McCauley Hot Springs is a large, shallow warm spring with a primitive rock-lined, gravel-bottomed soaking pool in the Santa Fe National Forest. The spring water cascades into a number of smaller and deeper soaking pools in a clearing in the forest.[2] The rock dam pool was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[3] The spring pools are surrounded by ponderosa pines.[4]
Downhill from the main soaking area is a three foot-deep rock and log-lined pool. Fifty more feet downhill and across a log and rock footbridge, are two additional warm soaking pools. From there, the water continues to flow downhill to another soaking pool that is between four and five feet deep. As the water cascades downhill the temperature of the spring water cools.[2]
The hot spring is located in the Jemez Springs area, north of the Soda Dam and south of Spence hot spring.[2] It is part of a system of hot springs on the edge of the Valles Caldera, a dormant volcanic crater.[6] The hike to the springs is 4 miles (6.4 km) on a mildly strenuous, but well-maintained trail.[7] The trailhead to the spring is located at the Battleship Rock campground.[8] This hot spring is not accessible during winter.[1]
^Berry, George W.; Grim, Paul J.; Ikelman, Joy A. (1980). Thermal Spring List for the United States. Boulder, Colorardo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 36.
