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Colorado · Hot Springs
Colorado has hot springs scattered across the state at elevations ranging from 5,760 feet at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool near Glenwood Springs all the way up to 11,200 feet at Conundrum Hot Springs outside Aspen.
11 spots9 townsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapHot Springs · 11 spots
Colorado has hot springs scattered across the state at elevations ranging from 5,760 feet at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool near Glenwood Springs all the way up to 11,200 feet at Conundrum Hot Springs outside Aspen. Most of the 11 springs on this list are developed facilities — places like Strawberry Park Hot Springs near Steamboat Springs, Orvis Hot Springs near Ridgway, and Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort near Nathrop where you pay an entry fee, find maintained pools, and don't need to plan around trail conditions. The natural springs are a different story. Penny Hot Springs near Carbondale sits right along the Crystal River and is free and walk-in easy, but the pools shrink or disappear entirely when the river runs high in late spring. Radium Hot Springs near Toponas requires a moderate approach. Conundrum Hot Springs is a genuine backcountry destination — a hard, 17-mile round-trip hike with 2,900 feet of gain that puts you at 11,200 feet, where overnight permits are required. If you're comparing options, the developed springs are largely interchangeable on effort but differ a lot in atmosphere, from the clothing-optional quiet of Valley View Hot Springs near Center to the large resort pools at Pagosa Hot Springs near Pagosa Springs.
Conundrum Hot Springs requires an overnight permit through Recreation.gov if you're camping near the pools, and day-use capacity is also managed, so check current requirements before you go. Most developed springs like Strawberry Park, Orvis, and Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort operate on a paid entry or reservation system, especially on weekends, so booking ahead is worth doing rather than assuming walk-in availability.
Winter and fall are the most popular seasons for the developed springs — soaking in 100-degree water while it's snowing is genuinely good and not just a cliche. For natural springs like Penny Hot Springs near Carbondale, avoid late May through early July when snowmelt raises the Crystal River and can flood or cool the pools significantly. Conundrum Hot Springs is best accessed July through September when the trail is snow-free, though afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer at that elevation.
Hot springs
Ridgway, Colorado
Hot springs
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Hot springs
Carbondale, Colorado
Hot springs
Toponas, Colorado
Hot springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Hot springs
Center, Colorado
Penny Hot Springs near Carbondale and Radium Hot Springs near Toponas are free and on public land. Penny is roadside and easy to reach; Radium involves a moderate approach and is more remote. All the developed springs on this list charge entry fees.
For developed springs, a swimsuit, towel, and water shoes cover most situations, though Valley View Hot Springs near Center is clothing-optional so a suit isn't required there. For Conundrum Hot Springs, treat it like any serious mountain hike: layers, rain gear, trekking poles, and enough food and water for a full day or overnight. At any spring, drinking water is important since soaking in hot water at altitude dehydrates you faster than you'd expect.
Conundrum is in a completely different category from everything else here. It sits at 11,200 feet and requires a hard, multi-mile backcountry hike — most visitors treat it as an overnight trip. Every other spring on this list, including Radium Hot Springs which is rated moderate, involves either a short walk or a drive-up approach. If you want a backcountry hot spring experience without committing to a full expedition, Radium near Toponas is the next step up from the easy developed options.
