The Best Hot Springs Near Denver
Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, dive into the ultimate relaxation experience just a short drive from Denver.
Iron Mountain Hot Springs.
There’s nothing better than a long soak in a hot tub—or so you thought. Pack your swimsuit because we’re about to blow your best hot tub experience out of the water.
Say hello to Colorado hot springs. Hot springs are naturally occurring geothermal water features—basically, they’re nature’s hot tubs. Colorado , all classified as “low temperature,” meaning that their waters don’t exceed the boiling point.
Soaking in hot springs isn’t just about relaxation; it may also .
Here are five hot springs you can enjoy within just a couple hours’ drive of DU’s campus.
302 Soda Creek Road, Idaho Springs
The closest hot springs facility to DU, Indian Hot Springs in Idaho Springs is a straight shot off of I-70 and a little less than an hour’s drive from campus. More than 150 years old, Indian Hot Springs is a geological landmark that offers a tropical indoor mineral water swimming pool, outdoor tubs, indoor private baths, and “Club Mud,” an opportunity to slather yourself in 12 ounces of mineral-rich clay. You have to wash the mud off before you leave, though—no souvenirs allowed!
The facility also offers gender-specific “caves,” walk-in tubs where you can soak among rock formations. Swim attire is optional during the weekdays for the gender-restricted caves.
Peak admission prices range from $40 per person for the swimming pool to $190 per hour for an outdoor cedar soaking tub.
899 Chinook Road, Idaho Springs
Just down the road from Indian Hot Springs, tucked away in the Arapaho National Forest, is
Raspberry Hot Springs. This reservation-only hot springs facility offers one- and two-hour private soaks for groups of up to eight people, with a strict age requirement of 21 years or older. A one-hour soak for one to two guests is $138; an hour-long soak for seven to eight guests is $444.
Raspberry Springs is serious about soaking—and maintaining the beautiful, rugged nature of its property. Getting to the facility is quite a trek, so guests must confirm they have an all-wheel or four-wheel-drive vehicle with at least seven inches of ground clearance before booking.
According to , visitors have to traverse a steep dirt road marked with drainage ditches that will cause low-clearance vehicles to bottom out—and conditions are even dicier in the winter. But if you’re down for an adventure and have the right set of wheels, consider Raspberry Hot Springs—the mountain views are incredible!
1194 County Road, Florence
A “secret and protected refuge from the world,” Desert Reef Hot Springs is a little farther from campus, about an hour and 45 minutes away. The facility is reservation-only (with a maximum of six guests per reservation) and offers weekday passes for $25 per person and weekend passes for $35 per person.
To maximize your hot springs time, you can stay onsite in a renovated Airstream camper or a decked-out “tiny home”—or bring your own camper and live your best hot springs van life for a night or two. Soaking is included with all overnight stays from check-in to check-out.
A note: The entire facility is bathing suit-optional Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, and all guests must be 18 years of age or older.
5609 Spring Road, Hot Sulphur Springs
The first onsite bath house at Hot Sulphur Springs was erected in the 1850s and now features 19 man-made pools, plus a duck pond and chlorinated swimming pool. The walk-in-only facility offers an adult day pass for $30 and is about two hours from DU.
Visitors from Denver will have to drive over Berthoud Pass to reach the springs, which can be hazardous in the winter, so take note of road conditions before you go. The resort is open every day of the year—except when lightning is detected within five miles of the facility, which shuts down the pools and showers.
Hot Sulphur Springs regularly measures the minerals in its spring water, including sodium, sulfate, chloride, silica, potassium, calcium, fluoride, magnesium, lithium, and trace amounts of iron, manganese, and zinc. that they have the “best” water in Colorado—let us know if you find out if that’s true!
The resort also offers lodging, including motel rooms of various sizes, a cabin, and an apartment. All overnight stays include access to the hot springs and pool.
281 Centennial St., Glenwood Springs
If you’re willing to brave I-70 for a little longer—albeit very scenic—drive, head west to Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, about two hours and 45 minutes from campus. At Iron Mountain, you can play hot springs Goldilocks and find the temperature that’s ܳܳܲright. The resort-style facility features 16 naturally shaped hot pools ranging in temperature from 98 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit.
Need a break from the heat? The large facility also offers a large freshwater pool to cool down in.
Prices at Iron Mountain range from $44 for a three-hour soak to $100-150 for all-day access, depending on the day.
