Road trip guide
The Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop
The loop is the state tourism office's official hot springs road trip: a circuit from Denver through 8 destinations and the 22 soaking venues that belong to it. Its official site now puts it at about 800 miles; older material says 720. Below are the stops in driving order, what each one has, drive times between them and a week-long itinerary.
- 8Destinations
- 22Hot springs on the loopAll listed and verified here
- ~852 miOur measured routeOfficial figure: about 800 mi
- ~20 hrTotal drivingApproximate, without stops or traffic
01
The route, stop by stop
Colorado.com runs the loop clockwise from Denver: south through Chaffee County and the San Luis Valley, west across the San Juans, then north to Steamboat. Drive times are approximate, from OpenStreetMap road routing between a soak at each stop.
Check before you go
- The Springs Resort: Closed Nov 2-3, 2026 after flooding in Pagosa Springs; reopening expected Nov 4. Check the resort's site before you go.
Start in Denver about 129 mi, 2 hr 55 min to Chaffee County
Chaffee County
Buena Vista, Nathrop, Salida · Official stop page ↗
Mount Princeton and Antero are on Chalk Creek near Nathrop, Cottonwood is west of Buena Vista, and the Salida pool is an indoor 1937 WPA building in town.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
From $40 · 99–120°F · Swimsuits required · Official site ↗
Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa
From $45 · 85–106°F · Swimsuits required · Official site ↗
Antero Hot Springs Cabins
Overnight guests · 100–112°F · Clothing optional in some areas · Official site ↗
Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
Call for prices · 98°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical GardensNearby, not a loop member
From $30 · 99–110°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Next: Saguache County & the San Luis Valley, about 64 mi, 1 hr 35 min
Saguache County & the San Luis Valley
Villa Grove, Moffat, Hooper, Alamosa · Official stop page ↗
Four soaks spread across the flat, high San Luis Valley. Valley View is near Villa Grove and Joyful Journey near Moffat; Sand Dunes Recreation (near Hooper) and Splashland (just north of Alamosa) are farther south. Splashland opens in summer only.
Valley View Hot Springs
From $20 · 91–106°F · Clothing optional · Official site ↗
Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa
From $18 · 98–108°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Sand Dunes Recreation
From $18 · 98–111°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Splashland Hot Springs
Call for prices · 88–96°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Seasonal. Summer-only outdoor pool; the 2026 season opened May 25
Next: Pagosa Springs, about 102 mi, 2 hr 30 min
Pagosa Springs
All three are in town along the San Juan River. The road in from the San Luis Valley crosses Wolf Creek Pass.
The Springs Resort
From $74 · 83–114°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Closed Nov 2-3, 2026 after flooding in Pagosa Springs; reopening expected Nov 4. Check the resort's site before you go.
Healing Waters Resort & Spa
From $25 · Temps not published · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Overlook Hot Springs Spa
From $30 · Temps not published · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Next: Durango, about 69 mi, 1 hr 35 min
Durango
The former Trimble Hot Springs sits north of town, on the way to Ouray. Sessions are booked in two- or three-hour blocks.
Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa
From $49 · Temps not published · Swimsuits required · Official site ↗
Next: Ouray, about 62 mi, 1 hr 40 min
Ouray
US 550 between Durango and Ouray is the Million Dollar Highway, over three high passes. All four soaks are in Ouray itself. Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgway is not a loop member but sits on the road north.
Ouray Hot Springs Pool
From $30 · 95–106°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings
From $55 · 100–108°F · Clothing optional in some areas · Official site ↗
Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs
From $39 · 100–106°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs
Call for prices · 103–108°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Orvis Hot SpringsNearby, not a loop member
From $35 · 65–114°F · Clothing optional in some areas · Official site ↗
Next: Carbondale, about 132 mi, 3 hr 15 min
Carbondale
Redstone, Carbondale · Official stop page ↗
Avalanche Ranch is in the Crystal River Valley south of Carbondale, on Highway 133, which the drive from Ouray reaches over McClure Pass. Free, roadside Penny Hot Springs is on the same road (not a loop member).
Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs
From $34 · 88–105°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Penny Hot SpringsNearby, not a loop member
Free · Temps not published · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Next: Glenwood Springs, about 25 mi, 40 min
Glenwood Springs
Three very different soaks, all in town: the huge resort pool, the small riverside pools at Iron Mountain, and the underground steam caves at Yampah.
Glenwood Hot Springs Resort
From $42 · 90–104°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Iron Mountain Hot Springs
From $43 · 89–112°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves
Call for prices · 110–113°F · Swimsuits required · Official site ↗
Next: Steamboat Springs, about 114 mi, 2 hr 40 min
Steamboat Springs
Old Town is downtown and walk-in. Strawberry Park is about 7 miles out on a partly unpaved road that legally requires 4WD or AWD with snow tires from November through April.
