A 4-day loop through Colorado's best hot springs resorts and primitive pools, from the Steamboat Springs area down to the San Juan Mountains and back through the Arkansas River Valley.
Duration
4 days
Distance
~500 miles
Difficulty
moderate
Vehicle
any
Best Season
Year-round (best fall-winter for contrast soaks)
Start at Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs — natural rock pools in a forested canyon. Soak under the stars. Overnight in Steamboat Springs.
Drive south through the Rockies to Chalk Creek Hot Springs (riverside pools) and Mount Princeton Hot Springs (developed resort with infinity pool overlooking the Sawatch Range). Overnight in Nathrop or Buena Vista.
Continue south to Ouray — the 'Switzerland of America.' Soak in Ouray Hot Springs pool with views of the surrounding peaks. Optional 4WD drive to Yankee Boy Basin for wildflowers.
Head east through Monarch Pass to the Arkansas River Valley. Stop at Valley View Hot Springs (clothing-optional, natural pools) before the drive back to Denver.
Colorado has more hot springs than any other state in the Lower 48, and this 4-day loop hits the highlights. You’ll experience everything from primitive rock pools in forested canyons to developed infinity pools overlooking 14,000-foot peaks.
The route takes you from Steamboat Springs in the north, through the Sawatch Range in central Colorado, down to the dramatic San Juan Mountains in the southwest, and back through the Arkansas River Valley. Each night brings a new soaking experience and a new mountain town to explore.