Waunita Hot Springs Ranch

Colorado's hottest source spring · private ranch pool · guests only  ·  Near Gunnison

This is a private guest ranch — not a walk-up hot spring

Waunita Hot Springs Ranch is one of the most remarkable soaking experiences in Colorado — a massive natural pool fed by the hottest source spring in the state. But it's not open to the public for day use. The pool and facilities are reserved for overnight guests and booked groups. This guide explains exactly how the ranch works, who it's best for, and how to get yourself a reservation.

Colorado's Hottest Source Spring — If You Can Get In

Deep in eastern Gunnison County, 10 miles west of the Continental Divide and surrounded by National Forest land, Waunita Hot Springs Ranch sits at 8,946 feet above sea level in one of the quieter corners of the Colorado Rockies. The source spring here has been measured at approximately 175–180°F — making it the hottest natural hot spring source in the state. That thermal energy has been heating this valley long before any structures were built on it, and for over 50 years the Pringle family has been sharing it with guests who know to look for it.

The centerpiece is a 35-by-90-foot outdoor pool — one of the largest private hot springs pools in Colorado — filled entirely with natural spring water and no added chemicals. Beside it sits a separate hot tub, also spring-fed, with water kept between 100 and 104°F. Spruce-covered ridges rise behind the pool on three sides, shielding it from wind. The source water runs so hot that geothermal pipes beneath the walkways keep them clear of snow and ice all winter. It's the kind of infrastructure you don't build unless the geology insists on it.

The catch — and it's a real one — is access. Waunita is a private guest ranch, not a public hot springs facility. The pool and grounds are reserved for overnight guests and booked groups. No drive-up day use. No casual stops. This guide is a booking guide, not a walk-up visitor guide, and it's written to give you everything you need to plan a legitimate stay and understand what you're getting into before you commit.

Quick Facts

Getting to Waunita

Waunita Hot Springs Ranch sits in eastern Gunnison County, about 19 miles east of the town of Gunnison on US-50. The approach follows one of the most scenic mountain highways in the state — US-50 east from Gunnison tracks the Tomichi Creek drainage toward Monarch Pass, with open ranchland giving way to increasingly dramatic canyon terrain as you climb toward the Divide. The turn-off onto County Road 887 comes before the pass, dropping you into the Waunita Valley where the ranch sits backed against Tomichi Dome.

From Denver, the most direct route is I-70 west to US-285 south at Fairplay, then west through Poncha Springs and Salida to US-50 west into Gunnison. Total drive is approximately 4 to 4.5 hours. From Colorado Springs, take US-24 west over Wilkerson Pass to US-285 south, then follow the same Salida–Gunnison route. If you're coming from Crested Butte, it's a simple 35-minute drive south on CO-135 to Gunnison, then east on US-50.

Cell service deteriorates significantly once you leave Gunnison heading east. Download offline maps and get the ranch's phone number before you leave town. The county road to the ranch is paved and in good condition year-round under typical conditions, though winter storms in this part of Gunnison County can be significant — check COtrip.org for road conditions on US-50 through Monarch Pass if you're traveling between November and April.

Note that this is a remote, working ranch property. Guests who have confirmed reservations will receive specific arrival instructions from the Pringle family directly. If you arrive without a reservation expecting to use the facilities, you will be turned away — the private nature of the property is genuine, not a formality.

What to Expect at the Ranch

Waunita is not a resort in any conventional sense. It's a fourth-generation family ranch that happens to sit above an extraordinary geothermal resource. The experience is defined by remoteness, warmth (literal and figurative), and the sense of having landed somewhere most people haven't found yet. Guests routinely describe it as the best vacation they've taken — but it takes the right kind of traveler: one who values quiet over amenities and connection over luxury.

A Ranch, Not a Resort

You'll arrive down a gravel driveway lined by barns and stables to a crimson-colored ranch house that dates back to around 1915. Friendly barn cats are likely the first locals you'll meet. The Pringle family or ranch staff will greet you personally — this is a home that happens to have guests, not a hospitality operation that happens to have owners. Expect a warm welcome and a place where they already know your name.

Western-Themed Rooms, Comfortable Beds

The main ranch house has 18 bedrooms on the second floor, each with a private bath. Many rooms have family-friendly configurations — doubles or queens with additional bunk options. The Hillside Lodge offers eight rooms across two 4-bedroom units for groups wanting more privacy. Common spaces downstairs include a dining hall for 50, a library and sitting room with two fireplaces, billiards, and a flat-screen game room. Nobody locks their room. The barn loft doubles as a meeting and dancing hall for larger groups.

35 × 90 Feet of Natural Spring Water

The outdoor pool sits just behind the ranch house, backed by spruce-covered ridges that block the wind on three sides. At 3,150 square feet, it genuinely earns the designation of one of Colorado's largest private hot springs pools. Water temperature runs 95–102°F — warm enough for genuine soaking, cool enough that you won't need to rotate in and out constantly. The adjacent hot tub, maintained at 100–104°F, is the more intense option. Geothermal pipes keep the pool deck clear of snow and ice even in the depths of winter. Changing areas and showers are available in the adjacent bathhouse.

The Forest Is Your Backyard

The ranch sits inside Gunnison National Forest with hundreds of thousands of acres of permits and leases enabling use of trails and pastures beyond the property line. Summer and fall bring horseback riding, mountain biking, ATV/RAZR runs to Pitkin and Taylor Park, fishing, and rafting. Winter brings cross-country skiing and snowshoeing right from the lodge, with Monarch Mountain 30 minutes west and Crested Butte 45 minutes north for alpine skiing. Wildlife — deer, elk, the occasional coyote — is a routine part of the scenery.

