McCauley Hot Springs, New Mexico: Hiking the East Fork Trail

Where McCauley sits

McCauley Hot Springs sits in the Santa Fe National Forest in the Jemez Valley, west of the village of Jemez Springs and roughly an hour and a half to two hours by road from Santa Fe or Albuquerque. The soak is reached on foot via the East Fork Trail, which climbs through a canyon cut by the East Fork of the Jemez River. There is no drive-up access; the pool is entirely a hike-in destination, so everything you need for the soak comes in on your back.

Getting to the East Fork trailhead

From Jemez Springs, follow NM-4 east a short distance to the East Fork trailhead turnoff, then follow the forest road to the parking area at the trail's start. From Santa Fe, take US-84 to NM-502 and then NM-4 west through the Jemez Valley; from Albuquerque, take I-25 north to US-550 and connect to NM-4. Cell service in the canyon is unreliable, so download the route before you leave the highway.

The hike

The East Fork Trail to McCauley runs about 3.6 miles round trip with around 800 feet of gain, and most hikers take two to two and a half hours on the round trip including soak time. The climb is steady rather than brutal, following the creek through a shaded canyon with footbridges and creek crossings where your boots will get wet. The crossings are the crux: wet rock and a loaded pack make the steps slower, so give yourself margin time on the way down. Trail conditions vary with snowmelt and monsoon runoff, so check current status with the Santa Fe National Forest before you drive out.

The pools

McCauley is a large, shallow, warm spring with a primitive rock-lined, gravel-bottomed soaking pool built into the hillside above the creek. Because the pool is wide and shallow rather than deep, it works better for lying back or sitting at the edge than for a full plunge, and the gravel bottom means you can shift to find a comfortable spot. The rock wall around the pool is hand-built and maintained by visitors, so step onto established stones and keep the wall intact.

Water temperature

The pool holds a consistent temperature around 99 degrees, which explains why locals call it McCauley Warm Springs rather than a hot spring. That warmth is gentle—just above body temperature—so you can soak longer than you would in a hotter pool, and cool mornings in the Jemez feel less punishing when you settle in. In cold weather, stay covered on the hike in and out and bring a towel you can wrap up in the moment you step out, because the air chills fast at this elevation.

On the trail

The East Fork canyon is shaded by pine and fir, and the trail alternates between packed dirt and slick rock slabs near the water. Wear trail shoes or boots with aggressive tread, and plan on wet feet at the creek crossings—merino socks and quick-drying pants make the hike out far more comfortable than cotton. A trekking pole or a walking stick earns its weight on the descent, particularly when wet roots and rocks make the last mile feel longer than the first.

What to bring

Pack a day bag with at least two liters of water per person, a towel, a light insulating layer for the elevation, and a pair of shoes you don't mind getting wet—the hike out is a climb in damp gear. A dry bag for phones and keys protects them if you slip at the crossings, and a small camp towel or sit pad keeps the soak comfortable on the gravel bottom. In fall and spring, add a wind shell and hat; the Jemez canyon swings between sun and chill fast.

Rules and etiquette

This is a primitive soak on national forest land, so there is no lifeguard, no attendant, and no posted operating hours; you follow the forest regulations on the signboard at the trailhead. Pack out everything you bring in, keep glass out of the pool and off the rocks around it, and do not move stones from the pool wall—repairs by visitors are what keep the basin intact. Since the soak sits beside a creek, use a bandana or a quick rinse downstream rather than soap in the pool.

Crowds and timing

McCauley is one of the more popular Jemez day hikes, and the shallow pool fills quickly on summer weekends. Start before 8 a.m. or plan a weekday visit; the trailhead parking is small enough that arriving late on a sunny Saturday often means waiting for a space. Winter is quiet, but check snow and road conditions on the forest road before committing, since plowing is not guaranteed.

Camping and lodging nearby

There are forest service campgrounds along NM-4 above Jemez Springs, and the village itself has inns, rental cabins, and restaurants for anyone who wants a bed after the hike. For an indoor soak, look at the developed pools in Jemez Springs, including Jemez Hot Springs, which offers a contrast to the primitive forest basin. Reserve lodging early in summer and fall, since the Jemez Valley draws weekend traffic from Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Pairing springs

Combine McCauley with Spence Hot Springs, a quarter-mile walk from a large parking area on NM-4 about seven miles north of Jemez Springs. Spence maintains about 95 degrees and is open all year with day-use only rules, which makes it an easy stop before or after the McCauley hike. Continue up NM-4 to San Antonio Hot Springs for a more remote set of primitive rock-walled pools, but be prepared for a rough final stretch of dirt road that demands a high-clearance vehicle.

For a longer New Mexico road trip, head north to Stagecoach Hot Springs (Manby) near Taos for a Rio Grande soak, or use our guide to hot springs in new mexico to build a multi-day route across the state. Truth or Consequences and the Gila region sit further out but reward the drive with entirely different pool styles. If you're extending the trip beyond state lines, our Utah hot springs guide covers the same hike-in versus developed-resort decision at a different set of soaks.

Safety on the soak and the trail

The pool bottom is gravel and the edges are uneven rock, so move slowly and use your hands for balance when entering and exiting. The East Fork runs cold even on warm days, so keep an eye on children and anyone unsteady on their feet near the creek. As with any untreated geothermal water, do not submerge your head; the National Park Service notes the risk of Naegleria fowleri in warm freshwater and recommends keeping your face out of the water.

Plan Your Visit

McCauley Hot Springs is the Jemez soak for hikers who prefer a warm, shallow pool and a trail that feels earned, not the scalding source water of a hotter spring. Build the day around an early start, wet-footwear, and a dry layer waiting in the car, then use NM-4 to add Spence or San Antonio to the same trip. Check trail and road conditions with the Santa Fe National Forest before you go.