From Pagosa Springs to Steamboat Springs, multiple towns in Colorado have “springs” in their names because of therapeutic geothermal mineral waters attracting soakers for centuries, starting with the Ute Indians. The Utes considered the “medicine” springs sacred, frequenting them for physical and spiritual healing.
The Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop is 800 miles long, making for the ultimate wellness road trip. It has 23 soaking experiences and showcases eight of Colorado’s geothermal hot spots including Glenwood Springs and Durango. From intimate private baths to riverside soaking, each geothermal destination is unique. It’s almost surreal soaking in steamy waters as snowflakes fall around you. If you’re heading to Colorado for a ski vacation or winter getaway, here are some of the best hot springs in Colorado to soak in and soothe your sore muscles after a day on the slopes or adventuring in the snow.
The Mother Spring: The World’s Deepest Geothermal Hot Spring
Just 30 minutes from Wolf Creek Ski Area, The Springs Resort and Spa in Pagosa Springs is home to the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring. Hundreds of years ago, the Southern Ute Indians discovered the Mother Spring and called it “Pagosa,” which is the Ute word for “healing waters.” Guinness World Records certified it to be 1,002 feet deep, but its actual depth is unknown adding to the mystic of the Mother Spring. As a pioneer in water-based wellness, The Springs Resort and Spa has a medical director on staff.
Overlooking the San Juan River, there are 25 thermal pools with a menagerie of 13 minerals ranging from potassium to lithium with scientifically proven health benefits for skin, nervous system and more. It’s truly a relaxation resort with a focus on hydrotherapy and sleep. When I need an escape, this is one of my favorite spots for some self-care. Day passes are available for the steamy pools, but if you stay in one of the resort’s rooms or suites you get 24-hour access to the pools, including VIP access to the adult-only Relaxation Terrace. Stargazing while soaking is phenomenal, but my favorite is a sunrise soak sipping coffee in the Clouds in My Coffee pool followed by an aqua yoga class. Brave the chill with a dip in the 45-60°F water of The Plunge for a contrasting bathing experience, whereas if you like it really hot, the Lobster Pot sits around 112°F. Booking a spa experience can enhance your wellness getaway, with the magnesium muscle melt and aqua massage being two unique body treatments on offer. Daily wellness classes and activities are part of your stay including a guided hike winding up Reservoir Hill for a restorative forest bathing experience in nature.
The Springs Resort and Spa is undergoing a significant expansion with expected completion in early 2025. It includes increasing the resort’s rooms from 79 to 157 and adding 27 geothermal soaking pools and water features exclusively for hotel and spa guests. For a unique snowshoe or winter hike head to the ice caves along the Piedra River. The scenic drive along Piedra Road is worth it alone. Add hiking up the ridge beyond the ice fissures for a panoramic view on a 3-mile round-trip hike. For other soaking experiences in Pagosa Springs, take a dip in the rooftop tubs at Overlook Hot Springs or hot baths at Healing Waters Resort and Spa.
Oxygen Infused Bubbles Experience
Durango Hot Springs is the first natural hot springs in the world infused with nano- and micro-oxygen bubbles to enhance the absorption of the 19 minerals in the water. I was fascinated watching the tiny bubbles at work on my skin during my most recent visit.
The healing waters in the Animas Valley have attracted weary travelers for centuries. The valley was a favorite hunting ground of the Southern Ute Tribe in the 1700s and 1800s. In 1882, Frank Trimble opened the first hotel. Trimble Hot Springs changed ownership multiple times over the years with the current owners changing the name to Durango Hot Springs. There are 32 natural hot spring mineral pools, over 40 water features and a resort-style swimming pool with two cold plunges. Take a walk along the reflexology path and book a spa appointment to elevate your soaking experience. The Athletes Rescue or Stone Cold Fire are fabulous massages after a vigorous day on the slopes. For a more intimate soak, book one of the five private Japanese-style Ofuro tubs. The cedar tubs are perfect for a solo soaker or couple. Durango Hot Springs is about 15-20 minutes from downtown or less than 30 minutes from Purgatory Ski Resort.
