Pagosa Springs is situated in one of Southwestern Colorado's most remote regions, about 50 miles east of Durango. This small Old West-style community is best known for its natural hot springs and rugged camping opportunities available just minutes away in more than three million acres of surrounding wilderness. Several full-service camping resorts are located in town, including Pagosa Riverside Campground and Acres Green RV Park. Nearby, Williams Creek Reservoir offers four primitive campgrounds for tents and small RVs.
After a long hike, your muscles will thank you for visiting The Springs Resort and Spa. They offer many amenities to choose from for a relaxing experience. This resort is one of America's most eco-friendly and green-built luxury hotels. Unlimited, 24-hour access to twenty three beautiful therapeutic hot mineral spring pools is just steps away.
Beautiful, scenic Colorado, with it's majestic mountain ranges is an outdoor paradise. Among the rocks and mountains are thermal hot springs that have been enjoyed for their health benefits for centuries.
The Native Indians of the land discovered the restorative benefits of the steamy mineral waters and vapor caves many years ago. Today people travel to the hot mineral springs in Colorado for the rejuvenation offered there.
There are some historic spas in Colorado, which offer the health benefits along with the history of healing in the region. Each of these spas has accommodations ranging from rooms to cabins. Some of the accommodations look somewhat rustic, and casual. The emphasis is on nature and the healing power of the natural minerals and the waters.
If you have never been to a natural, outdoor spa you should experience it. The steam rises in the cold air. Even if there is snow on the ground, you can enjoy the outdoor beauty surrounding you while enjoying the warmth of the natural springs baths.
Three historical, natural healing spas are: Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa, Yampah Spa and Salon, and The Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa and Lodging.
Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa
28999 County Road 306
Buena Vista, Colorado
719-395-6434
Cottonwood Hot springs, 6 miles west of Buena Vista, at the entrance of Cottonwood Canyon, was a hotel and sanitarium. The water from the lower springs flowed hot and was used in the treatment of catarrh and for drinking. The water from the upper springs was conveyed to the house by pipes and used for bathing, as a treatment of rheumatism and dyspepsia. The water temperate was said to be between 132 and 150.
The hotel was built by the Reverend and Mrs. J.A.D Adams, M.D. in 1878. there was no railroad in the county and all materials and furniture had to be brought in be freight teams from Colorado Springs. Mrs. Adams MD was an able physician and restored many to health with the waters. In 1911 there was a fire, and Cottonwood Hot Springs was destroyed.
Today the Cottonwood Hot Springs is a relaxing, comfortable country inn, nestled in the mountain area and the majestic Collegiate Peaks Range. The Inn is bordered by Cottonwood Creek and surrounded by San Isabel National Forest.
Clients can soak in Colorado's purest, geo-thermal, gravity-fed mineral spas. The spas are noted for their medicinal and therapeutic value. The springs were used for centuries by the Ute Indians and a spiritual gathering retreat. People have been coming to soak in the curative waters ever since.
The retreat revolved around the pure gravity-fed, natural hot springs, rock lined soaking pools, cold plunge and sauna. The 'adult oriented' facility focuses on the healing aspects of the mineral water, along with various therapies and soothing atmosphere.
Massage therapists are on staff and offer services such as Massage and bodywork, hot rock therapy (Ute style), WATSU (water Shiatu, Herbal Aloe Salt Glows, Herbal Body Wraps, Hypno Therapy, Iridology, Aqua Chi, Diamond Peel, Ear Candling.
There are rooms and cabins for lodgings. All accommodations include Hot springs Soaking Pools and Sauna. Swimsuits required. There are no phones of televisions in the rooms or cabins. There are 5 restaurants in the town of Buena Vista, 10 minutes away.
Yampah Spa and Salon
The Hot Springs Vapor Caves
708 East Sixth Street
Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601
970-945-0667
The Yampah Spa Vapor Caves are natural underground hot water steam baths located in the historic hot springs mountain retreat of Glenwood Springs. Hot mineral waters flow through the cave floors at 125 degrees F. creating natural geothermal steam baths.
