Turkey Creek Hot Spring

Grant County, New Mexico · Near Silver City
33.1080°N, 108.4830°W · 5,163 ft
165°F 64°F air · Good soaking weather 5,163 ft Open Hike US Forest Service Camping nearby (16.8 mi)
Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution

At 165°F, the source water at Turkey Creek Hot Spring is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

Aerial view of the ground around Turkey Creek Hot Spring LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Turkey Creek Hot Spring
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.

Scalding and three miles from the nearest road, Turkey Creek Hot Spring sits in the Gila National Forest, Grant County, about 26 miles from Silver City. The walk in starts at Turkey Creek Road. Public access is open. No water chemistry is on record and there is no USGS site number, so the temperature stands alone as the measurement.

Location

A three mile walk from Turkey Creek Road into national forest at mid elevation, a little above 5,000 feet. Modest snow, nine inches or so, and moderate rain. Forks Campground is seventeen miles away. The Forest Service is the land owner and there is no fee on file. The route and the spring go undescribed.

Scalding at the source, around 165, so do not enter the source water; it would burn. It is a hike in, on open access. No chemistry on file. Winter rates best. Forks Campground, a long way off, is the one campground on file.

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 Turkey Creek Hot Spring.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
693 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
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
77 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 12% 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
39°
Jan
44°
Feb
52°
Mar
59°
Apr
66°
May
78°
Jun
77°
Jul
75°
Aug
70°
Sep
61°
Oct
50°
Nov
40°
Dec
Annual Precip: 12.9 in Annual Snow: 8.8 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 39°F · Water 165°F · +126° contrast
December Air 40°F · Water 165°F · +126° contrast
February Air 44°F · Water 165°F · +121° contrast
January offers 39°F more contrast than June
Current Conditions
64°F
Clear WNW 12.1 mph 83% Good soaking weather
Today 84° Low 60° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 32% precip
Spring is +81° warmer
Wednesday 81° Low 61° Showers And Thunderstorms 80% precip
Spring is +84° warmer
Thursday 81° Low 62° Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 64% precip
Spring is +84° warmer
Friday 82° Low 61° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 44% precip
Spring is +83° warmer
Saturday 82° Low 60° Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 25% precip
Spring is +83° warmer
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Forks Campground 16.8 mi away

This campground features beautiful cliffs along the West Fork of the Gila River.This campground is a great place to stop on the way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (15 miles north). Overnight camping is allowed in the upper portion of Forks; however, the lower portion of the Forks Recreation Site along the West Fork of the Gila River is day use only.

Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
165°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 165°F (74°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +106°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Nearest Road Turkey Creek Road
Distance to Road 3.0 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency US Forest Service
Designation National Forest
Unit Gila National Forest
Manager US Forest Service
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Turkey Creek Hot Spring?
Turkey Creek Hot Spring has a water temperature of 165°F (74°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Turkey Creek Hot Spring located?
Turkey Creek Hot Spring is located in Grant County, New Mexico at 5,163 feet elevation, near Silver City. Coordinates: 33.1080°N, 108.4830°W.
How do I get to Turkey Creek Hot Spring?
Turkey Creek Hot Spring has Hike road access, with the nearest road being Turkey Creek Road (3.0 mi from the road).
Is Turkey Creek Hot Spring free to visit?
Turkey Creek Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by US Forest Service.
Can I camp near Turkey Creek Hot Spring?
Yes, Forks Campground is located nearby (16.8 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Turkey Creek Hot Spring?
No, not at the source. The water at Turkey Creek Hot Spring reaches 165°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.