
Both Joyful Journey and Valley View offer lodging and spa onsite, and multiple pools for day visitors. The northern San Luis Valley (SLV) is home to a couple of great hot springs resorts. Photo: wanderstruck Hot springs near Alamosa Hike up to the primitive Conundrum Hot Springs near Aspen, CO. Here are the Hot springs near _ _, CO, in alphabetical order: (click an anchor link to jump to town) Please respect any of the hot springs you visit and clean up trash. Primitive ones are far less reliable than a resort, can get overly crowded, and are weird. Some of these require hiking, some don’t. While the latter is free, undeveloped hot springs. The former option permits access to overnight guests only, usually all year. Unless they are marked (private) or (primitive), they are public resorts open to the public year-round. Let’s go over some popular vacation towns and the hot springs closest to them. Glenwood Hot Springs – the largest mineral pool in the world. Others require a short-to-long drive to reach.Ĭhances are good that if you have access to your own vehicle, you can reach a hot spring in an hour (or two), from most towns in CO that reside in or close to the Rockies. Several towns, such as some with “Springs” in their last name, have one or more soaking pools. The Rocky Mountains are blessed with many of them, and some Colorado towns are luckier than others.Ī lot of tourists and locals alike would love to include a hot springs visit in their Colorado vacation. While many of the hot springs on this list draw their own large crowds, these pristine pools are reported to boast the most serenity and provide an escape from civilization on a 3-mile round trip hike.Whether you’re shredding the local ski slopes, hiking the region’s highest peaks, or even just strolling the town’s historic district, sometimes recreation is best paired with a soak in thermal hot springs. In fact, the pool gets washed out by snow melt each year and has to be rebuilt by visitors, so take caution when visiting in the spring.Īlso known as the “Sheep Creek Hot Springs” by locals, these turquoise gems in the San Juan mountains range from a scalding 140 degrees to more moderate temperatures along the river. These primitive springs are located right on the banks of the Colorado River, which typically cools down the temperature to about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The lengthy journey to get here will make these panoramic pools all the more enjoyable.ĭon’t be fooled by the mileage! Although it’s only a short 1.4-mile out-and-back hike, the trail is steep and direct, bringing you straight down to the mineral pools. However, Conundrum’s springs should be on everyone’s bucket list due to the jaw-dropping mountain scenery everywhere you look. The trail is typically backpacked as a two-day trip and requires obtaining a permit from due to the fragile nature of this ecosystem.

The strenuous 17-mile round trip hike is nothing to scoff at and takes you through difficult terrain at high elevation. Situated in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, these hot springs sit at a lofty 11,200 feet above sea level. This is one of the most isolated hot springs on our list, but the seclusion and reward of soaking your weary muscles after a 4.5-mile hike makes it a must-visit on any list. The trail takes you past picturesque waterfalls, through thick forest, and over old wooden bridges to a collection of two main pools right at the river’s edge.

Located along the San Juan River, the 7-mile round-trip hike here is worth the journey on its own. Always do your research on the best season to recreate in these backcountry destinations. It is important to note that, while a post-ski soak in one of these springs would be a dream-come-true, avalanche hazards also become prevalent, and many of the roads may be inaccessible to vehicles in the winter. Of course, getting to these special spots requires a little bit of walking. IF YOU’VE ALWAYS DREAMED of relaxing in a steaming mineral pool overlooking a rushing river amidst the deep valleys and snowcapped peaks of this beautiful state, here’s your jam: We give you four of the best backcountry hot springs in Colorado.