The Vapor Caves consist of three adjoining underground rock chambers. Visitors descend a stairway and relax on slab marble benches i the rocky alcoves, to inhale the natural steam vapor in the warm dimly lit caves. the relaxing treatments are in intervals of 10 - 12 minutes, with breaks in a nearby cooling room.
The region was originally inhabited by the Ute Indians, who visited these caves for centuries and regarded them a sacred place for healing and rejuvenation.. visitors today still honor that tradition. The Vapor Caves purify body and spirit as they soothe away aches and pains.
These are the only known natural vapor caves in North American, others are man made excavations.
In 2005 additions of modern Japanese style soaking tubes filled with hot mineral water were brought to the spa. Massage therapy, and body treatments, facials and other treatments are available.
The Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa and Lodgings
625 5th Street
Ouray, Colorado 81427
970-325-4347
The Wiesbaden, surrounded by the majestic San Juan Mountains, is a small intimate natural hot springs spa and lodge. the spa is known for it's peaceful atmosphere, "casual elegance" and European flair.
The Wiesbaden is well known for it's relaxing, therapeutic environment. The Weisbaden sits directly over the emanations points of several natural hot springs, which range from 78 degrees to 128 degrees F.
Wiesbaden's continually flowing natural hot springs vapor cave is 108 degrees. The soaking pool and outdoor swimming pool is 99 to 102 degrees. The water at the Wiesbaden if pure, with no chemicals or additives, or recirculated water. All of the water flows continually flows in one side and out the other side. In winter the Wiesbaden is heated by its natural hot springs.
There are a full range of spa treatments at the Wiesbaden including: massage, La Stone Therapy, dry brushing, aromatherapy, AVEDA facials, body wraps, foot treatments and body polishes.
There are a range of accommodations at the Wiesbaden. Each room has its own bath. All accommodations come with unlimited use of the Wiesbaden's continually flowing natural hot springs, vapor cave and out door pool.
Enjoy the natural beauty of Colorado along with the restorative powers of the healing waters in the natural spas.
Dunton Hot Springs, also known as Dunton, Colorado is a tiny huddle of log buildings that sits at 8,600 feet elevation on the West Fork road of the Dolores River in the San Juan Mountains. Dunton is 25-miles north of Dolores, Colorado and 25-miles southwest of the Telluride Ski Resort.
http://www.duntonhotsprings.com/ Dunton Hot Springs 52068 West Fork Rd 38 Dunton, CO. 81323 (book on line or call 1-800-238-0767).
The Dunton Hot Springs has quite a history of land ownership; homesteaded by Joe Roscio in the 1880's. The Roscio children inheriting the property changed Dunton's name to Rancho Dolores and it was very popular with the families from the Four Corners region for fifty years. The Roscio's sold Dunton and its land in 1974, and these investors in turn sold the property in the 1990's to a group of investors affiliated with the Henkel family. Radically transformed, the Dunton Hot Springs marketed as "The #7 Luxury Resort in the U.S." (Retrieved: Wikipedia)
The busiest times of the year in this region of Colorado is during the spring and summer months as accessibility to Dunton and other attractions in the area as well. During the winter months, the West Fork Road (CR-38) is plowed and maintained just past Dunton Hot Springs Resort;
therefore, if you plan to travel south from Telluride you may not get access to CR-38 due to the inaccessibility of heavy snow.