There’s a plethora of condos in Purgatory Village if you want to stay where you ski. In downtown Durango, stay at either the historic AAA Three Diamond Strater Hotel dating to 1887 or the boutique AAA Three Diamond Rochester Hotel, also historic dating back to 1892. When you’re not skiing or soaking, take a ride along the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad into a winter wonderland with spectacular views of the Animas River and snow-covered San Juan Mountains. Mesa Verde National Park is less than an hour drive from Durango. It is home to the largest cliff dwelling in North America. While the Cliff Palace Overlook and Cliff Palace Loop Road are typically closed from December 1st to late spring, you can still get an amazing view of the cliff dwelling with 150 rooms and 21 kivas from Sun Point View and Sun Temple along the Mesa Top Loop Road. That 6-mile loop is open year-round and takes you through 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history.
Ouray Hot Springs: America’s Switzerland
Nicknamed “Switzerland of America,” Ouray is one of the world’s top ice climbing destinations and is about an hour from Telluride Ski Resort. This town reminiscent of one you would find in the Alps has multiple options for soaking in thermal waters. Ouray Hot Springs opened in 1927. The water has 17 minerals but is sulfur-free and fed from the Box Canyon. My favorite hot spring there is the Overlook area of two pools divided by an infinity edge waterfall where you soak in 104-106°F water with panoramic views of the San Juans. If you want to sleep where you soak, book at Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs, Twin Peaks Lodge and Hot Springs, or the historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings. Twin Peaks has a new thermal cave experience you can add to a soak, and day passes are available at all three.
The Western Hotel was established in 1891 and recently went through extensive renovations if you’re wanting a luxe stay with western flair. The largest manmade public ice climbing park in the world is in Ouray. It has over 200 routes and spans almost two miles of the Uncompahgre Gorge. If you’ve never tried ice climbing, book a half-day or full-day guided adventure with San Juan Mountain Guides or Basecamp Ouray. Take an hour to visit the Ouray County Historical Museum to learn about Ouray’s past including the town’s unique connection to the Hope Diamond. The Smithsonian dubbed it “the best little museum in the West.”
Soak in a National Natural Landmark
Glenwood Caverns and Iron Mountain Hot Springs were named a National Natural Landmark in December 2023 because of their geologic history spanning millions of years, alongside an intricate cave system with unique ecosystems. Iron Mountain Hot Springs sits along the bank of the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. It’s about 45 minutes from Aspen Snowmass and an hour from Vail, with Sunlight Mountain Resort being less than 25 minutes away. General admission gets you access to 18 mineral pools for three hours including 16 naturally shaped geothermal pools ranging from 98-108°F. There are 31 pools for your soaking enjoyment. The ten adult-only pools in the World Springs area replicate the mineral formulas of famous hot springs around the world like Blue Lagoon in Iceland or Hokkaido in Japan.
For a historic hotel in Glenwood Springs, stay at Hotel Colorado. Built in 1893, it has hosted President Theodore Roosevelt, President William Taft and the “Unsinkable Molly Brown” who survived the RMS Titanic. During World War II, it was the U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital. Hotel Colorado went through a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2021-2022 including a posh facelift to the guest rooms, with several boasting unique and historic suites. The Roosevelt Suite is the same quarters where Roosevelt stayed. The Bell Tower Suite has a spiral staircase to one of the iconic bell towers. The opulent Molly Brown Suite has décor and artifacts fitting for the socialite’s taste.
Take the Glenwood Gondola up to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. It’s the only mountaintop theme park in North America. Most of the thrill rides close for the winter, but you can still race down 3,400 feet of track on the Alpine Coaster, see the Glenwood Springs trolls and go on a tour of Glenwood Caverns to see the historic fairy caves that have attracted visitors since the 1890s. For a stay where you soak getaway, AAA Three Diamond Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is home to the world’s largest mineral soaking pool, an aquatic park and a 107-room lodge. Open since 1888, it’s one of the oldest tourist attractions in Colorado and is expanding to add five more pools, including two waterfalls and a cave, in 2024. Sweat it out at Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves. They are the only naturally occurring underground geothermal steam baths in North America.
Soaking in Steamboat Springs
Before it became known for its legendary Champagne Powder®, Steamboat Springs was known for its therapeutic waters. Steamboat has more winter Olympians than any other town in North America and has deep roots in a ranching lifestyle. Old Town Hot Springs in downtown Steamboat Springs is fed by the Heart Spring naturally pumping approximately 220 gallons of 102-103° water out of the ground every minute. Here you’re soaking in the same springs as pioneers and miners did in the late 1800s.
