Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs is a scalding, strongly acidic thermal area in Valles Caldera National Preserve, Rio Arriba County, managed by the National Park Service. Water near 190 degrees and a pH under 2, about as acidic as stomach acid. It is a place to look at from a safe distance. Public access is open. The 1949 sample is heavy with iron and sulfate.
Half a mile from Sulphur Canyon Road, in high country above 8,000 feet. Heavy snow, over four feet a year. The climate is wet by New Mexico standards. The land designation on record is National Conservation Area within the preserve. San Antonio Campground is about two miles away. Cold on average through the year.
Scalding and acidic. Keep out of the water and keep children and dogs back from it. San Antonio Campground is a couple of miles away. The table rates winter best, and deep snow will decide the half mile in. The sample is from 1949.
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 Sulphur Springs.
Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.
- Setting
- Hillside
- The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the southeast.
- Highest ground nearby
- 299 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the southeast
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.
That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 96% 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.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
The water at Sulphur Springs is strongly acidic (pH 1.9) with 1730 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in sulfate (traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation), chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits), and iron (iron-rich springs may support circulation).
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Overview San Antonio Campground is adjacent to the San Antonio River, tucked into a forest of ponderosa pine at 7,600 feet above sea level. This popular campground is open from May through October in the Santa Fe National Forest. Visitors should be prepared for hot summer days and cool nights. San Antonio Campground was completely rebuilt and reopened in August 2010. It is designated as a reduced impact and recycle campground.Recreation A paved walking trail along the river provides access f...
At 8,267 feet, Sulphur Springs is in high-altitude territory where the air is noticeably thinner. Soaking in hot water accelerates dehydration and can amplify altitude effects like headache and fatigue. UV radiation is roughly 33% stronger here. Wear sunscreen even on overcast days and take breaks from the water to rehydrate.
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Sulphur Springs is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. The water is dangerously hot, so bring water shoes and test pools carefully.
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