Travel Tip: If heading to Dunton in the spring or summer via the West Fork Road (CR-38) look for the trail marker sign Willow Divide. This is a four-wheel drive vehicles only recommended mountain passage, not for the faint of wilderness travel. You will have to open the gate for entrance onto the passage-way. I have firsthand experience traveling the Willow Divide and I can tell you that in its corridors, you will see some magnificent country, wildlife, and biotical displays only imagined. I would recommend getting a topographical map and talking with the aboriginals of Dolores before heading out onto the Willow Divide. You will not find a web site giving information about the Willow Divide, however; the following link has much information of surrounding areas within the San Juan Mountains. http://www.coloradodirectory.com/
Midwestern roots, thirty six years backpacking and hiking throughout the midwest and beyond. New uptake, photography "trying" to hone my skills. Enjoy good conversation, books, college basketball, and travel... View profile
Nestled in an off the beaten path of Verde Canyon, 2 hours south of Flagstaff, Az, emerges a semi- primitive hot springs. Semi primitive because getting to it is a challenge. The dirt road dips and swells while passing through the now defunct town of Childs Power plant. At the bottom, the road opens up to a wide sandy beach. High bushes and tall oak trees line both sides of the river. Remnants of old camp fires linger, but the area is clean. This was the easy part at least for me. The challenge I found was crossing the freezing water. However, the pristine wilderness and scenic views made it all worthwhile.
We found a spot to park the camper truck underneath an oak tree. As we jumped out of the truck, a dark-haired man in his early 20’s approached us and announced,
“Weather report says a major snow storm is due in 24 hours.”
“ Seems hard to believe considering how nice it is, but this is November. We’ll just have to enjoy it while we can. Let’s go check out the hot springs.” I laughed, eager to visit the springs.
Mark and I followed wooden arrows staked along a narrow dirt trail that led into the Verde river. Mark was ahead of me and walked into ankle high water, then waited on top of rocks about a quarter of the way across. As soon as I walked into the icy cold water, I knew this could might take awhile!
When I reached the first set of high rocks, I just stood there till warmth traveled to my lower body. I watched in dismay as Mark effortlessly trekked through the icy water. I rushed out again to only slosh another twenty yards to the next high ground. My feet froze so quickly and now my legs felt like lead weights as I moved in slow motion. I stopped again on some protruding rocks.
I mumbled to myself to keep moving. I knew it would all be worth it.
With one last effort, I pushed ahead ten more yards and hit the sandy shore. Mark, was waiting for me, so we could walk the last 1/4 mile to the hot springs together. A narrow dirt path followed along the base of the canyon wall back downstream. We came upon concrete steps that led down to 3 pools. One was hidden in a cave, another was on the front concrete deck that overlooked the Verde River and a third one was enclosed by 4 walls and no ceiling.
Quickly we tore off our clothing to check out the tubs.
The pool hidden in the cave is small and the water is murky. I don’t recommend this one. We moved quickly from there. Next we tried the pool enclosed by four ten feet high concrete walls without a ceiling. Artists had painted erotic messages inside. One entire wall was a painting of a naked lady flying through stars, who’s long blonde hair flowed behind her like a horse’s mane. The water felt deliciously warm, probably about 100 degrees. After awhile the walls felt confining and we gradually meandered over to the third tub.
This last tub was a rectangular basin that overlooked the Verde River. Oak trees climbed the 1,000 foot canyon walls. As I sank down, my arms and legs tingled with delight as the hot water swirled around me. I laid my head back against the lip of the concrete tub and inhaled the crisp smells of autumn. This felt like a little bit of heaven. Fresh air, clean warm mineral water and a lovely view. What else could a person want?
Rumor has it that in the early 1900’s the mafia built a hotel and brothel around these thermal pools. There used to be palm trees lining the entrance next to the concrete steps. With only a hint of yesteryear left, today, we enjoy the spring fed pools while soaking up the last of Indian summer. As shadows slowly creep up the canyon wall and the suns dips lower in the sky, we know it is time to leave.
Only I wasn’t looking forward to trudging through the icy cold river again. Reluctantly, I put on dry clothes, floated back down the trail with rosy cheeks and a warm heart. At the river, I inhaled deeply, stepped into the cold water and pushed myself across. Again, it just didn’t matter how quickly I moved because my feet froze halfway over to the closest high ground. I ended up doing the same dance across the river.
However, it was all worth it because by the time we arrived at our camp, I felt rejuvenated. And by morning, we awoke to gently falling snow.
If you enjoy adventure and being outside, this is a special hot spring deal you won't want to miss. The best seasons to visit are May through October.
