Colorado’s dramatic landscapes are dotted with natural treasures that offer more than just visual beauty—they provide immersive experiences that rejuvenate both body and spirit. Among these treasures are the state’s numerous hot springs, nature’s perfect antidote to modern life’s constant demands. Nestled among mountains, forests, and river valleys, these geothermal pools offer mineral-rich waters and serene settings for those seeking tranquility.
Here is a list of 19 remarkable hot springs across Colorado where you can soak, enjoy the brilliant night skies, and truly disconnect from everyday stress.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Just outside Steamboat Springs, these naturally shaped pools blend seamlessly with their forest surroundings. The primitive stonework creates various temperature zones where visitors can find their perfect soaking spot.
After sunset, the springs become adults-only, and the absence of artificial lighting makes for exceptional stargazing while you soak in mineral-rich waters.
Dunton Hot Springs
This restored ghost town in the San Juan Mountains offers an exclusive retreat centered around pristine hot springs. The rustic luxury of private cabins complements the communal bathhouse and outdoor pools, where guests soak in waters rich in calcium bicarbonate, iron, and manganese.
The remote location ensures minimal light pollution, creating ideal conditions for nighttime sky observation.
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Orvis Hot Springs
Located near Ridgway, this clothing-optional retreat features seven different soaking areas with varying temperatures. The meticulously landscaped grounds include ponds, rock formations, and vegetation that create private nooks for peaceful contemplation.
The main outdoor pool offers panoramic views of the Cimarron range, which is particularly breathtaking when dusted with snow.
Valley View Hot Springs
This solar-powered, not-for-profit retreat sits on a 2,200-acre wildlife preserve managed by the Orient Land Trust. The natural setting includes multiple ponds and pools scattered across the hillside, connected by walking paths that wind through meadows and forests.
The springs’ elevation at 8,800 feet creates remarkably clear night skies for soakers seeking celestial views.
Pagosa Springs
Home to the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring, this destination offers various soaking options centered around the ‘Mother Spring.’ The minerals found in these waters include sulfur, sodium, chloride, potassium, and fluoride, all believed to have therapeutic benefits.
The riverside location adds the soothing soundtrack of rushing water to your soaking experience.
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Mount Princeton Hot Springs
These springs in Nathrop feature both constructed pools and natural creek-side hot pots that vary with the seasons. During lower water periods, visitors can arrange rocks in Chalk Creek to create personal soaking spots where hot spring water mixes with cold creek water.
The surrounding Collegiate Peaks provide a majestic backdrop that enhances the feeling of peaceful isolation.
Ouray Hot Springs Pool
Recently renovated, this community-centered spring offers different sections with temperatures ranging from 80 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The infinity edge provides unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains, appropriately nicknamed the ‘Switzerland of America.’
The town’s strict lighting ordinances preserve dark skies, making evening soaks particularly magical.
Radium Hot Springs
For those willing to hike, this undeveloped spring along the Colorado River offers an authentic backcountry experience. The mile-long trail from the parking area ensures smaller crowds and a genuine connection with nature.
The pools sit directly beside the river, creating opportunities to alternate between hot mineral soaking and refreshing river dips.
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Indian Hot Springs
This historic site in Idaho Springs features multiple soaking options, including private baths, geothermal caves, and an indoor pool housed under a translucent dome. The tropical plants throughout the facility create a surprising oasis atmosphere in this mountain setting.
The proximity to Denver makes it accessible, yet the unique underground caves provide a feeling of escape from everyday life.
Piedra River Hot Springs
These springs require a moderate 1.5-mile hike through scenic river valley terrain. Visitors are rewarded with primitive pools built up with stones along the riverbank. The effort needed to reach them ensures a peaceful experience typically shared with only a few other soakers.
The springs’ primitive nature creates an intimate connection with the surrounding wilderness.
South Canyon Hot Springs
This hidden gem near Glenwood Springs attracts those seeking solitude rather than amenities. The undeveloped pools offer beautiful views of the canyon with minimal maintenance or oversight.
The hike required to reach them ensures that only the most dedicated soakers discover this peaceful retreat away from more commercialized options.
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Desert Reef Hot Spring
This distinctive spring in Florence offers a Florida Keys atmosphere in Colorado’s high desert. The single large pool maintains a consistent 100-degree temperature year-round, and its waters are rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
The contrast of palm trees against the arid landscape creates a unique, soaking environment unlike any other in the state.
Cottonwood Hot Springs
Established in the 1880s, these springs in Buena Vista focus on wellness and relaxation rather than recreation. The creekside stone pools vary in temperature and size, accommodating both social gatherings and solitary reflection.
The on-site lodging options allow visitors to experience the springs during early morning and late evening hours when the atmosphere is most serene.
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Trimble Hot Springs
Located in the Animas Valley near Durango, these springs combine historic charm with modern facilities. The terraced pools offer different temperature options while overlooking the peaceful valley.
Evening soaks often feature minimal crowds and expansive views of stars appearing over the silhouetted mountains.
Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
As the largest indoor hot springs facility in North America, this municipal pool offers a consistent soaking experience regardless of weather conditions. The clear roof panels allow natural light and limited stargazing while providing shelter.
The springs supply naturally soft water with minimal mineral smell, making it approachable for first-time soakers.
Conundrum Hot Springs
Perhaps Colorado’s most famous backcountry springs, these pools require a challenging 8.5-mile hike to reach an elevation of 11,200 feet. The effort filters out casual visitors, ensuring that those who make the journey truly appreciate the pristine alpine environment.
The overnight trip necessary for most visitors creates opportunities for sunrise and sunset soaks with unmatched mountain panoramas.
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Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs
Three-tiered pools cascade down a hillside at this charming retreat near Redstone. The varying temperatures allow guests to find their ideal soaking conditions while enjoying views of Mount Sopris and Elephant Mountain.
The ranch’s remote location creates a stargazer’s paradise where the Milky Way often appears as a bright band across the night sky.
Joyful Journey Hot Springs
Situated in the San Luis Valley with sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, these springs offer a meditative atmosphere focused on wellness. The high mineral content, particularly the lithium compounds, creates remarkably buoyant water that supports relaxed floating.
The valley location provides unobstructed panoramas of Colorado’s famously vibrant sunsets transitioning into star-filled nights.
Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa
This historic Ouray destination features a vapor cave where mineral water flows through a natural underground chamber, creating a therapeutic steam room effect, unlike conventional hot springs. The constant 108-degree temperature and high humidity create an intense detoxifying experience that has attracted wellness seekers for generations.
The outdoor pool offers a refreshing complement to the cave, with mountain views framed by the property’s stone walls.
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Hot Springs Harmony
Colorado’s geothermal treasures provide more than mere recreation—they offer genuine opportunities for reconnection with nature and oneself.
These springs, heated by the Earth’s core and infused with minerals from ancient rock formations, remind us of our planet’s dynamic systems and our place within them. Whether seeking physical healing, mental clarity, or simply a peaceful escape, Colorado’s diverse hot springs invite visitors to slow down and absorb the restorative power that flows naturally from the land.
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