Ojo Calliente, NM

 "Warm Eye" in Spanish

As one of the oldest natural health resorts in the U.S., Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa opened its doors in 1868.

Steeped in myth and legend, these ancient springs have been a gathering place and source of healing for thousands of years. The use of the waters can be traced back to the earliest human migrations in the region. The ancestors of today’s Native American Tewa tribes, built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs.

Tradition tells us that often-warring tribesmen would set their weapons and differences aside to gather in peace at the springs to enjoy the benefits of the waters, and to trade and heal their wounds and ailments without conflict.

In the 1500’s the Spaniards, in their quest for gold and the Fountain of Youth, also discovered the springs.

 We had tried to make plans in years past for a visit. This time we made it happen. They have beautiful hotel rooms and cabins that include early entry to the springs without a charge. We stayed with the  riff raff in the treed RV section for $40 per night and would walk over to the springs and restaurant and pay for our use of the pools.
Mornings and evening was the best and most comfortable.

  We got a chance to be a kid again in our unique Mud Pool. Where else can you slather mud all over your body and bake in the sun until done? Toxins are released from the pores of your skin as the  special blend of clay dries. You come away feeling cleansed and refreshed!

The mud bath was a new experience. Slather mud from a fountain all over the body, lay in the sun until it dries. I did wear my sunhat which now has the ring of red mud on it "souvenir". Then step into the cool mud bath water to rinse off some of the mud. Then stand under the buckets to rinse off the rest of the mud. Mike offered to take some dirt from New Mexico so I could do it all again once we left and he would hose me down. But the appeal isn't the same. We left all of the dirt there.

The unique combination of four different sulfur-free mineral waters: Lithia, Iron, Soda and Arsenic, with more than 100,000 gallons a day steaming to the surface revitalizing us.

A Native American legend tells that the giant rock in the Iron Pool guards the place where the ancient people of the mesa once received food and water during times of famine. The warm, iron-rich water bubbles up from the natural pebble floor, providing hot spots to discover in this mystical outdoor cliffside pool. Iron is considered to be beneficial to the blood and immune system.

The people visiting the hot springs seemed to be moving in slow motion. I move and talk fast often and found this a bit odd. Maybe the minerals and arsenic was starting to affect them. 

 Every so often a person from the front desk would walk around carrying a paddle with small chimes that read "whisper zone". After a while, I started to slow down a little bit. It could have been that I was getting relaxed from all of that warm water.

Ojo's Santa Cruz Church built by the Spaniards in 1793. They were determined to convert the Natives Indians to Catholics.

Back at the spa...

Smoking mesquite 

National Historic Bathhouse

I had trouble disconnecting while walking the labyrinth. I just kept looking around at everything instead of clearing my mind. I guess that is how I roll.

The hiking trails from the Hot Springs went into the national forest. The Posi Trail and River Bosque Trails.

The waters at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs have been deemed sacred by the 8 Northern Pueblo tribal communities for nearly 3,000 years. Pueblo ruins rest just above the property.

Pottery chards along the trail

This group was going through a smoke purification ritual before their hike. It was getting pretty warm as we returned from our hike.

Old roundhouse.

Old ovens



 We put in for a 6 am wakeup call (set the alarm on my phone) which startled us. Once we remembered why the alarm was going off, we got ready for an early morning hike up to Joseph's Mica Mine. As we walked the 2 miles up to the mine, I wondered how a person would decide where to start digging a mine. As we walked up the last rise before the mine, the ground started to sparkle in the morning sun. At first I though someone had crushed glass all over the side of the hill. When we looked closer, we saw it was "fools gold" mica.

Mica was sparkling all across the face of the hill.

I could have missed this horned toad if he hadn't moved.

Even though we stayed at the hot springs RV park for 4 nights we only used the hot springs one day and opted for massages the next. It was a good base to hike and visit other sites nearby. The temperatures in New Mexico's desert were in the 70s and 80s which sounds great but gets toasty in the sun making electric hookups and air conditioning a good thing.

The restaurant had amazing food. Blue corn and pinon nut pancakes with berries and burrito with green chile and tomatillos. This place was definitely A1!