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Manby Hot Springs

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Warning Do not use Tune Road or the rim scenic easement: the BLM says it is not open to the public. Access is by river float or by hiking from the John Dunn Bridge trail

From the BLM, checked Oct 14, 2026
Manby Hot Springs
Photo by Jessica Reeder, Wikimedia Commons (free to reuse with credit)

Manby Hot Springs is a wild soak in Taos County, New Mexico, about 24 minutes' drive from Taos: 100 F water at the source (1980 survey), a 2.34-mile walk from John Dunn Bridge, snow likely November, December, January, March.

  • Wild
  • Walk 2.34 mi
Directions
Drive timecomputed

about 24 min
13.7 mi from Taos, no traffic

Drive times computed with GraphHopper; map data OpenStreetMap contributors.

The facts

Water
100 F at the source, not the pool
Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry MANBY HOT SPRINGS
Walk
2.34 miles one way from John Dunn Bridge
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route · start 36.53513, -105.70899
Fee
At a BLM fee area, a fee is due if the area is posted to say so. BLM general rule
No fee posted for this spring that we found (checked Oct 13, 2026)
What the BLM says

Exact wording: BLM rules page.

Permit or reservation
None posted by the agency
Checked on the BLM, checked Oct 14, 2026
Clothing
The BLM rules of conduct in 43 CFR 8365 contain no sentence about clothing or nudity (checked 2026-10-13 by reading the full text of subpart 8365). BLM general rule
What the BLM says

Exact wording: BLM rules page.

Dogs
At BLM developed recreation sites, an animal must be on a leash of 6 feet or less, or otherwise physically restricted, and may not be brought to a swimming area (a Seeing Eye or Hearing Ear dog is excepted for the swimming area rule). BLM general rule
What the BLM says

Exact wording: BLM rules page.

Snow
Likely November, December, January, March
Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons
Managed by
Bureau of Land Management, Taos Field Office
Closures
BLM TAOS FIELD OFFICE page (no per-site alert feed)
Last checked
October 2026

Trail and trailhead

John Dunn Bridge

The BLM says:

"We remind residents and visitors that access to the Rio Grande Manby Hot Springs is by only a river float or hike from the John Dunn Bridge trail,"

Quoted from the BLM, checked Oct 14, 2026

Distance
2.34 mile one way
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route
Climb
About 80 ft up and 90 ft down, one way
Computed from USGS 3DEP elevations at 27 points on our route, Oct 14, 2026 (rough)
Start
John Dunn Bridge
36.53513, -105.70899

Water temperature

100 F at the source, from NOAA's Thermal Springs List (1980 survey). That is where the water leaves the ground; the pool you sit in is cooler.

Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry MANBY HOT SPRINGS

Fees and rules

Do you have to pay to go to Manby Hot Springs?

No fee posted for this spring that we found (checked Oct 13, 2026). BLM general rule

BLM general rule: see The facts.

Do you need a permit or reservation for Manby Hot Springs?

None is posted. not posted

Checked on the BLM, checked Oct 14, 2026

Clothing and dogs

Clothing

BLM general rule BLM general rule: see The facts.

Dogs

BLM general rule BLM general rule: see The facts.

Seasons and winter access

Snow likely November, December, January, March at the spring.

Snow likelySnow not likely

Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons

Road and gate closures: check BLM TAOS FIELD OFFICE page (no per-site alert feed).

Before you go

  • No permit or reservation is posted.
  • Snow likely November, December, January, March.
  • Do not use Tune Road or the rim scenic easement: the BLM says it is not open to the public. Access is by river float or by hiking from the John Dunn Bridge trail
  • Check BLM TAOS FIELD OFFICE page (no per-site alert feed) before you drive.

Getting there

Drive times from each town's center, no traffic (computed).

Taos, New MexicoHot springs near Taosabout 24 min13.7 miSanta Fe, New MexicoHot springs near Santa Feabout 1 h 54 min83.1 miAlamosa, ColoradoHot springs near Alamosaabout 2 h 5 min95.5 mi
Google Maps Apple Maps

Both open at the start, John Dunn Bridge, not at the pool.

Manby

New Mexico. Tap the map for directions. Outline: US Census, public domain.

Nearby hot springs (6)

Black Rock Hot SpringsNear Taos · New Mexicosame parkingdriveOjo Caliente Mineral SpringsNear Taos · New Mexicoabout 1 h 30 mindriveMontezuma Hot SpringsNear Santa Fe · New Mexicoabout 2 h 22 mindriveSpence Hot SpringsNear Albuquerque · New Mexicoabout 2 h 37 mindriveJemez Hot SpringsNear Albuquerque · New Mexicoabout 2 h 50 mindriveSan Antonio Hot SpringsNear Santa Fe · New Mexicoabout 2 h 56 mindrive

All 8 hot springs in New Mexico

Questions

Is Manby Hot Springs free?

BLM general rule BLM general rule: see The facts.

How long is the hike to Manby Hot Springs?

2.34 miles one way from John Dunn Bridge, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route.

Is Manby Hot Springs clothing optional?

BLM general rule BLM general rule: see The facts.

Can I bring my dog?

BLM general rule BLM general rule: see The facts.

Sources and last checked

Page last checked October 2026 (the oldest date below).

  • ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso: water temperatureChecked Oct 11, 2026
  • blm.gov/press-release/blm-continues-efforts-protect-rio-grande-wild...: trailChecked Oct 14, 2026
  • Walk: 2.34 mi, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route (FOSSGIS routing, foot profile) from 36.53513, -105.70899Map data OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
  • Drive times from Taos, Santa Fe, Alamosa: computed with GraphHopper 11.1, car profile, no trafficOpenStreetMap extract of Oct 12, 2026
  • Snow months (Nov, Dec, Jan, Mar): computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasonsMethod page explains the rule
  • Climb: computed from USGS 3DEP elevations along our OpenStreetMap foot routeComputed Oct 14, 2026
  • Photo: Jessica Reeder, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0Checked by eye Oct 12, 2026

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