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Hot Springs in Colorado

35 hot springs in Colorado with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Gunnison County has the most (6). The darkest skies are at Geyser Warm Spring (Bortle 1).

Top hot springs

Hot SpringsHot Spring
Hot SpringsArchuleta County
Penny Hot SpringsHot Spring
Penny Hot SpringsGunnison County
Hot Spring
Mineral Hot Springs, ColoradoSaguache County
Manitou Mineral SpringsHot Spring
Manitou Mineral SpringsEl Paso County
Hot Spring
Iron Mountain Hot SpringsGarfield County
Glenwood Hot Springs PoolHot Spring
Glenwood Hot Springs PoolGarfield County
Hot Spring
Geyser Warm SpringDolores County
Hot Spring
Canon City Hot SpringsFremont County
Hot Spring
Cebolla Hot SpringsGunnison County
Hot Spring
Cement Creek Hot SpringGunnison County
Hot Spring
Chattanooga Hot SpringSan Juan County
Hot Spring
Connundrum Hot SpringsPitkin County

Hot Springs by county

All hot springs (35)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Hot SpringsArchuleta County2,153 mPagosa Springs1
Penny Hot SpringsGunnison County—Ouray1
Mineral Hot Springs, ColoradoSaguache County2,361 mSalida2
Manitou Mineral SpringsEl Paso County—Manitou Springs6
Iron Mountain Hot SpringsGarfield County—Glenwood Springs5
Glenwood Hot Springs PoolGarfield County—Glenwood Springs5
Geyser Warm SpringDolores County—Mountain Village1
Canon City Hot SpringsFremont County1,636 mCañon City6
Cebolla Hot SpringsGunnison County2,467 mGunnison2
Cement Creek Hot SpringGunnison County2,825 mCrested Butte2
Chattanooga Hot SpringSan Juan County3,538 mTelluride1
Connundrum Hot SpringsPitkin County3,422 mCrested Butte2
Conundrum Hot SpringsPitkin County3,416 mCrested Butte2
Cottonwood Hot SpringsChaffee County2,624 mBuena Vista3
Dunton Hot SpringDolores County2,719 mMountain Village1
Hartsel Hot SpringsPark County2,702 mBuena Vista3
Hortense Hot SpringChaffee County2,540 mBuena Vista2
Hot SpringsMineral County2,759 mPagosa Springs1
Lemon Hot SpringSan Miguel County2,232 mMountain Village1
Lower Waunita Hot SpringsGunnison County2,713 mGunnison2
Mount Princeton Hot SpringsChaffee County2,487 mBuena Vista2
Orvis Hot SpringOuray County2,151 mOuray1
Ouray Hot SpringsOuray County2,372 mOuray1
Penny Hot SpringsPitkin County2,112 mCarbondale2
Piedra River Hot SpringsArchuleta County2,377 mBayfield1
Pinkerton Hot SpringsLa Plata County2,071 mDurango2
Poncha Hot SpringsChaffee County2,442 mSalida3
Ranger Hot SpringGunnison County2,635 mCrested Butte2
South Canyon Hot SpringsGarfield County1,792 mGlenwood Springs3
Trimble Hot SpringsLa Plata County2,006 mDurango3
Tripp Hot SpringLa Plata County2,007 mDurango3
Upper Waunita Hot SpringsGunnison County2,730 mGunnison2
Wagon Wheel Gap Hot SpringsMineral County2,592 mDel Norte1
Juniper Hot SpringsMoffat County1,827 mCraig1
Routt Hot SpringsRoutt County2,268 mSteamboat Springs3

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph hot springs

Steam is most visible on cold mornings; backlight from a low sun makes rising steam glow.

  • Keep to boardwalks and marked paths — crusts around thermal features can be thin and the water dangerously hot.
  • A polarizer brings out the colors of mineral terraces and microbial mats.
  • Respect bathers' privacy: ask before including people at soaking pools.
  • Wind direction determines where steam drifts; shoot from the upwind side to see the pool.
  • Condensation forms quickly on lenses; let gear acclimate and carry a cloth.

Season: Winter gives the most dramatic steam; some primitive springs are only accessible in summer.