This family-centric soaking spot is a non-profit center for health and wellness. Kids will love the 230-foot-long water slides. The main hot pool has an aquatic climbing wall at a deeper end of the pool. For adults, soaking in the Heart Spring is a must. No reservations are required at Old Town.
For a more remote soaking experience, take a shuttle to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. From November 1 to May 1, a four-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires or chains is required, so taking the shuttle is a lot easier. The cabins and train cabooses are a popular and great way to combine a soaking spot with snowshoeing or cross-country skiing adventures in the Routt National Forest. This location offers an intimate soaking experience with three pools nestled along a picturesque mountain stream. Here, the coolest pool typically stays around 102 degrees, with two cold plunge areas that are also a part of Hot Spring Creek. Day use guests can reserve a 2-hour window, with reservations being cash only, and required. Clothing is optional after dark, so no minors are allowed after sundown. Their stone-lined pools are in a picturesque setting. For more relaxation and rejuvenation, book a Watsu massage with your soak.
Soak Near the Chalk Cliffs
Colorado’s Banana Belt is home to the quaint towns of Buena Vista and Salida. At the base of the Collegiate Peaks and near the Chalk Cliffs is Mount Princeton Hot Springs. It’s been a soaking destination since 1879 and is about 40 minutes from Monarch Mountain Ski Resort. The natural geothermal hot spring pools are open to the public, but resort guests get extra benefits including discounts on spa treatments and complimentary fitness classes, cross-country skis or snowshoe rental and mountain bike or fat bike rental. Several of the pools can be booked for a private soak. They have a variety of water-based fitness classes including water yoga, aqua biking and even aqua Zumba. If you’re there during a full moon, don’t miss their full moon yoga.
Accommodations include lodge rooms, creekside suites, cabins, cliffside and hillside rooms and nearby estates. I love to stay in one of their 27 cabins, as they’re cozy with easy walking distance to the pools, spa and restaurant from the cabins nestled along Chalk Creek. While there are miles of trails to hike and ski and loads of backcountry adventures nearby, I typically spend most of my getaways to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs at the resort, although I do enjoy taking jaunts into Buena Vista and Salida. Both historic downtowns have deep roots in mining and railroad. Book a guided tour with Salida Walking Tours to hear ghost stories or tales about ruthless outlaws and brothels. The road up to St. Elmo Ghost Town is typically plowed in winter but be prepared for sketchy driving conditions. From St. Elmo, you can go on a snowmobile or snowshoe adventure up Tincup Pass or Hancock Pass. Chaffee County has a few other geothermal soaking spots including Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center and Cottonwood Hot Springs. Antero Hot Springs Cabins have private outdoor soaking pools.
Lesser-Known Soaking Spots
Near Carbondale and Marble, Avalanche Ranch Cabins and Hot Springs is a small family-owned resort. They have three tiered geothermal pools with stunning views of the Crystal River Valley, Elk Range and Mt. Sopris available for overnight and day guests. Their lodging includes log cabins, wagons and a ranch house. South of Salida, Saguache County has several soaking destinations. Joyful Journey Hot Springs is the northern gateway to the San Luis Valley. They have accommodations ranging from hotel rooms to all-season yurts and three pools: 98°F cool pool, 104° medium pool (Tower Pool) and a 108°F hot pool (View Pool). Valley View Hot Springs near Moffat is clothing optional if you want to soak au naturel. Sand Dunes Recreation has a large family pool that stays 98°F year-round and a 25-person 105-107°F therapy pool. Their Greenhouse is adults only and has four soaking pools. Sand Dunes Recreation is closed on Thursdays. Splashland Hot Springs in Alamosa is family-friendly with water slides and a geothermally heated large swimming pool.
The Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop includes just some of the many hot springs across the state. Have fun on a ski and soak vacation or a self-care winter getaway. In winter months hot springs are typically busiest in the late afternoons and evenings, especially on weekends. For a more serene experience with less crowds, go for a morning soak mid-week. Make sure to drink lots of water during and after your soak in steamy geothermal mineral waters.
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