Old Town Hot Springs
From $35 · 96–105°F · Clothing rule not stated · Official site ↗
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
From $30 · Temps not published · Clothing optional after dark · Official site ↗
Next: Denver, about 155 mi, 3 hr 25 min
Back to Denver
Loop complete · ~852 mi of driving
02
A 7-day itinerary
One stop a day with a long soak at each. Book the timed venues (Valley View, Durango, Avalanche Ranch, Strawberry Park) before you go; the rest take walk-ins.
- Day 1
Denver to Chaffee County
Drive southwest to the Arkansas River valley and spend the afternoon at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort or Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa; both take walk-ins. Sleep at either, or book one of the three private-pool cabins at Antero Hot Springs Cabins.
Driving: Denver → Chaffee County about 129 mi, 2 hr 55 min - Day 2
Into the San Luis Valley
Head south over Poncha Pass. Valley View Hot Springs caps daily visitors and books by phone, so reserve before you leave home. Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa near Moffat is the other overnight option, with rooms, yurts and campsites.
Driving: Chaffee County → Saguache County about 64 mi, 1 hr 35 min - Day 3
Over Wolf Creek Pass to Pagosa Springs
Stop at Sand Dunes Recreation on the way south if you didn't soak there yesterday (it closes Thursdays). In Pagosa, soak in the evening at The Springs Resort, whose overnight guests can soak at any hour, or try the rooftop tubs at Overlook Hot Springs Spa.
Driving: Saguache County → Pagosa Springs about 102 mi, 2 hr 30 min - Day 4
Durango, then the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray
Book a two- or three-hour session at Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa for midday, then drive north on US 550 over three high passes to Ouray. Leave the evening for Ouray Hot Springs Pool.
Driving: Pagosa Springs → Durango about 69 mi, 1 hr 35 min · Durango → Ouray about 62 mi, 1 hr 40 min - Day 5
Ouray to the Crystal River Valley and Glenwood Springs
Start with the vapor cave at Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings (passes are sold on site from the morning). It is the longest drive of the trip, so reserve a four-hour afternoon slot at Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs ahead of time and check river levels at free Penny Hot Springs nearby. Sleep in Glenwood Springs.
Driving: Ouray → Carbondale about 132 mi, 3 hr 15 min · Carbondale → Glenwood Springs about 25 mi, 40 min - Day 6
Glenwood Springs to Steamboat
Spend the morning at Iron Mountain Hot Springs or the Grand Pool at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort (the steam caves at Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves need a reservation). Then drive north and use a pre-booked two-hour evening slot at Strawberry Park Hot Springs; it is cash only.
Driving: Glenwood Springs → Steamboat Springs about 114 mi, 2 hr 40 min - Day 7
Steamboat back to Denver
Soak at Old Town Hot Springs downtown before the drive home over Rabbit Ears Pass.
Driving: Steamboat Springs → Denver about 155 mi, 3 hr 25 min
Only have 5 days?
Soak in the San Luis Valley on the way through instead of staying (day 2 and 3 become one day, 4 hr 5 min of driving), and on the last day drive Glenwood to Steamboat to Denver in one go (6 hr at the wheel), with a soak at Old Town on the way.
03
Best season
The loop works year-round, and colorado.com suggests a week or two for the full circuit.
Summer (June to August) is the only time every venue is open. These run on a season: Splashland Hot Springs (Summer-only outdoor pool; the 2026 season opened May 25). It is also when the passes are easiest to drive.
September and early October bring cooler evenings, and colorado.com points to fall color around Glenwood Springs. Summer extras close after Labor Day, such as the upper pool and water slides at Mount Princeton.
Winter is when hot water feels best, but the route crosses Poncha, Wolf Creek, McClure and Rabbit Ears passes plus three on US 550. Allow extra time and check road conditions on COtrip.org. Strawberry Park's road legally requires 4WD or AWD with snow tires or chains from November 1 to May 1; shuttles run from Steamboat.
04
Where to stay
14 loop venues have rooms, cabins or campsites on site, and guests often get longer or after-hours soaking.
The "Compare stays nearby" buttons are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
Also sells day passes. Pools 99–120°F.
Official website ↗Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa
Also sells day passes. Pools 85–106°F.
Official website ↗Antero Hot Springs Cabins
Soaking for overnight guests only. Pools 100–112°F.
Official website ↗Valley View Hot Springs
Also sells day passes. Pools 91–106°F.
Official website ↗Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa
Also sells day passes. Pools 98–108°F.
Official website ↗Sand Dunes Recreation
Also sells day passes. Pools 98–111°F.
Official website ↗Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs
Soaking comes with a stay; day use not published. Pools 103–108°F.
Official website ↗Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs
Also sells day passes. Pools 88–105°F.
Official website ↗How we built this guide
The stops and member venues come from the loop's official site and its page on colorado.com, checked November 2026. The official count is 23 facilities; the destination pages name the 22 listed here. The loop's press kit counts five facilities in Ouray while the Ouray page names four, and we couldn't confirm which venue is the fifth. Every venue's prices, temperatures, rules and closures come from our listings, each checked against the venue's own website and shown as of the build. Drive times are our own road-routing estimates, not official figures.