Warm Springs

Sierra County, New Mexico · Near Truth or Consequences
33.2790°N, 107.5630°W · 5,980 ft
87°F 66°F air · Good soaking weather 5,980 ft Open Roadside Bureau of Land Management
Aerial view of the ground around Warm Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Warm 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.

Warm Springs, Sierra County: BLM land 19 miles out of Truth or Consequences, and here the name fits. The water is warm, upper eighties, a little under body temperature. Access is open; it is a roadside stop, under two hundred feet from the road. The land falls under the Las Cruces District Office.

Location

Just under 6,000 feet, dry, light snow and moderate rain. The road is unnamed on file yet passes within a few steps. No campground is listed nearby. Public ground under the Bureau of Land Management, Las Cruces District. Nothing on file describes the outlet or any pool.

Winter rates best. The sample on file is from April 1940, showing moderate dissolved solids. Eighty-plus years is a long time, so treat both chemistry and temperature as historic. Free, open, roadside. Nothing says there is a pool. Truth or Consequences is the closest town 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 Warm Springs.

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
422 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

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.

Heat Below
110 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 61% 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
53°
Mar
60°
Apr
66°
May
78°
Jun
77°
Jul
76°
Aug
69°
Sep
60°
Oct
49°
Nov
39°
Dec
Annual Precip: 10.7 in Annual Snow: 7.2 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 39°F · Water 87°F · +48° contrast
December Air 39°F · Water 87°F · +48° contrast
February Air 44°F · Water 87°F · +43° contrast
January offers 39°F more contrast than June
Current Conditions
66°F
Mostly Cloudy NNE 20.7 mph 83% Good soaking weather
Today 81° Low 63° Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 48% precip
Spring is +6° warmer
Wednesday 80° Low 62° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 66% precip
Spring is +7° warmer
Thursday 78° Low 61° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 66% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Friday 78° Low 59° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 70% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Saturday 78° Low 58° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 49% precip
Spring is +9° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1940-04-01

The water at Warm Springs contains 1430 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in calcium (may support bone density and joint health), chloride (natural antiseptic with skin health benefits), and total dissolved solids (higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking).

Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 110 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 10 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sulfate 79 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 650 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Where to Stay

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Mile-High Advisory 5,980 ft

Warm Springs sits at 5,980 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 24% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
87°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 87°F (31°C)
Avg Air Temp 59°F
Above Ambient +28°F
Mild soaking conditions September
Access
Open
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 180 ft
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency Bureau of Land Management
Designation PUB
Unit Las Cruces District Office
Manager Bureau of Land Management
Protection 3 - Protected, subject to extractive use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Warm Springs?
Warm Springs has a water temperature of 87°F (31°C). This is a warm thermal spring.
Where is Warm Springs located?
Warm Springs is located in Sierra County, New Mexico at 5,980 feet elevation, near Truth or Consequences. Coordinates: 33.2790°N, 107.5630°W.
How do I get to Warm Springs?
Warm Springs has Roadside road access (180 ft from the road).
Is Warm Springs free to visit?
Warm Springs has Open access. It is managed by Bureau of Land Management.
What minerals are in the water at Warm Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfate, Chloride. Total dissolved solids measure 1,430 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia