Backcountry Spa: Jordan Hot Springs Loop

Jordan Hot Springs, Gila Wilderness

Second Weekend November, 2016

This trip was so awesome, I considered not publishing it on the internet. Then, I looked at my stats, and realized my relatively low-impact blog should not lead to a significant change in use. 

Jordan Hot Springs, Gila Wilderness

The Jordan Hot Spring is hidden along the middle fork of the Gila River, on the eastern side of the Gila Wilderness. The water temperature is about 95 degrees. The location was not noted on our official topographic map, probably either because of the area is so unpopular, or they really don’t want the masses to know about it or be able to easily locate it. 

Warning: don't put your face in the water, as it has been tested positive for Naegleria fowleri, the "brain eating amoeba".http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/naegleria_factsheet508c.pdf 

To get there, we started at TJ Corral Trailhead near the Gila Cliff Dwellings. We took trail 729 up a gradual climb to little bear canyon, a narrow, dry river canyon, where we dropped down to the middle fork of the Gila River.

At the middle fork of the Gila, we traveled west. The travel was very slow going, with multiple knee level river crossings.

The Jordan Hot Springs were about 3 miles down the Middle Fork from the junction with Little Bear Canyon.

There are several camp sites along the way and near the hot spring

On day two we took the Middle Fork to the Meadows. This was the longest flat 5 miles I have ever traveled. There was extensive debris and too many river crossings to count. The 1000 foot cliffs and fall colors took the sting out of this somewhat frustrating leg.

One of what felt like a hundred river crossings along the Middle Fork of the Gila River between Jordan Hot Springs and the Meadows, day two.

It was real cold at the meadows in November.

On day three, we hiked out of the canyon and down a ridge along trail #164 for a scenic gradual decent offering panoramic distant views.

Overlooking the middle fork of the Gila River

Middle Fork of the Gila River, viewed from above, on day three

Gila Cliff Dwellings

I also made a video of the trip which can be viewed here: video of our trip to Gila Hot Springs