From: sday@lacerta.unm.edu (Stephen F. Day   UNM CIRT)
Subject: Re: Western US hot springs/out of the way locations
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 06:57:45 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Distribution: usa
Keywords: NM, New Mexico, hot springs

In article <1992Jul28.130536.29814@cis.ohio-state.edu> ray@anaconda.cis.ohio-state.edu (william c ray) writes:
>My wife and I will be off soon for a 3 week vacation around the western US.
>(SD, WY, UT, AZ, NM, NV, CO), and I was wondering if there were any
>out of the way hot-springs, or good skinnydipping locations that
>anyone would like to share.  Since this is mostly a photography/
>rockhounding trip, we won't have time for much more than day-hikes,
>but we are going 4WD, so we can at least get a little further from
>civilization and the winnie-bagles before we start hiking.

I would definitely suggest that you visit the hot springs in the Jemez
(pronounced "HEY-mez") Mountains in the Santa Fe Nat'l Forest.  For
extensive information and maps, call the Jemez Ranger District at
505/829-3535.

My favorites are Spence and McCalley (sp?) springs.  Spence is about 8
miles north (on highway 4) of Jemez, NM.  There's no signs... just a
big clearing (usually with a number of cars parked in it) on the east
side of the highway (it's about a mile or two south of the La Cueva
campsite).  You park your car and follow the trail down the to stream
and then up the side of the mountain -- about a 1/2 mile hike each
way.  Since it's not that far from the highway, you will rarely see the
springs empty and, as the ranger signs used to say a few years ago,
"Bathing suits are not required."  ;-) Temperature for the hot pool was
about 106 degrees Fahrenheit last weekend.  There are cooler pools and
runoffs-showers for those who can't take the heat.

McCalley springs is for the more adventurous...  You go north of Jemez
about 5 miles to Battleship Rock (white man's name... Jemez Pueblo
Indians call it Eagle Mountain).  Park your car there at the campsite
and find Trail 137... and be prepared for a uphill hike for two miles.
Definitely take a gallon of water and some munchies with you... there's
no restaurants and water fountains in the wilderness.  When you get to
McCalley, you find a pool of 80 degree water waiting for you so you can
soak your sore muscles in. ;-)

The Albuquerque Naturist Club frequents the springs on the 2nd and 4th
Sundays of every month (it's only 1.5 hour drive from Albuquerque).  I
understand the Los Alamos Roadrunner Naturist Club makes regular visits
to the Jemez as well, but I don't know their schedule.

A plug for "Hot Spring Etiquette":

	1.  Bring water...  soaking in hot water does make you thirsty
	    and hot springs (in the wilderness) are not near refreshment
	    stands, etc.  I wouldn't risk drinking the stream water...
	    giardia can put a real damper on your vacation!
	2.  If you are drinking alcoholic beverages, be aware that soaking
	    in the hot water does accelerate the effects of the alcohol.
	3.  Know your limitations... if you start to feel dizzy and ill,
	    get out of the hot water and let you body cool off!
	4.  Like Steve Pierce mentioned in his "Free Beach Etiquette",
	    don't munch off others... come to the springs prepared with
	    your own munchies, sun screen, water, towel, etc.
	5.  Some hot springs may carry biological hazards.  A few of the
	    springs in the Jemez have a microscopic parasite that can be 
	    DEADLY if it has an opportunity to enter your body through your
	    nose or a large open wound.  The simple remedy is to not
	    submerge your head in these waters (or not get in the water at
	    all if your wound isn't healed).  BTW, most of these springs
	    have warning signs -- but you can check with ranger office.
	6.  Be aware of natural "hazards"...  poison ivy, snakes,
	    lightning, barbed wire, broken glass, slippery boulders/rocks
	    next to the springs, etc.  Just use your common sense.
	    Regarding snakes, just let them be... after all, you are in
	    THEIR home and inevitably, once they are aware that you are
	    there, they will make a quick exit.
	7.  Pack out _more_ than you packed in...  Try to show the rangers
	    that you are willing to care for the natural environment and
	    make up for the inconsiderations of others.  Try to live by
	    example...  A friend once told me that one time a bunch of
	    teenagers decided to toss a bottle against the rocks and they
	    laughed when it shattered the area with broken glass.  Several
	    folks (including my friend) then proceeded to take their
	    garbage bags over to the area and started picking up the broken
	    pieces, never saying word to the boys...  The boys realized
	    what they did wasn't "funny" and were embaressed by what they
	    did.  No harsh words were needed.

San Antonio hot springs is also nice... but there's a $100 fine/car if you
are caught.  Besides, it's one of those springs with that nasty parasite I
mentioned above.  :-[

There are a few other springs in the Jemez Mts., but I haven't been to them
yet, so I cannot comment on them. 

BTW, New Mexico has a number of National Forests/Wildernesses:
	Cibola Nat'l Forest
	Carson Nat'l Forest
	Santa Fe Nat'l Forest
	Lincoln Nat'l Forest (where Smokey the Bear was found)
	Gila Nat'l Forest/Wilderness
	Kiowa/Rita Blanca Nat'l Grasslands
	Black Kettle Nat'l Grasslands
	Sandia Wildnerness
	Aldo Leopold Wilderness
	Manzano Mountain Wilderness
	Pecos Wilderness
	San Pedro Parks Wilderness
	White Mountain Wilderness

Arizona has:
	Tonto Nat'l Forest
	Coronado Nat'l Forest
	Coconino Nat'l Forest
	Prescott Nat'l Forest
	Kaibab Nat'l Forest
	Apache-Sitgreaves Nat'l Forest
	Mt. Baldy Wilderness
	Mazatzal Wilderness
	Pusch Ridge Wilderness
	Superstition Wilderness

You can contact:
	USDA Forest Service
	Public Affairs Office
	517 Gold Avenue, SW
	Albuquerque, NM  87102
	505/842-3292
for maps for these areas (they range from $1 to $4) and other details.
Advances payment for the maps is required, but they'll pay postage.

Hope this helps!

>Will Ray
>wcr@rsch.oclc.org
>ray@cis.ohio-state.edu

-- 
    Stephen F. Day         (SFD7)  AT&TNET:      (505) 277-8499
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