Lightfeather Hot Springs

Gila, New Mexico, United States

Location: Gila, New Mexico, United States
Water type: iron-rich
Temperature: 38 °C
pH: 6.3

Water profile

Thermicity

Neutral

38 °C

LowHigh

Soothing — neither hot nor cold, perfect balance.

Mineralisation

Bio-active

LowHigh

Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.

Buoyancy

Standard buoyancy

LowHigh

Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.

FerBicarbonatesManganèse

Lightfeather Hot Springs are natural thermal springs located near Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico, within the Gila National Forest — a vast wilderness area centered on the Gila Wilderness, designated in 1924 as the world's first federally designated wilderness area by visionary conservationist Aldo Leopold. The bicarbonate-enriched hot spring waters here flow along the Middle Fork of the Gila River in a canyon of extraordinary desert Southwest beauty, where volcanic geology, ancient cliff dwellings of the Mogollon people, and the clear streams of this surprisingly lush high-desert landscape create one of New Mexico's most remarkable natural environments. Bathing in these wilderness hot springs requires a backcountry river crossing and hike through the canyon, making Lightfeather a destination for committed outdoor enthusiasts who seek the combined rewards of Gila Wilderness exploration and natural thermal bathing in one of the American Southwest's most historically and ecologically significant protected landscapes.

Insider tip — Lightfeather Hot Springs lie within the Gila Wilderness of southwestern New Mexico, the first designated wilderness in the United States, requiring a crossing of the Middle Fork Gila River to access. Iron-rich thermal water surfaces from Precambrian fault zones at approximately 38°C, pooling in natural riverside alcoves shaded by cottonwood and sycamore trees. The river crossing depth changes seasonally, so check conditions before visiting in spring snowmelt. Sharing the water with mule deer at dusk is a genuine wilderness experience.

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