Black Rock is the farther upstream (north) of two hot springs locations along the Rio Grande near Taos. There are two soaking pools located one above the other right next to the river. The hike is short and easy, but getting there on the network of confusing gravel roads requires focus. Each pool can comfortably accommodate about four people. Nudity is common, but since the two pools are small and very close together, a single pool full of textiles can put a damper on nudity. (In such situations, it is usually the first people there at a given time that determine whether or not nudity is appropriate.)

The other hot springs site—Manby—is about 1.5 miles south of Black Rock as the crow flies, or 3.3 miles by car. However, driving the short route between the springs may be inadvisable unless you have a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle. A two-mile stretch of this short route is quite rough and may be impassable to regular vehicles depending on recent weather and maintenance. Otherwise, the driving distance from Black Rock to Manby via State Highway 522 and US Highway 64 is about 20 miles.

If you have the time and energy to visit both Black Rock and Manby, then do. If you have to choose one, then choose Manby. Manby has better opportunities for nudity. Furthermore, the Black Rock pools are more likely to get flooded during spring.

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 36.5312, -105.7121

city, county, state, country  Arroyo Hondo, Taos, New Mexico, U.S.A.

classification  2 (traditionally nude)

There are 9 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Manby (Stagecoach) Hot Springs and Black Rock Hot Springs.