Warm up this Winter with a Visit to a Colorado Hot Spring

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Colorado has dozens of natural hot springs, some of which are in century-old facilities and others that are literally just off the side of the road. Here are more than two dozen across the state that can be integrated into any trip to the Centennial State, whether you’re looking for a soothing post-hike soak or a romantic getaway—or something in between.

Old Town Hot Springs, Steamboat Springs

Located on Lincoln Avenue in the heart of downtown Steamboat Springs, Old Town Hot Springs is a family-friendly nonprofit with water slides, a fitness center, massage services and childcare in addition to eight geothermal pools. Open year round, the pools are fed by Heart Spring and the water comes right out of the ground at a very pleasant 103F.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs, Steamboat Springs

Sitting alongside Hot Springs Creek just outside Steamboat and surrounded by the pristine beauty of Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Strawberry Park is a beautiful facility with four pools and several fantastic accommodation options including a renovated train caboose. The 104F mineral water is soothing enough, but Strawberry Park also offers massage treatments in private huts and watsu therapy in a private pool. Being surrounded by nature, a four-wheel drive vehicle with snow chains or snow tires is required to get to the springs between Nov. 1 and May 1.

Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa, Hot Sulphur Springs

This spring was originally a winter campground for Ute Indians who used the restorative and rejuvenating power of the hot springs for hundreds of years before William Byers somewhat unscrupulously took control of the waters in 1840. In operation for over a century, Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa has seven natural springs that surface between 104F and 126F and fill the 21 mineral pools and baths. The resort also has lodging options (including an apartment and a lodge). Room rates include access to the pools. The spa also offers a range of wellness treatments, including several types of massages.

Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs, Redstone

This 36-acre ranch alongside the Crystal River is surrounded by outstanding natural beauty. In addition to the three natural hot springs pools that cascade from one pool to the next, the largest of which is fed by a three-foot waterfall in front of a grotto, there are hiking trails, a stocked fishing pond and private riverfront access. With views of Mt. Sopris and Avalanche Creek Valley, Avalanche Ranch has several accommodation options including studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom cabins and converted covered wagons. All accommodation offers 24-hour access to the pools. Day visitors are required to make a reservation.

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Glenwood Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Glenwood Springs

One of the better known hot springs in the state, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, has been curing ailments and relaxing aching muscles for 135 years. Around an hour from both Aspen and Vail, the resort boasts the world’s largest hot springs pool, but the real beauty is that it is a family resort with something for everyone. In addition to the 1,071,000-gallon natural hot springs pool, there is the Sopris Splash Zone aquatic park, the warmer Therapy Pool, and an award-winning Athletic Club with a private pool deck. In 2024, a new swimming area with five additional pools featuring varying water temperatures and a shade pergola will be unveiled. For those who want to stay for more than just the day, the 107-room Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge is on the grounds of the resort.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Glenwood Springs

Sitting on the east bank of the Colorado River, just west of Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs, the pools at Iron Mountain Hot Springs are fed by three springs that emerge on the property. The resort has a large family pool with 100,000 gallons of chlorinated fresh water and 16 smaller pools connected by heated walkways. The water in the 16 smaller pools is untreated and unfiltered and contains a natural white algae that is said to aid in moisturizing the skin.

Penny Hot Springs, Carbondale

Penny Hot Springs is a steaming pool of mineral water in the middle of the Crystal River on Highway 133 between Carbondale and Redstone. At about 20 feet across and two feet deep, the pool can accommodate between 10-12 people. This most natural and unadulterated of hot springs is sectioned off from the river by large rocks, which can be moved around to adjust the temperature. Originally the hot spring served Dan Penny’s (for whom the pool is now named) small hotel and bathhouse. In the 1960’s people started soaking sans clothing and local residents were enraged to the point where the bathhouse was eventually bulldozed. The property the hot spring is on was acquired by Pitkin County in the early 90’s and restored for public use. There is no charge for using Penny Hot Springs, but please be sure to take away all trash and remember there are no bathroom facilities so plan accordingly.

Overlook Hot Springs Spa, Pagosa Springs

It will come as no surprise that a town with a name like Pagosa Springs has more than one hot springs option. Overlook Hot Springs has, as the name suggests, roof-top tubs where you can sit and look out over Pagosa’s Main Street and the San Juan River. The modest facility also has five indoor pools and one completely private tub. Like many of the hot spring facilities in the state, Overlook Hot Springs offers various massage treatments.

The Springs Resort, Pagosa Springs

Across the San Juan River from Overlook Hot Springs Spa, the Springs Resort is a sprawling property that is home to the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring. There are just over two dozen mineral soaking pools (23 of which are all-natural, unfiltered mineral water hot springs including "The Plunge," a cold plunge directly in the San Juan River, and The Burg which is a geothermal hot spot in the river). There are also 79 rooms and a full-service spa. Guests at the Lodge also get 24-hour access to the soaking pools.

Healing Waters Resort & Spa, Pagosa Springs

In operation since 1950, the family-owned Healing Waters isn’t shy about touting its health credentials—it is in the name after all. The modestly-sized property offers a large outdoor swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub and separate men’s and women’s indoor hot baths, all of which are filled with unadulterated natural mineral water. There is also a spa that offers various treatments. Healing Waters also has a range of accommodation options including rooms, suites with kitchenettes, and cabins.

