Five hot springs destinations in western Colorado, US have come together to form the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop.
The 720-mile loop showcases some of the most popular hot springs attractions in the area, including Chaffee County, Pagosa Springs, Ouray County, Glenwood Springs, and Steamboat Springs.
The Hot Springs Loop is being marketed through the Colorado Tourism Office, which encourages visitors to “do a hot springs road trip” over the course of a week or two.
The nineteen facilities on the loop offer different features, such as vapour caves, hot pots, travertine formations and aquatic centres.
Glenwood Springs includes the Glenwood Hot Springs, which claims to have the world’s largest mineral hot springs pool; Iron Mountain Hot Springs, which boasts 16 soaking pools and Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves, a naturally occurring underground steam bath.
Known as “the Switzerland of America,” Ouray, Colorado, a stop on the trail, also claims to be the “Jeeping capital of the world.” The Ouray Hot Springs Pool is odorless and sulfur-free, while the HIstoric Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings has a vapour cave. Visitors can soak au naturel at the Orvis Hot Springs, and both Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs and Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs offer private mineral pools.
Steamboat Springs calls itself a “genuine western setting off the beaten path,” and includes the Old Town Hot Springs, which includes two waterslides, and the creekside Strawberry Park Hot Springs, which features a rustic wilderness setting.
In Chaffee County, visitors can find 14,000-foot mountain peaks and Colorado’s most popular whitewater rafting river, the Arkansas, along with the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort, which has numerous geothermal pools. Historic Cottonwood Hot Springs first opened in 1878, and Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is one of the largest indoor hot springs pools in the country. Visitors looking for something more private can book at the Alpine Hot Springs Hideaway, Antero Hot Springs Cabins, or Creekside Hot Springs cabin.
Surrounded by 2,5m acres of national forest, Pagosa Springs is home to the world’s deepest hot springs, and The Springs Resort and Spa has 23 terraced hot springs pools alongside the San Juan River. Overlook Hot Springs offers rooftop tubs and Victorian-style mineral baths, while Healing Waters Resort & Spa has a large outdoor pool and European-style steam rooms.
A large portion of the drive travels along four designated Colorado Scenic Byways through National Forests in the Rocky Mountains, and guests are encouraged to add in hiking, biking, four-wheel driving, whitewater fishing, whitewater rafting, skiing, snowmobiling and ice climbing with their hot springs itinerary.
Visitors can also learn about the Native Americans’ strong connection to the hot springs and include stops at National Parks and Monuments that pay homage to ancient cultures. Trains, mining, ghost towns and other Western heritage can also be found along the trail.
