Hartsel Hot Springs Is Closed: Your Guide to the Best Alternatives Near Hartsel, Colorado

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Hartsel Hot Springs closed in 2017, and the property remains inaccessible to the public. After years of uncertainty, legal disputes, and ownership changes, the 40-acre parcel along the South Arkansas River sits behind locked gates, its concrete soaking pools empty and its future as a public soak unclear. For travelers who remember stopping at this free, clothing-optional spring on their way to the Collegiate Peaks, the closure was a loss. But for those still seeking mineral-rich warmth in central Colorado, the region has no shortage of alternatives.

The Arkansas River Valley holds one of the highest concentrations of natural hot springs in North America, a result of the same volcanic and tectonic forces that built the Sawatch and Mosquito Ranges. Within an hour's drive of Hartsel, five soaking destinations remain open and welcome visitors. These range from developed resort facilities with restaurant service to humble, nonprofit-run pools where the admission fee barely covers utilities. Each offers a distinct experience, and knowing their differences will help you pick the right one for your afternoon or weekend.

The Closure of Hartsel Hot Springs: What Happened

Hartsel Hot Springs operated for decades as one of Colorado's last free and untamed soaking sites. Located roughly four miles north of the unincorporated community of Hartsel along Highway 9, the spring emerged from a fault line in the Arkansas River floodplain. The water had a mild sulfur scent and held temperatures around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The site had several concrete-lined pools of varying depths, a small changing area, and little else in the way of amenities. It attracted a loyal following among locals, overlanders, and travelers who valued its raw character.

The property changed hands several times during the 2010s, and disputes over access rights, water permits, and environmental compliance created an increasingly complicated situation. In 2017, the new owner erected fencing and posted no-trespassing signs, effectively ending public access. Despite occasional reports of informal access attempts and community advocacy for reopening, the site has remained closed under private ownership. The concrete pools have deteriorated, and no public reopening appears imminent. Visitors making the drive to Hartsel hoping to soak will find only a locked gate and a faded sign.

Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa

Cottonwood Hot Springs sits about 25 miles north of Hartsel near the town of Buena Vista, making it the closest operational alternative to the closed Hartsel site. The facility occupies a wooded hillside overlooking the Arkansas River valley. Its five soaking pools range in temperature from 96 to 106 degrees, accommodating visitors who prefer gentle warmth alongside those who want the therapeutic intensity of higher temperatures.

Access to Cottonwood requires a reservation. Guests book two-hour soaking sessions for $35 per person, with overnight lodging available in historic cabins and a lodge. Clothing is optional in the soaking pools, and the property has cultivated a relaxed, adults-oriented atmosphere. The setting offers views of the Collegiate Peaks, and evening soak sessions let you watch the mountain sky darken while submerged in mineral water. Day-use visitors should plan ahead. Same-day reservations are rarely available during peak season.

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort lies about 20 miles southeast of Hartsel, near the small community of Nathrop. The resort draws its water from a geothermal well that produces roughly 500,000 gallons of hot water daily at temperatures reaching 160 degrees Fahrenheit before mixing. Soaking pools range from 80 to 108 degrees depending on the pool. The setting is dramatic: the resort occupies a narrow canyon where the Arkansas River emerges from the mountains, with 14,000-foot Mount Princeton rising directly to the west.

The resort offers several distinct soaking environments. The Narrows Hot Springs Creek provides a clothing-optional, creek-side soaking experience. The Cliffside Pools offer panoramic views of the canyon walls in a more structured resort atmosphere. Full amenity access, including the spa, fitness center, and on-site restaurant, costs $45 per person for day use. Accommodations range from standard hotel rooms to private cabins and glamping units. Families with children are welcome during designated daytime hours, though the resort is adults-only during evening hours. Mount Princeton is the most developed soaking experience within the Hartsel radius.

Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center

The Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center provides a different kind of soaking experience. Located in the town of Salida roughly 30 miles northwest of Hartsel, this indoor facility offers access to the largest indoor hot springs pool in Colorado, fed by natural geothermal water at about 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike the other alternatives on this list, the Salida center operates as a municipal recreation facility, which means the atmosphere leans toward family-friendly public swimming rather than remote and rugged soaking.

Admission fees are remarkably low at $10 for adults and $7 for children, with discounts for Salida residents. The pool is clothing-required, reflecting its status as a public aquatic center. That said, the water is genuine thermal water, rich in dissolved minerals, and the constant 104-degree temperature provides good therapeutic value for sore muscles and aching joints. The facility also offers waterslides, a lazy river, and splash features that make it appealing to families traveling with children. For travelers seeking affordable, accessible, and weather-independent soaking, the Salida center fills a niche that the more remote and clothing-optional alternatives do not.

Joyful Journey Hot Springs

Joyful Journey Hot Springs sits about 45 miles south of Hartsel in the San Luis Valley near the town of Hooper. The drive takes visitors off the beaten path and into Colorado's high desert, a landscape of sagebrush flats, distant volcanoes, and an atmosphere that feels genuinely removed from the busier mountain towns. The hot springs have operated at this site since the 1990s, and the facility has maintained a consistent reputation for peaceful soaking and welcoming staff.

The property has three outdoor soaking pools with temperatures ranging from 98 to 106 degrees, along with a cold plunge and a sun pool. Admission costs about $25 per person for a two-hour session, with day passes and multi-visit packages available. Clothing is optional, and the site attracts a mix of locals, road-trippers, and regular visitors who appreciate the unhurried pace. Accommodations include camping sites, tipis, and basic cabin rentals, making it possible to soak at sunset and again at sunrise without leaving the property. The San Luis Valley setting, with its dark skies and wide horizons, adds a contemplative dimension that sets Joyful Journey apart from the mountain-valley alternatives closer to Hartsel.

Valley View Hot Springs

Valley View Hot Springs operates as a nonprofit membership organization near Villa Grove, about 30 miles southwest of Hartsel. The property spans 1,200 acres of former ranch land in a high valley surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. Its seven soaking pools are scattered across a hillside with views ranging from meadowland to alpine tundra. The pools range in temperature from 95 to 106 degrees, with clothing optional throughout the property.

Access requires purchasing a membership or day pass, with day passes available at the gate for about $25 per person. The membership model supports the organization's land conservation mission, which includes protecting wildlife habitat and maintaining public access to open space. Accommodations include tent camping, small cabins, and a historic lodge. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during summer and holiday periods. Valley View has no spa services, no restaurant, and minimal development. Many visitors see this as a feature rather than a limitation. The experience emphasizes simplicity, nature immersion, and the social atmosphere of shared soaking in a spectacular setting.

Comparing the Alternatives

Choosing among these five soaking destinations depends on what matters most to you. If proximity to Hartsel is the priority, Mount Princeton Hot Springs and Cottonwood Hot Springs both lie within 25 miles and offer reliable access with advance reservations. For those who valued Hartsel's clothing-optional and undeveloped character, Cottonwood Hot Springs and Joyful Journey Hot Springs most closely replicate that atmosphere, with Valley View offering a similar ethos at greater remove.

Budget travelers will find the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center the most affordable option by a significant margin, though the indoor, clothing-required environment differs substantially from an outdoor spring. Families with young children may prefer Salida or Mount Princeton, both of which accommodate families during daytime hours. Those seeking an overnight soaking experience with mountain views should consider Mount Princeton or Valley View, both of which offer lodging and extended soak access across multiple days.

The closure of Hartsel Hot Springs ended one chapter, but central Colorado's thermal waters remain accessible to anyone willing to seek them out.