Therapeutic geothermal mineral waters in the Rockies have attracted soakers for centuries, starting with the Utes, who frequently visited them for physical and spiritual healing. These days, people often seek them out after a day on the slopes or adventuring in the backcountry,
Or you can soak for the sake of soaking by taking an 800-mile Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop for the ultimate in relaxing road trips. Here are 10 of the best.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
For a remote soaking experience while in Steamboat Springs, head to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. From November 1 through May 1, a four-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires or chains is required, so taking the shuttle from town is easiest.
Book one of their cabins or train cabooses for an overnight stay. Go on a snowshoeing or cross-country skiing adventure in Routt National Forest before soaking in one of the stone-lined thermal pools nestled along the picturesque creek. Massages are also available.
Things to know before going: reservations are required, cash only, and minors are not allowed after sundown since clothing is optional in the evenings.
Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa
Less than 30 minutes from Winter Park, Granby Ranch, or Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa has 22 mineral pools and private baths, including a solarium pool. The waters here were sacred to the Utes for their medicinal properties.
The resort has a rustic charm, a nod to the town’s heyday in the early 1900s. You can stay in one of its 17 motel rooms, an 1840s cabin, or an apartment.
When you soak and stay here, you’re experiencing a piece of ski history. The first Winter Carnival west of the Mississippi was in Hot Sulphur Springs in 1911, making it the birthplace of Colorado’s ski industry.
Iron Mountain Hot Springs
Iron Mountain Hot Springs is a National Natural Landmark along with Glenwood Caverns.
Nestled along the bank of the Colorado River, it’s 25 minutes from Sunlight, 45 minutes from Aspen, and 1 hour from Vail ski resorts.
There are 31 pools for your enjoyment, but for a global soaking experience, book the WorldSprings area, which has 10 adult-only pools replicating mineral formulas from famous hot springs worldwide.
Hotel Colorado is just a mile away for a historic stay. Constructed in 1893, it has hosted famous guests such as President Theodore Roosevelt, President William Taft, and the Unsinkable Molly Brown.
For an epic view of Glenwood Springs, book either the Bell Tower Suite or Molly Brown Suite, which pays homage to the Titanic survivor.
Visit Yampah Spa Vapor Caves, North America’s only naturally occurring underground geothermal steam baths, to detox and rejuvenate with a spa treatment.
Glenwood Hot Springs Resort
People take a dip at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort on July 30, 2019 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Home of the world’s largest hot spring pool since 1888, Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is great for families and easily accessible from nearby Sunlight Mountain Resort, Aspen, Snowmass, or Vail.
The Utes originally called it “Yampah, ” meaning “Big Medicine.” The resort recently opened its Yampah Mineral Baths, adding five pools, two waterfalls, and a grotto.
Relax in one of the jet chairs in the 104-degree Therapy Pool. Stay where you soak and book a room at the Lodge at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. All rooms are getting a refresh in stages this winter. Renovations and a new boutique hotel in the historic bathhouse are slated to be completed in spring 2025.
Avalanche Ranch Cabins and Hot Springs
This small family-owned resort is in Redstone. The original homestead was built in 1913. Stay in one of the Avalanche Ranch Cabins and Hot Springs’ log cabins or wagons, constructed between 1890 and 1950.
As you soak in one of their three geothermal pools, you’re treated to dramatic views of Mt. Sopris and the Crystal River.
The 36-acre ranch offers snowshoeing, sledding, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.
Take a yoga class at True Nature Healing Arts in nearby Carbondale for an extra wellness boost during your stay.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs
Mount Princeton Hot Springs has been a soaking destination since 1879. It’s about 40 minutes from Monarch Mountain Ski Resort. Accommodations range from cabins to creekside suites.
You get discounts on spa treatments, complimentary fitness classes, cross-country skis, or snowshoe rentals as an overnight guest. Try water-based fitness classes like aqua yoga, biking, or Zumba.
If your stay coincides with a full moon, enjoy the tranquility of full-moon yoga.
Explore the delightful Buena Vista and Salida in Colorado’s Banana Belt during your stay.
Twin Peaks Lodge and Hot Springs
Known as one of the world’s top ice-climbing destinations, Ouray is about an hour from Telluride.
Because the town resembles the Alps, Ouray is dubbed the “Switzerland of America.”
Twin Peaks Lodge and Hot Springs has had nine geothermally heated pools since 1913.
This Swiss-style chalet also has a vapor cave, where you can sweat and detox naturally before relaxing in the soaking tubs.
Dunton Hot Springs
To stay in a restored ghost town, Dunton Hot Springs near Telluride oozes romance and luxury.
The town was established in 1888, and the exclusive resort blends the charm of an old mining town with the comforts of today. All the hand-hewn log cabins have been authentically restored, and each is uniquely decorated with artifacts and Western motif furnishings.
During your stay, you can soak in the restored 19th-century bathhouse, in two small outdoor pools, or inside the Well House cabin.
The Springs Resort and Spa
Home to the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring, The Springs Resort and Spa in Pagosa Springs is 30 minutes from Wolf Creek Ski Area.
Guinness World Records certified the Mother Spring as 1002 feet, but the depth is unknown. The Mother Spring feeds the 25 thermal pools on the cliffside terrace along the San Juan River. Day passes are available, but if you stay overnight at the resort, you get 24-hour access to the five adult-only pools.
If you’re an early riser, sip coffee while soaking in Clouds in My Coffee Pool. For added Zen, add a spa experience or try an aqua yoga or sound bathing class.
The Springs expansion is scheduled to open in Spring 2025. It will include 25 additional pools, doubling the number of geothermal soaking spots.
Durango Hot Springs Resort and Spa
For an oxygen-infused soaking experience, head to Durango Hot Springs, less than 30 minutes from Purgatory Ski Resort. It’s the world’s first natural hot springs infused with nano- and micro-oxygen bubbles to enhance the absorption of the minerals in the water.
Add a massage in the spa, or for a more intimate experience, book one of their five private Japanese-style Ofuro tubs.
Durango Hot Springs partners with multiple lodging partners in downtown Durango, including the historic Strater Hotel, established in 1887, and the boutique and historic Rochester Hotel, built in 1892.
According to the Colorado Geological Survey, the state has 93 known thermal areas. With 30 hot springs destinations in the state, you have plenty of options for soaking after adventuring in our winter wonderland.