Durango Hot Hot Springs Resort and Spa, Durango

Formerly known as Trimble Spa & Natural Hot Springs, the property was purchased in 2019. A renovation was soon underway and currently there are 41 water features including pools of varying temperatures, a resort-style pool and two cold plunges as well as upgraded amenities that include saunas, and venues for entertainment, food, and beverage, wellness activities, and expanded spa services. The redesigned campus also has 12 ADA accessible mineral pools and zero-entry access to the swimming pool.

The Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs, Ouray

If anywhere can give Pagosa a run for the hot springs capital of Colorado, it is Ouray, the Switzerland of America. The Wiesbaden is one of four hot springs properties in town. Located at the south end of town, the historic property has a main outdoor pool, a natural vapor cave (which has an additional soaking pool) and the Lorelei, a private soaking pool fed by a small waterfall from the same source as the pool. The Wiesbaden also has a variety of accommodation options, from small rooms to entire off-site properties, each of which comes with unlimited use of the hot springs, vapor cave and outdoor pool. Access to the Lorelei is discounted for overnight guests.

Twin Peaks Lodge and Hot Springs, Ouray

Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs has an outdoor pool with a spectacular mountain view as well as two soaking tubs: an indoor tub for adults only and a second tub outdoors. All of the hot springs facilities at Twin Peaks are open 24 hours. The water comes out of the ground at a scorching 156F, but cold spring water is added to bring the temperature down to a more friendly temperature. Perhaps in an effort to make it stand out from the crowd, Twin Peaks has a tiki bar.

Ouray Hot Springs Pool, Ouray

Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, the Ouray Hot Springs Pool is a community facility. In operation since 1927, the 750,000-gallon, sulfur-free mineral pool is open year round (parts of it at least). With five distinct sections—shallow, hot, lap, activity and the overlook (the latter being a space for those over 18 which closes during off season as does the activity area)—the Ouray Hot Springs offers something for everyone. The facility is owned and operated by the city of Ouray.

Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs, Ouray

Also at the south end of Ouray (literally a two-minute walk from Twin Peaks), Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs pretty much backs up to the canyon. The 39-room property (with two large suites, two small suites, a honeymoon suite and an apartment) has four redwood soaking tubs that are terraced on the mountainside immediately behind the lodge with spectacular views. Big enough for about four people at a time, the tubs are exclusively for use by guests at the lodge. The hot springs water is also used throughout the lodge for heating during the winter months and, using a heat exchanger, is used to heat the domestic water.

Orvis Hot Springs, Ridgway

In nearby Ridgway and surrounded by the mountains, Orvis Hot Springs is one of the few clothing optional resorts around. There are six outdoor and three indoor options (bathing suits are required in the indoor pool between 7 am and 10 pm) and a sauna. A range of massage treatments are also available. Orvis also has six themed rooms for overnight stays. Bed and breakfast style, the rooms are tastefully decorated and share two full bathrooms that are accessed from a private hallway between rooms. Guests have 24-hour access to all of the hot springs facilities beginning the day of check-in through the entire day of checkout.

Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa, Buena Vista

With several pools that range from 94F to 110F, Cottonwood Hot Springs caters to both day visitors and, thanks to creekside cabins and a lodge, overnight visitors, too. Cottonwood offers various spa services including Swedish and deep tissue massages, hot stone therapy, salt scrubs, herbal wraps, aromatherapy, shiatsu and reflexology.

Antero Hot Springs Cabins, Nathrop

Along the banks of Chalk Creek (the same creek that provides Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort with its 30 pools) in San Isabel National Forest, the three Antero Hot Springs cabins each come with a hot spring pool and, naturally, amazing views of the mountains. Relax in your own pool which is exclusive to cabin guests 24 hours a day. Cabins are easily accessible year-round.

Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center, Salida

Open year round, the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is located right in downtown Salida. Operated by the city, it is a community facility with a lap pool, fitness classes, a water slide and other activities for kids as well as a pool that is used for arthritis therapy among other things. There are also private soaking pools which can be reserved in advance.

Valley View Hot Springs, Villa Grove

A clothing-optional resort, Valley View Hot Springs is an hour from Alamosa and 45 minutes from Salida. Orient Land Trust, the nonprofit that operates Valley View, strictly limits the number of day and overnight visitors, so reservations are recommended. Six all-natural soaking ponds are found along wilderness trails while a hot tub and swimming pool are also available. The resort is closed from Dec. 1 - Dec. 29.

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort, Nathrop

One of the better known hot springs in Colorado, Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is a luxurious property in the mountains that has several geothermal springs. With 30 small pools in Chalk Creek, which runs alongside the property, as well as a historic bathhouse and the Upper Pools that are connected by a lazy river and features a 400’ water slide, Mount Princeton lives up to its name as a resort. It also happens to be close to both Monarch and Ski Cooper ski areas and so is popular in winter as an après ski destination. The surrounding scenery also helps to relax your mind as the geothermal water goes to work on your muscles.

Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa, Moffat

Bubbling up from beneath the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 140F, Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa is open every day of the year. Pretty much equidistant from both Alamosa and Salida, there are three gravity-fed pools that range in temperature from 98F to 110F. Pools are emptied, cleaned and refilled daily. This San Luis Valley hot spring also has some pretty unique lodging options including a yurt and a tiny tipi village.

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