Piedra River Hot Springs
- Free
- 95–105°F
- 1.5 mi hike
Several small rock pools along the Piedra River west of Pagosa Springs, reached by a roughly 1.5-mile hike from the Sheep Creek trailhead off First Fork Road. The Forest Service lists temperatures of about 95-105°F depending on how much river water mixes in. Bikes and pack animals are not allowed, and poison ivy is common along the route.
First Fork Rd (FR 622) has been closed by a flood landslide since Oct 26, 2026, with reopening listed for Dec 15. San Juan NF is asking visitors to avoid forest roads for now.
- Price
- Free
- Water
- 95–105°F
- Nearest town
- Pagosa Springs
- Hike (one way)
- 1.5 mi
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Season |
|
|---|
Tickets & booking
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Access | Free public access |
On site
| Lodging | No |
|---|---|
| Land manager | USFS |
Not stated by the land manager: swimwear, ages, dogs.
Soak responsibly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper. Use WAG bags where required.
- No soap, shampoo or sunscreen in the pools; rinse away from the water.
- Check permits and closures with USFS before you go.
- Keep groups small and give others space. Respect posted dog and camping rules.
Water temperature
Soaking-pool temperatures as published by the venue or land agency; they vary with season and flow.
What's here
- Piedra Area, San Juan National Forest
- Sheep Creek Trail #599 / 599A
- short steep descent to riverbank
- poison ivy
- no bikes or motor vehicles
- no horses or pack animals at the site
- pools vary with river level
Getting there
| Elevation | 7,774 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
|
| Hike | 1.5 mi one way, about 622 ft of climbing |
| Trail |
|
| Parking | Parking at Sheep Creek Trailhead, where the Forest Service lists restrooms |
Things to do near Pagosa Springs
Chimney Rock National Monument
Ancestral Puebloan great house and mesa-top sites off CO 151, between Pagosa Springs and Durango
Campgrounds
- Piedra Camp 21.2 mi
- Piedra Camp 31.2 mi
- Piedra Camp 11.5 mi
- Lower Piedra Campground 3.9 mi
Trailheads
- Snow Ranch ATV Trail 7047.9 mi
- Pine River Trailhead12.5 mi
- Lake SImpatico Trailhead12.9 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Healing Waters Resort & Spa
A family-owned motel resort in Pagosa Springs, run by the same family since 1950, with a large outdoor mineral swimming pool, a hot tub and separate men's and women's indoor baths. Day soaking is walk-in. The pools use untreated mineral water.
Overlook Hot Springs Spa
A downtown Pagosa Springs bathhouse in a historic building with indoor tubs and rooftop soaking tubs overlooking the San Juan River. It also has a cold plunge, sauna, a bookable private tub room and massage. It tends to be quieter in the morning and busier in the evening.
The Springs Resort
A large riverside resort in downtown Pagosa Springs whose 47 terraced pools draw from the Mother Spring. General admission covers 25 original pools including an adults-only terrace, and a pricier wellness pass adds newer pools, a halotherapy sauna and a mud studio. Overnight guests get round-the-clock soaking.
Healing Waters Resort & Spa: 19 mi · Overlook Hot Springs Spa: 19 mi · The Springs Resort: 19 mi
Sources (4)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.