Jordan Hot Springs

What to expect

Jordan Hot Springs is a natural pool in the Gila Wilderness of southwest New Mexico, on Forest Service land above the Middle Fork of the Gila River. There is no road, no building and no sign beyond trail junction markers. You get there on foot or horseback, and most people make a night of it.

The spring rises on the northeast side of the canyon, away from the river, just above a marshy, grassy patch where water seeps out of the hillside. A short use trail climbs about 50 feet from the river to the pools. Backpacker magazine describes three pools, the main one about 20 feet across and 3 feet deep, with clear water rising straight out of the ground.

Set expectations on temperature. The NPS puts the water at about 90°F32°C and Backpacker at 94°F34°C. That is warm, like a heated pool, not a hot tub. It is ideal after 7 miles of wading and on mild days, and you can sit in it for a long time. On a frosty morning you will want to get dressed quickly afterward.

The canyon itself is the reason many people come. The Middle Fork winds between steep canyon walls, and the walk in includes the narrow, shaded slot of Little Bear Canyon.

Getting there

The trailheads are next to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, at the end of NM 15, about 44 miles north of Silver City. The NPS warns that the road is narrow and winding, and the drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours. From Silver City, take Pinos Altos Road, which becomes NM 15, and follow it to the Gila Visitor Center. There is no cell service once you leave Silver City or Mimbres, so download maps first. The roads are not plowed at night or on weekends.

Little Bear Canyon route (shortest, about 7 miles one way):

1. Start at TJ Corral, about 1 mile from the visitor center on the road to the Cliff Dwellings. Water is available at the trailhead.
2. At the first junction, 0.25 miles in, turn right toward the Middle Fork.
3. At the second junction, about 2 miles later, keep straight. The trail tops a pass (Backpacker puts the high point at about 6,300 feet) and drops into Little Bear Canyon (Trail 729), which narrows as you descend.
4. Where Little Bear Canyon meets the Middle Fork, turn upstream on the Middle Fork Trail (157). The NPS counts about 2.5 miles and 15 river crossings from here to the spring. Backpacker’s count is 14 crossings, shin to knee deep at normal flows.
5. Watch the right (northeast) side of the canyon for the marshy seep. The pools are just above it.

Middle Fork route (about 8.5 miles one way): Start at the Middle Fork Trailhead by the visitor center and walk up the river, past Light Feather Hot Spring (about 0.75 miles in, water near 140°F60°C at the source), for about 6 miles and roughly 32 crossings to the Little Bear Canyon junction. Then continue the last 2.5 miles as above. Many hikers make a loop: in one way, out the other.

Wear shoes you can wade in all day. Neoprene socks help in cold water. Burn scars from past fires have made a few sections of tread hard to follow, so carry a map and GPS track.

When to go

Fall (September to November) is the favorite season. The monsoon is over, the river is usually low, and the cottonwoods turn gold. Late spring is also good once the snowmelt drops, though weekends fill the campsites. Go midweek for a better chance at a quiet pool.

Summer brings heat in the open stretches and, from July into September, monsoon thunderstorms. Little Bear Canyon is a narrow slot, and a storm upstream can send a flash flood through it. Check the forecast and do not enter the narrows if storms are building.

Winter is possible but cold. Wet feet below freezing is a real risk, and the 90°F32°C water will not warm you much.

River levels on the Gila change sharply with rain and snowmelt. Ask at the Gila Visitor Center or the Wilderness Ranger District before you go. Water reports for the Gila are also posted on Gila Trails Info.

Rules and etiquette

• No fee or permit is listed for these wilderness trails.
• Wilderness rules apply: no motor vehicles, bikes or drones.
• Camping limit: Gila National Forest order 03-06-00-25-002 limits camping to 14 days in any 30-day period, forest-wide, through May 18, 2027.
• Clothing: no Gila NF nudity order exists. Expect a mix; ask before stripping down if others are in the pool.
• Leave No Trace: pack out all trash, use established campsites, and camp at least 200 feet from water where possible. Bury waste well away from the pool and the river.
• No soap in or near the pool.
• Pets: dogs are fine on the wilderness trails under control. They are not allowed on the Cliff Dwelling Trail, and they should stay out of the pool.
• Leave the pool as you found it. Do not dig, dam or reroute the water.

Where to stay nearby

At the spring: established campsites with stone fire rings sit just below the pool along the river. Check current fire restrictions before lighting anything.

Near the trailhead: three Forest Service campgrounds are within a 10-minute drive of the monument, all first come, first served, with vault toilets and no water. Upper Scorpion has 10 tent sites and Lower Scorpion 7, both less than a mile from the Cliff Dwellings. Forks Campground, about 5 miles south near the small community of Gila Hot Springs, has 7 dispersed sites. Fill water bottles at the visitor center or TJ Corral. The NPS says these fill on spring and fall weekends.

Silver City, about 2 hours south, has the nearest full services and motels.

Safety notes

• Remoteness: you will be 7 or more miles from a road with no cell signal. Carry a first aid kit and a satellite messenger, as the NPS recommends, and leave your plan with someone.
• Flash floods: never camp in the bed of Little Bear Canyon, and stay out of the narrows when storms threaten.
• River crossings: unbuckle your hip belt in fast water, and turn back if a crossing is above your knees and moving fast.
• Bears and other animals: the Forest Service logged two reports of an aggressive black bear near Jordan Hot Springs over Memorial Day weekend 2026, and suspected rabid animals near the Cliff Dwellings that spring. Store food securely, keep 25 yards from wildlife, and report problems to the NM Department of Wildlife at 575-532-2100.
• Water: treat all water from the river. Silt from old burn areas can turn it brown after storms, so pre-filter through a cloth or coffee filter.
• Soaking: keep your head above water in any natural spring.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Gila Cliff Dwellings themselves are a 1-mile loop trail to Mogollon-era homes built into cliff alcoves, open only during posted hours. Light Feather Hot Spring on the Middle Fork route is a short wade from the visitor center. On the way back toward Silver City, Lake Roberts has camping and fishing, but the NM Environment Department has posted a harmful algae warning there in 2026.