Country
United States
Reviews
No reviews yet
Family friendly
Yes
Season
Late summer to autumn, and winter on calm days; spring snowmelt often submerges the pools
About Black Rock Hot Springs
Black Rock Hot Springs is a pair of small, rock-lined soaking pools on the west bank of the Rio Grande, inside the Rio Grande Gorge a few minutes downstream of the historic John Dunn Bridge, about 30 minutes' drive north-west of Taos. The land along the gorge here is managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of Río Grande del Norte National Monument. Geothermal water seeps up through the riverbed and collects in a larger main pool and a smaller, hotter one; the main pool usually runs in the high 90s Fahrenheit (about 36-38°C), and its depth and temperature change with the river level. In spring snowmelt the Rio Grande can cover or wash out the pools entirely, and a winter flood in 2019 damaged them. The setting is dark basalt boulders and canyon walls, with the river running right beside the pools. Soaking is free, there are no facilities, and clothing is optional: many soakers go nude, but clothed visitors are common too. Because it is close to the road and well known, expect company on weekends and in good weather; the pools hold only a handful of people. Nearby Manby Hot Springs, upstream on the east side, is a separate site.
Legal context & local rules
The springs are on public land along the Rio Grande, and no BLM or state source designates them clothing-optional; New Mexico's tourism site describes the pools without mentioning nudity. Nude soaking is a long-standing, tolerated custom here, as at most remote New Mexico hot springs, but it rests on custom rather than any rule. No recent enforcement reports were found (checked 2026).
Public nudity is largely prohibited in the US under indecent exposure laws which vary significantly by state. Vermont has no state-level law against public nudity, making it unique. Florida designates specific beaches as clothing-optional (Haulover Beach, Blind Creek State Park). Federal jurisprudence under the First Amendment has occasionally recognised nude expression in protests, though states regulate for public decency standards. Most states prohibit exposure of "sexual organs" in public under statutes similar to Florida Statute § 800.03.
What’s here
Getting there and visiting
From Taos take US 64/NM 522 north towards Arroyo Hondo, then turn west on County Road B-007 (John Dunn Bridge Road), a gravel road that follows the Rio Hondo for about 3 miles down into the gorge. Cross the one-lane John Dunn Bridge and park at the first switchback on the west side. A short, steep and rocky trail (about a quarter mile, 5-10 minutes) leads downstream to the pools. Sturdy shoes are needed and there is no wheelchair access. The road has been closed at times for bridge work and rockslides, so check with the BLM Taos Field Office before going.
What visitors say
Visitors praise the setting, with hot water right next to the cold river in a deep basalt canyon, and the short walk from the car. The most common complaints are crowding, because the pools are small and easy to reach, and the variability: depending on river flow the pools can be lukewarm, muddy or underwater. Clothing-optional soaking is normal and generally relaxed. Tips that come up repeatedly are to go early or on weekdays, bring water shoes and a towel, pack out all trash, and check river levels and road status first.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Before you go
- 1 Check the current local rules and access conditions before travelling.
- 2 Bring a towel and sit on it when using shared seating.
- 3 Never take photographs of other people without clear consent.
- 4 Respect the venue’s clothing, privacy, and behaviour rules.
Location
⌖View this place on the map
36.5307, -105.7123
Frequently asked questions
Is nudity allowed at Black Rock Hot Springs?
It is customarily clothing-optional and nude soaking is common, but there is no official designation. Expect a mix of nude and clothed soakers.
How far is the walk?
About a quarter mile, 5-10 minutes, downhill from the parking at the first switchback past the John Dunn Bridge. It is steep and rocky.
When is the best time to go?
Late summer through winter, when the Rio Grande is low. During spring runoff the river often covers the pools.
Does it cost anything?
No. It is free, with no facilities, so bring your own water and towel and pack out trash.
Sources
- New Mexico True: Natural Hot Springs Official
- Islands.com: Black Rock Hot Springs, New Mexico
- Wikipedia: John Dunn Bridge
- Wikipedia: Black Rock Hot Springs
- 303 Magazine: 10 hikes around Taos
- Lonely Planet: Best hot springs in New Mexico
- Taos.org: Hot springs and day spas Official
- Federal Register notice: John Dunn Bridge area temporary closure (2023) Official
Researched 24 October 2026 .
Help keep this page accurate
Conditions and venue policies change. Submit a correction or update so other naturists can make informed decisions.
Suggest an update →Members’ reviews
Write a review →No member reviews yet. Been here? Share what it was like.
More naturist places in United States
View all in United States →Alice Falls
Alice Falls is a waterfall and swimming spot on the Ausable River near Keeseville, at the northeastern edge of the Adirondacks. Flat rock ledges beside the falls are used informally for nude sunbathing, including by families. It has no facilities or official status. River currents can be strong after rain, and visitors should respect nearby residents.
Alpenglow Ranch Clothing Optional B&B
Alpenglow Ranch is a clothing-optional bed and breakfast and small resort near Bend in central Oregon, listed with AANR and the Clothing Optional Home Network. Guests stay in the house and can relax nude around the grounds with views toward the Cascades, using Bend as a base for high-desert hiking and hot springs trips. Booking ahead is required.
Alvord Hot Springs
A privately owned desert soaking spot at the foot of Steens Mountain in south-eastern Oregon. Two rustic concrete pools look out over the white playa of the Alvord Desert. The spring is on a working ranch, and a small fee covers soaking, with bunkhouse rooms and camping nearby. Soaking here is clothing-optional, and the remote setting is known for big skies and stargazing.
Apollo Beach
Apollo Beach is the northern, Volusia County district of Canaveral National Seashore, a federally protected barrier island south of New Smyrna Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast. A park road runs south from the entrance station past five numbered parking areas with boardwalks over the dunes; nude sunbathing happens on the sand south of parking area 5, the last lot before the road ends. A long-standing understanding between naturist groups and rangers dating to 2000 asks people to stay covered until about 150 yards south of that boardwalk, although nude visitors are often seen closer. South of there the beach continues as Klondike Beach, roughly a dozen miles of undeveloped shore with no road access, so the farther you walk the emptier it gets. The beach is wide, soft, pale sand backed by sea oats and dunes, with no shade, no buildings and no vendors. It draws fewer people than Playalinda at the Brevard end of the seashore, mostly because parking is so limited. Volusia County has never passed a public nudity ordinance, which is why this end of the seashore has a calmer legal position than Playalinda. Wildlife sightings (shorebirds, wild hogs, armadillos) are common on the drive in.
Apollo Beach Ramp 5
Apollo Beach Ramp 5 is a nudist-friendly beach in Volusia County, Florida,, USA. Nudity is optional. On-site amenities include restrooms.
Arcadia Romantic Getaway
Arcadia Romantic Getaway is a small, couples-oriented naturist retreat in the rural community of Arcadia, near Shelton in Mason County. The fenced six-acre property has gardens, a pool and a hot tub, and the owner screens visitors, so guests must call ahead. Day passes are available during a summer season that runs roughly from Memorial Day through September. Coordinates mark the Arcadia community, not the exact gate.