McCauley Warm Springs

What to expect

McCauley Warm Springs (also called McCauley Hot Springs or Battleship Rock Hot Spring) sits in a clearing of tall ponderosa pines on a slope above the Jemez River, in the Santa Fe National Forest north of Jemez Springs. Water seeps out of the hillside and runs down through a chain of pools. The main soaking pool is wide and shallow, with a rock dam and a gravel bottom. The Civilian Conservation Corps built that dam. Below it, the water drops into smaller, deeper pools, including one about 3 feet deep lined with rock and logs and, further down past a small log and rock footbridge, a couple more warm pools and one that reaches 4-5 feet.

This is a warm spring, not a hot one. The water comes out at about 99°F37°C and cools to roughly 85-90°F29-32°C by the lower pools. People tend to stay in for a long time. On a cool fall day the air can feel cold the moment you get out, so bring a warm layer.

There are no toilets, drinking water or trash cans at the springs. The Forest Service lists the site as reachable via East Fork Trail 137.

Getting there

From Albuquerque, take US 550 northwest to San Ysidro and turn north on NM 4. Drive through Jemez Pueblo and the village of Jemez Springs. The Battleship Rock Trailhead is about 5 miles north of Jemez Springs, just north of the Battleship Rock Picnic Area, beside the big prow-shaped cliff that gives it its name. From Los Alamos, come in from the other direction on NM 4 over the Jemez Mountains.

The trailhead has paved parking, a vault toilet and an information kiosk, but no drinking water. The trail starts on the east side of the pavilion.

From Battleship Rock: East Fork Trail 137 climbs about 2 miles to the springs. It is a steady uphill on a dirt path that the Forest Service calls moderately difficult.

From Jemez Falls: The same trail continues uphill past the springs to the Jemez Falls area, about 4 miles from Battleship Rock in total. Starting at Jemez Falls means walking downhill to the pools and climbing back out, and it lets you add the short side trip to the falls. The Jemez Falls area is open in season only (the campground runs May to November).

When to go

Late spring through fall is the main season. The water is mild enough that a summer soak is comfortable, and the shade of the pines helps. Weekends bring crowds from Albuquerque and Los Alamos, and the pools are not large. Weekday mornings are best.

Winter is possible from Battleship Rock, which the Forest Service lists as open year-round, but snow and ice on the trail are likely and the water will feel cool once you are out. Some sources describe the spring as not accessible in winter, so go prepared for snow.

Summer storms build quickly over the Jemez Mountains in July and August. Start early and be off the trail before afternoon lightning.

2026 fire. The McCauley Springs Fire started on June 24, 2026 east of Battleship Rock and burned 712 acres before reaching full containment on July 13. The Jemez Ranger District closed Battleship Rock, Jemez Falls Campground and Trailhead, San Diego Overlook and the East Fork Trail from Battleship Rock to NM 4, under a temporary order that ran through at least Aug 11, 2026. Most of the burn was low severity, but the Forest Service warned visitors about hazard trees, burned stump holes and flash flooding near the burn scar. By mid-August the Jemez Falls Campground and Trailhead pages showed the sites open again, and the closure is no longer posted on the forest alerts page. Check with the Jemez Ranger District (575-829-3535) before you go.

Rules and etiquette

• Parking fee. Battleship Rock and Jemez Falls trailheads charge $5 per vehicle per day. America the Beautiful passes are accepted. You can pay in the Recreation.gov app, which works offline if you sign in before you arrive.
• Swimsuits required. The Santa Fe National Forest occupancy and use order (effective June 10, 2021, set to expire Dec 31, 2026 unless rescinded or replaced) bans public nudity on all forest land, roads and trails. It also bans alcohol for anyone under 21 and limits camping to 14 days in any 45-day period.
• Day use at the trailheads. No overnight camping within a quarter mile of Battleship Rock Trailhead or Jemez Falls Trailhead.
• Camp away from the water. Backpackers must camp at least 400 feet from McCauley Warm Spring and 200 feet from the river and springs.
• No glass. Glass containers are not allowed.
• Dogs on leash at the trailheads and on the trail.
• Do not cut live plants, and pack out all trash.
• Fire restrictions. In summer 2026 the whole forest went to Stage II fire restrictions. Check the current level before planning a campfire or stove use.

Where to stay nearby

• Jemez Falls Campground, near the upper end of the trail off NM 4, is open May to November.
• Redondo Campground, further up NM 4, is another Forest Service option in season.
• Jemez Springs, about 5 miles south, has small inns, a few cafes and the historic Jemez Springs Bath House for a hot, developed soak after the hike.
• Dispersed camping is allowed in parts of the forest away from the trailheads and the spring buffer. Follow the 14-day limit and any fire restrictions.

Safety notes

• Post-fire hazards. After the 2026 fire, watch for dead and weakened trees, especially in wind, and stay out of the drainage during heavy rain.
• Water quality. The water is not treated or tested. Do not drink it, and keep your head out of the water. Warm natural pools can carry bacteria and amoebas.
• Footing. The log and rock crossings between pools are slippery when wet.
• Altitude and weather. The springs are at about 7,300 feet. Carry water, sun protection and a rain layer, and turn back if thunderstorms build.
• Car break-ins. Leave nothing visible in the car at the trailhead.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Jemez is one of the best places in New Mexico to string several soaks together. Spence Hot Spring is a few miles further up NM 4, and Soda Dam Hot Spring is a roadside mineral formation just north of Jemez Springs. Jemez Historic Site in the village, the ruins of Giusewa Pueblo and a 1620s mission church, makes an easy stop on the way home.