Jemez Hot Springs

What to expect

Jemez Hot Springs is a small outdoor soaking business on the Jemez River in the center of the village of Jemez Springs, in the red rock canyon of the Jemez Mountains northwest of Albuquerque. For years it was called Giggling Springs, and many locals still use that name. It was renovated in 2016 and rebranded, and its own footer still says “formerly known as Giggling Hot Springs.”

There are four outdoor pools with built-in seating, kept between 98 and 105°F37 and 41°C. The water is described by the operator as sweet, with no sulfur smell, and the business says it travels underground from beneath the Valles Caldera, about 17 miles up the mountain. The pools sit along the river with shade structures and views up to Virgin Mesa. A walk-up window sells soaks and drinks.

It is a shared, public-style soak, not a private tub. Expect couples and small groups in swimsuits, quiet conversation, and the sound of the river. Capacity is capped (the policy page says 30 people per hour, the home page 35 people at once), so it rarely feels packed, but on a busy Saturday you may have to wait.

Do not confuse it with the Jemez Springs Bath House, the village-owned bathhouse on the plaza a short walk up the road. That is a separate business with private indoor tubs, reservations and massage. If you want to soak alone, that is the better choice. See Jemez Springs Bath House.

History

Jemez Springs grew up around its hot water. Archaeological finds near Soda Dam, a few miles north, go back thousands of years, and by the late 1800s the village drew visitors from Albuquerque along the old wagon road. According to the Jemez Valley Historical Society, Moses Abousleman, whose family moved to the village in 1912 and ran a bathhouse and store, built an early bathhouse on what is now the Jemez Hot Springs property. It closed after a damaging flood in 1941, and the old building still stands on the riverbank. The lane the springs sit on, Abousleman Loop, keeps the family name.

Getting there

Jemez Hot Springs is at 40 Abousleman Loop, just off NM 4 in the middle of the village.

• From Albuquerque (about an hour): Take I-25 north to Bernalillo, then US 550 northwest to San Ysidro. Turn right onto NM 4 and follow it north through Jemez Pueblo and up the canyon to Jemez Springs.
• From Santa Fe or Los Alamos: The mountain route crosses the Jemez Mountains on NM 4 past the Valles Caldera and drops into the canyon from the north. It is slower and can be snowy in winter.

The roads are paved all the way. Parking is near the springs and in an upper lot on NM 4. From the car it is a short walk down to the pools.

When to go

Cool weather is the best time. The village sits above 6,000 feet, so fall and winter mornings are crisp and steam rises off the pools. Weekday mornings are the quietest. Summer weekends are the busiest, and afternoon monsoon storms in July and August can close the pools briefly: the policy page says pools shut during thunder and lightning, and your time is adjusted.

Note the weekly closure: closed every Tuesday. Hours changed on April 13, 2026:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Last entry is 1 hour 15 minutes before closing.

Prices and booking

• 1-hour soak: $25 per person.
• 2-hour soak: $50 per person.

The pass covers your whole visit, including changing and showering, and overstays are charged. There are no reservations. If the pools are full you can buy the next open slot and wander the village until it comes up. Groups of 10 or more can call 575-829-9175 to book a private session before regular opening hours.

Towels, robes and swimsuits are available to rent for a fee, so you can show up empty-handed.

Rules and etiquette

• Ages 14 and up only, under the state permit.
• Swimsuits required at all times in all pools.
• No alcohol, no drugs, no glass.
• No pets. Service animals are welcome.
• No smoking or vaping near the pools. The designated area is in the top lot on NM 4.
• No sunscreen, oils or lotions before soaking (sunscreen on your face is fine).
• Bring a water bottle. Staying hydrated matters at altitude.

Where to stay nearby

The springs have no lodging. The operator lists Canon del Rio and the Laughing Lizard Inn in Jemez Springs as sister properties, both a short drive or walk away. The village has a handful of other small inns and B&Bs.

For camping, the Santa Fe National Forest runs campgrounds up NM 4 north of the village, and the Jemez Ranger District office in Jemez Springs (575-829-3535) can tell you which are open. Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, about an hour south, have the nearest chain hotels.

Safety notes

• Heat and altitude: 105°F41°C at over 6,000 feet hits faster than you expect. Drink water, take breaks, and get out if you feel dizzy. Pregnant soakers and people with heart conditions should check with a doctor.
• Storms: monsoon lightning is real in this canyon. Follow staff when they clear the pools.
• Winter roads: NM 4 over the mountains can be icy. The southern approach from San Ysidro is usually the easier drive.
• Footing: wet decking and steps are slippery.

Nearby stops worth adding

Jemez Historic Site, at the north end of the village, protects the roughly 500-year-old ruins of Giusewa Pueblo and the stone walls of the Spanish mission church of San José. Soda Dam, a mineral formation across the Jemez River a short drive north, and Spence Hot Spring, a primitive Forest Service spring about 7 miles up NM 4, are popular next stops. Farther up the road, Valles Caldera opens onto a huge grassland crater.