Commercial Kitchen, Self-Catered

Since transitioning from the all-inclusive dude ranch model in 2016, Waunita no longer provides standard meal service. The commercial kitchen — equipped with a Garland 6-burner gas range, convection oven, walk-in freezer, and walk-in cooler — is available for guests to use. All cookware, dishware, and cutlery are provided. Stock up in Gunnison (Safeway and City Market are both there) before heading east. Large groups can arrange catering in advance by contacting the ranch directly.

Dark Sky Country

Eastern Gunnison County is genuinely dark. No passing traffic, no light pollution, no nearby town glow. On clear nights the Milky Way is visible from the pool deck. The combination of soaking in near-complete darkness under a clear mountain sky is the kind of thing guests mention years later when they're trying to explain why they keep coming back. Bring a warm layer for the walk between the pool and the lodge — at 8,946 feet, even summer nights cool quickly once you step out of 100°F water.

Waunita isn't for everyone. It requires advance planning, a multi-hour drive into a remote valley, and the willingness to cook your own meals. But guests who've been once — and many come back every year — describe it as genuinely irreplaceable. The pool alone, fed by the hottest source spring in Colorado, is worth the trip. The Pringle family's hospitality turns a hot springs visit into something that feels more like visiting old friends. If you have the right group and the right mindset, this might be the best week of your year.

What to Bring & How to Book

Start with waunita.com — the online calendar shows current availability for the property. The ranch is often booked by large groups (reunions, retreats, weddings) that take the whole facility, but individual rooms and smaller parties can often be accommodated in windows between events. Contact the Pringle family directly by phone to discuss your group size, dates, and needs. They respond personally and will walk you through what's available and what your stay will look like.

Pack swimsuits and a warm layer for the pool (the walk back to the lodge after a night soak at high altitude is brisk), standard outdoor clothing for activities, and groceries for your stay — there's a full commercial kitchen but no standard meal service. Gunnison has both a Safeway and City Market; stock up before heading out on County Road 887. The ranch provides all cookware and kitchen supplies.

Don't bring: expectations of cell service, glass containers for the pool area, or pets. The property is remote enough that you should also download offline maps and route instructions before leaving Gunnison. For winter stays, check road conditions on US-50 through Monarch Pass before departing and ensure your vehicle is equipped for mountain winter driving.

The spring here runs at nearly 180°F at the source — hot enough to heat the buildings, the walkways, and one of the largest natural pools in the state. All of it untreated, all of it flowing continuously.

Best Time to Visit

Waunita is genuinely excellent in every season, but the experience varies significantly. Summer (June through August) is peak activity season — horseback riding, ATV runs to Pitkin and Taylor Park, fishing the Gold Medal waters on the Gunnison, and long warm evenings in the pool. This is also peak booking season for reunions and retreats, so the calendar fills quickly. Book summer dates several months in advance if you have a large group.

Winter is the sleeper pick. The geothermal infrastructure keeps the property functional and comfortable in ways that feel almost magical — heated walkways, pool steam rising into cold air, the forest silent under snow. Monarch Mountain is 30 minutes down US-50, Crested Butte is under an hour north. If you're planning a ski trip and want a base that doubles as a genuine thermal destination, Waunita in February is hard to beat. Shoulder seasons (May and September–October) offer the quietest, most available windows.

Quick Timing Guide

Best overall: September–October — fewer large groups, fall color in the valley, excellent soaking weather
Best for families: Summer — full activity roster, longest daylight, warm enough for kids in the pool for hours
Best for a ski trip add-on: January–March — Monarch and Crested Butte access, plus the unbeatable winter pool experience
Avoid: Booking without checking the calendar first — the property can be fully reserved weeks out during peak seasons

Waunita vs. Other Springs

Waunita occupies a unique position in the Colorado hot springs landscape: it's not a public facility, not a luxury spa resort, and not a primitive undeveloped spring. It's a private working ranch with a world-class geothermal resource and 50+ years of family hospitality behind it. Direct comparisons are difficult because nothing else in the state is quite like it.

The most relevant comparisons are to other resort-style experiences in the region — Glenwood Hot Springs and The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs for scale and infrastructure, and Strawberry Park for the more intimate, natural-water experience. None of them offer the combination of source-spring temperature extremity, pool size, and private-access exclusivity that Waunita delivers.

* Access and pricing details current as of 2026. Always verify directly with each property before booking.

Pros & Cons

Waunita is extraordinary for the right visitor — and genuinely wrong for others. The private-access model is either the main draw or the main obstacle depending on what you're looking for. Here's the full picture.

What Works

• Hottest source spring in Colorado (~175–180°F at source)
• 35×90 ft pool — one of the largest private hot springs pools in the state
• 100% natural, untreated spring water — no chemicals of any kind
• Complete privacy — no public foot traffic, no day visitors
• Fourth-generation family hospitality with genuine warmth
• Geothermal infrastructure heats buildings and walkways year-round
• Gunnison National Forest access for hundreds of thousands of acres of activities
• Exceptional dark sky — some of the best stargazing in the state

What to Know

• No public day use — requires overnight booking or group reservation
• No standard meal service — you cook your own food
• Remote location requires advance planning and grocery stop in Gunnison
• 4+ hours from Denver; not a practical day trip
• Calendar fills quickly for peak summer and holiday weekends
• Cell service is essentially nonexistent on the property
• Winter road conditions on Monarch Pass require a capable vehicle
• Not pet-friendly

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More Colorado Hot Springs

Waunita is in the Gunnison Valley — one of the best-positioned areas in the state for hot springs touring. The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs is the major anchor to the south, Strawberry Park is northwest in Steamboat, and Cebolla Hot Springs offers a free primitive alternative just an hour south near Lake City.

• The Springs Resort (Pagosa)
• Strawberry Park Hot Springs
• All Colorado Hot Springs Map