New Mexico
The ‘Most Romantic Hot Springs In The Southwest’ Are Sheltered In The Gorgeous New Mexico Wilderness – Islands
If you’re looking for the perfect romantic spot for a couple’s getaway, a proposal, or an anniversary, there are the usual suspects. You could sip champagne in Paris, take a moonlit walk along the beach in Mexico, or sit by a cozy fire in Switzerland, one of Europe’s most romantic countries. However, if you’re outdoorsy, there is another option for you. Inside the beautiful Gila National Forest in New Mexico, home to the extraordinary Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, you’ll find the Turkey Creek Hot Springs. This spot, called the “most romantic hot springs in the Southwest” by Desertlavender.com, requires a bit of work to get to, but it’s worth it, as you’re not going to get the crowds you would if it were simply a place you could drive to. One of a number of hot springs in the area, Turkey Creek Hot Springs is on the south side of the Gila Wilderness, inside the Gila National Forest. To reach this romantic area, you’ll have to take a rather strenuous hike, including a crawl through a relatively small opening called the Keyhole, but what’s waiting for you at the end is an idyllic area with toasty warm water that comes out around 165 degrees Fahrenheit and is cooled off by the chill waters of the creek.
You’ll need a car to get to the area, which is around 45 miles from Silver City and around 205 miles from El Paso International Airport. You may want to choose a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle to navigate the twisty gravel road to the trailhead.
How to reach Turkey Creek Hot Springs
The Gila Wilderness is just under 560,000 acres of land to explore, and doesn’t require any passes or permits to visit. Check with the Gila National Forest District ranger station for directions, and to make sure the trail is open. The Turkey Creek Hot Springs Trail is 8.3 miles round-trip with a 469-foot elevation gain, featuring some beautiful views of the surrounding cliffs and lush greenery. There’s some scrambling, as well as river crossings, so make sure to leave enough time. Once you drive down the gravel road to the trailhead (which is listed on Google Maps), you’ll hike along a washed-out road and cross the Gila River. The water can get rather high, so you might want to bring a change of shoes. Keep your eyes open for a fork in the trail that goes to the Skeleton Canyon Trail on one side and the hot springs on the other. There is a camping area along Turkey Creek, about 2 miles up from where you start, so you can pack in and out if you don’t want to drive out of the park after your hike.
Once you get to the springs, you’ll have a choice of spots for a leisurely soak, with numerous warm pools around. That way, even if there are other people (and keep in mind that clothing is optional at many of New Mexico’s springs), you’re likely to have luck finding a place to be relatively alone. Finally, while you’re in the Gila National Forest, check out the largely abandoned town of Mogollon, full of gold rush charm.
New Mexico
Los Alamos Public Schools Students Compete At 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair
Students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School, and Los Alamos High School at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair at New Mexico Tech. Photo CourtesyLAPS
LAHS junior Tate Plohr and freshman Linus Plohr qualified to attend the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Phoenix, Ariz. Photo Courtesy LAPS
Los Alamos Middle School student Branden Keller was awarded the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 at the 2026 New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair. Photo Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Twenty students from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) and Los Alamos High School (LAHS) competed, with several garnering awards at the 2026 New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair held at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
LAHS junior Tate Plohr qualified to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) next month in Phoenix, Ariz. He was awarded the 3rd-place Grand Award. Freshman Linus Plohr qualified as an alternate and will also be attending the Regeneron ISEF.
Students who participated in the state competition include, from Barranca Mesa Elementary, Sydney Chen, Mary Beth Kelsey, Lily Neale, Aurora Roberts Voss and Henry Rodarte; and Glyn Lo and Ernest Maupin, Mountain Elementary.
Students from LAMS who competed include Evelyn Fobes, Mason Garcia, Andrew Gilbertson, James Junghans, Sequoya Ke, Brandon Keller, Nejan Liyanage and Daniel Yampolsky.
LAHS students Julia Neale, Linus Plohr, Tate Plohr, Lilia Veteva, Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch competed at the senior level.
2026 Award winners:
Category Awards – Junior Division
- Animal Science, Cellular & Molecular
- Biomedical & Health Science
- Honorable Mention: Sequoya Ke
- Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, Software & Technology
- 2nd place: Nejan Liyanage
- Physics & Astronomy
- 1st place: Sydney Chen
- 2nd place: Mason Garcia
- Honorable Mention: Marybeth Kelsey
- Plant Science
Category Awards – Senior Division
- Behavioral & Social Science:
- Honorable Mention: Linus Plohr
- Earth & Environmental
- Honorable Mention: Lilia Viteva
- Embedded Systems, Math, Robotics, & System Software
- 3rd Place: Helena Welch and Kalliope Welch
- Physics & Astronomy
Grand Awards
- ISEF finalist 3rd place: Tate Plohr
- Brandon Keller received the CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. James Jungans and Marybeth Kelsey garnered Thermo Fisher Awards.
Other special award winners include:
- CO2 & Greenhouse Reduction Awards (Junior Division)
- Daniel Yampolsky, 2nd place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Sequoya Ke, 1st place, Biomedical & Health Science
- Brandon Keller, 1st place, Energy & Materials Science
- Andrew Gilbertson, 1st place, Physics & Astronomy
- CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Reduction Award (Senior Division)
- Lilia Viteva, 1st place, Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Office of Naval Research Award
- David Shortess Award
- New Mexico AVS Award
- Citadel Award
- Naval Research Award
- NM Network for Women in Science & Engineering Award
- Yale Science & Engineering Award
- Rose Baca Rivet Award
Related
Arizona State baseball will host a four-game homestand, beginning with New Mexico State on Wednesday, April 22.
The Sun Devils and Aggies faced each other in late March, with ASU winning 10-4. The two teams will meet for the final time at 6:35 p.m. at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU will then welcome Baylor on Friday, April 24, for a three-game series. The Sun Devils have yet to face the Bears this season, but ASU has been doing well so far and has been in the top 25 for four weeks.
Sophomore center fielder Landon Hairston earned Big 12 player of the week honors on April 13, after delivering five home runs in five games. His 10 runs in that stretch were tied for the second-most nationally and his 14 runs batted in were tied for third-most nationally. All nine of his hits went for extra bases, three more than any other player.
ASU’s series against Baylor will start at 6:35 p.m. for the first two games, followed by a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 26.
April 19
Softball at Houston, Cougar Softball Stadium, noon.
April 22
Baseball vs New Mexico State, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
April 23
Women’s golf at Big 12 Championship, Dallas Athletic Club, TBA.
Track and field at Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 1:22 p.m.
Beach volleyball at Big 12 Championship, Bear Down Beach, all day.
April 24
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 7 p.m.
April 25
Lacrosse at Colorado, Prentup Field, 11 a.m.
Softball vs Texas Tech, Farrington Stadium, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs Baylor, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 6:35 p.m.
Reach the reporter or send tips for stories at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com, as well as @jennarortiz on X.
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Josh’s Saturday Night Forecast
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer weather has moved back into the state this afternoon. Temperatures are slightly warmer across northwestern New Mexico, while southeastern areas are cooler thanks to the backdoor cold fronts that moved in on Friday. Breezier winds will return Sunday and will help kick off a warming trend across the state, along with an elevated fire threat in eastern New Mexico.
Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.
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