Gila Hot Springs Campground

What to expect

Gila Hot Springs Campground is a small, private campground in the narrow valley of the Gila River, in the hamlet of Gila Hot Springs. It is surrounded by the Gila National Forest, a few miles south of the Gila Cliff Dwellings. The Campbell family runs it on part of the 320-acre ranch that Doc Campbell bought in the 1940s. Doc later became custodian of the Cliff Dwellings, and the family has been the main source of services in this valley ever since.

The draw is three hot spring pools near the river. The campground says they normally sit between 101 and 104°F38 and 40°C, which is warm enough for a long soak without feeling cooked. They are plain soaking pools rather than a spa, and the river valley does the rest. There are no towns or streetlights for miles, so the night sky is dark. Visitor reviews say the hosts clean the pools often, and that they can feel cooler on a hot afternoon than after dark.

The campground itself has 12 private camping areas for tents, vans and pop-ups, with a picnic table and fire ring at each. There are composting toilets and hot and cold drinking water, but no electricity, no hookups and no showers listed. Generators are not allowed, which keeps it quiet.

Getting there

The campground is at 144 West Fork Road, Mimbres, about 40 miles north of Silver City. It sounds close. It is not a quick drive.

• NM 15 from Silver City (direct route): head north through Pinos Altos on NM 15. The National Park Service warns that the first 25 miles are narrow, with no center line and steep 10-12% grades for several miles. Use low gears, keep right on tight curves, and allow about 1.5 to 2 hours. The campground is a few miles before you reach the Gila Visitor Center and the Cliff Dwellings.
• NM 35 (for RVs and trailers): NPS says any vehicle over 20 feet, or anything towing, should avoid that stretch of NM 15. Instead take US 180 east toward Santa Clara, then NM 152, then NM 35 north past Lake Roberts to its end at NM 15, and turn right. NM 152 has narrow bridges, so very large rigs should route around it.

The campground itself only takes passenger vehicles and small self-contained RVs. Most sites fit Class B or C motorhomes up to about 25 feet, and only two fit bumper-pull trailers of 20 feet or less. Mention any trailer when you reserve.

There is no cell service or internet once you leave Silver City or Mimbres, according to NPS, so GPS can fail. Carry a paper map. Doc Campbell’s Post, a store 0.4 miles from the campground, sells gas, ice, food and camp supplies.

Prices and booking

Prices from the campground’s website:

• Day soak: $8 per person, all ages. Two hours on site at most, in groups of six or fewer, between 9am and 6pm (the pricing section says 8am). Day use does not include a campsite. Self-register with the clipboard in the registration trailer.
• Camping: $12 per person per night, all ages. Includes the pools during the day and at night. Reservations are encouraged.
• Firewood: $5 a bundle, two bundles a day at most.
• Payment: cash or check only, due on arrival. The nearest ATM is in Silver City, about 1 hour 18 minutes away.

To camp, send the online reservation form with your dates, group size and vehicle type, and wait for confirmation. In busy season the campground asks visitors to read its website and not to call. Groups larger than eight need approval first.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits in daylight. Suits are mandatory in the pools during the day. After dark, clothing is optional only if everyone in the pool agrees. Kids are welcome and pay the same rate, but parents should know about the night-time rule.
• At the pools: no glass, no food, no smoking and no alcohol. Drinking water is fine. Alcohol is allowed only at your campsite under New Mexico’s open container law.
• Quiet camp: acoustic music only, no rowdy behavior, no generators, and campfires only in the existing fire rings.
• Arrival and check-out: check-out is 11am. Do not arrive after 10pm.
• Dogs: two per group at most, quiet and supervised, and never in the pools.
• Water taps: no dishwashing at the faucets.

When to go

The campground is open year-round. Spring and fall are the easy seasons, with mild days and cool nights that make the pools comfortable. Summer brings heat and the July to September monsoon, with afternoon storms and flash flood risk along the river. Winter nights are cold and the pools are at their best, but NM 15 is steep and winding, and NPS notes that roads are not plowed or maintained at night or on weekends. The campground fills in its busy season, so reserve if you are coming for the night.

Fire and flood closures

Wildfire is a regular part of summer in the Gila. In 2026 the Forest Service issued closure order 03-06-04-26-001 for the Hummingbird Fire in April and order 03-06-04-26-002 for the Sacaton Fire on July 1. The Sacaton order closed a block of the northwestern Gila Wilderness around the Mogollon Crest Trail, well away from this valley. Monsoon flooding in July 2026 also closed Ben Lilly and Willow Creek campgrounds until January 1, 2027. In October 2026 we found no current order closing this campground or NM 15. Check the Gila National Forest alerts page or call the Supervisor’s Office in Silver City at (575) 388-8201 before you go in fire season.

Where to stay nearby

• Gila Hot Springs Ranch, run separately by Becky Campbell on NM 15, has RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, apartments and a hot spring jacuzzi. It is the closer choice for bigger rigs.
• Forest Service campgrounds in the surrounding Gila National Forest offer basic sites. Check the forest’s alerts page for closures before you count on one.
• Silver City, 40 miles south, has the nearest motels, restaurants and full services.

Nearby stops worth adding

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is about four miles north. A short loop trail climbs to rooms built inside shallow cliff caves by Mogollon people. Call the monument at (575) 323-2904 for current hours. The Gila Wilderness starts nearby, and its trails lead to more remote springs such as Jordan Hot Spring for experienced hikers.

Safety notes

• River and floods: stay out of the Gila River when it is high or muddy, and move away from the bank if a storm is building upstream.
• Heat: 104°F40°C is safe for most people in moderation, but drink water and get out if you feel dizzy.
• Remoteness: no signal, long winding roads and limited services. Fill the tank in Silver City and tell someone your plans.
• Head above water: never put your head under in a hot spring.