblo of Laguna before planning any visit. Do not assume tribal land is open; the record shows no permission. Winter is the season the record favors. There is no water chemistry, no fee, and no campground listed. The USGS tracks the site by number and nothing more.

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
330 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the northwest
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
94 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 38% 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
34°
Jan
41°
Feb
51°
Mar
58°
Apr
65°
May
79°
Jun
79°
Jul
77°
Aug
70°
Sep
58°
Oct
45°
Nov
35°
Dec
Annual Precip: 9.2 in Annual Snow: 9.7 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 34°F · Water 86°F · +52° contrast
December Air 35°F · Water 86°F · +51° contrast
February Air 41°F · Water 86°F · +45° contrast
January offers 45°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
64°F
Clear ENE 16.6 mph 100% Good soaking weather
Today 77° Low 61° Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 39% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Wednesday 78° Low 59° Showers And Thunderstorms 83% precip
Spring is +8° warmer
Thursday 77° Low 59° Showers And Thunderstorms 82% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Friday 77° Low 57° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 57% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Saturday 77° Low 57° Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 33% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Where to Stay

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Mile-High Advisory 5,581 ft

Spring sits at 5,581 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 22% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
86°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 86°F (30°C)
Avg Air Temp 58°F
Above Ambient +28°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Unknown
Road Access Short Walk
Distance to Road 0.9 mi
Land
Ownership DESG
Agency DESG
Designation Tribal Land
Unit Laguna Pueblo
Manager TRIB
Protection 4 - No known protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Spring?
Spring has a water temperature of 86°F (30°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Spring located?
Spring is located in Valencia County, New Mexico at 5,581 feet elevation, near Los Chavez. Coordinates: 34.8080°N, 107.0910°W.
How do I get to Spring?
Spring has Short Walk road access (0.9 mi from the road).
Is Spring free to visit?
Spring has Unknown access. It is managed by DESG.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia