![]() ![]() ![]() South Canyon has a reputation for frequent muddy conditions, and is usually only visited by locals. The trek is worth it and crosses insane alpine vistas and plenty of waterfalls, so take your time and enjoy! Conditions can vary seasonally, and crowds can vary dramatically.ĥ. The hot springs sits along the San Juan River, and many visitors camp overnight. Visiting Rainbow requires a moderate hike (10 miles roundtrip), but you are rewarded with a steamy 105° soak. The best time to go is summer through early fall as the jeep road may be snow-covered in the off-season, and the pools buried under streams of cold water.Ĥ. The pools are ever-changing, as people will adjust rocks and walls according to their preference and seasonal needs. Near Pagosa Springs, this spring requires a short hike (3 miles roundtrip). Having said that, it’s one of the closest primitive hot springs to Denver, and one of the best options for a weekend camping trip.ģ. There are dozens of great camping sites nearby, and this can create some small crowds. You can float to it, hike to it, or Jeep (close) to it. ![]() Radium has several different ways to approach due to it’s location on the Colorado River. While we wouldn’t recommend a trip from Denver just for this destination, if you’re in the area it’s worth a stop.Ģ. Because the springs sit on the river, oftentimes you have to circulate the water to prevent from being cold on one side, and hot on the other. The spring sits on the bank of the Crystal River, and is a short drive from Carbondale, CO. Penny is a small roadside attraction that does not require any hiking at all. All of these spots are free, natural, and worth the visit. All of these are free to visit, some require a hike, and some are clothing optional. Here is our list of top natural, primitive hot springs in Colorado in no particular order. Denver is about a two-hour drive, making Radium one of the closest primitive hot springs to the metro area.Did you know that Colorado is riddled with natural hot springs? There are hot springs resorts, natural sites, pay-to-enjoy options and earn-your-soak hikes, too! Would you prefer the relaxing environment of a natural spring over the commercial offerings throughout the state? Kremmling is to the north, Eagle to the south. The name of the springs is for the former mining town of Radium, the unincorporated community of houses downstream. ![]() The roads leading to the campgrounds are plowed in the winter, making access possible, but the steep hike is more slick and dangerous in the snowy months. Another camping option is the Bureau of Land Management’s Radium Recreation Site. Crowds are notorious in the summer, with the first come, first served campground in high demand and dispersed sites hard to come by. As runoff breaches the rock barriers, that’s not the best season to go. With the cold rush of the river, the water has been described as room temperature in the spring. The bath is considered to be sizable enough for 20 people or so, its temperatures in the 80s and 90s. From here, the trek is said to be a mile long, following foot- and off-road-vehicle-made paths over canyon rims with stunning views. Mugrage Campground at the Radium State Wildlife Area, the most well-known starting point for hikers. Understandably, you won’t find any signs directing you to it from the O.C. The location is known among local river runners, but the pool is otherwise “nearly impossible to find,” Frazier notes. Here is yet another test for outdoor enthusiasts: How respectful can we be? Dog poop was left by the rocks, and cigarette butts were scattered all around.Īu natural visitors frequent here where rules are not enforced, where space is also shared by kayakers and anglers. During one soak, she found broken glass by her feet. “I tell you about it in hopes caring soakers will treasure the springs by the river and leave it better than they found it,” writes Deborah Frazier, author of the popular guide to Colorado’s mineral waters. The narrative surrounding Radium Hot Springs is all too familiar across the outdoor scene: People threaten. Take, for example, the rock enclave built at the bottom of a sheer cliff, on the banks of the Colorado River, its discovery and construction a mystery, but unsurprising for the state’s wildest places hardly hidden anymore. In the corners of the internet, a small collection of Colorado’s primitive hot springs are discussed, their secret locations becoming less so. ![]()
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