Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is a resort hot spring listed near Buena Vista, Colorado. Reported soak temperature: 102°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Colorado Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Boutique geothermal day-use facility ~5 mi west of Buena Vista on CR 343 — opened to the public in late 2023 with three small intimate soaking pools (12x12 to 16x16 ft) behind a privacy fence, an indoor botanical garden, and two rentable cabins each with a private hot-springs pool; no reservations taken for day use, just buy a day pass on arrival ($30-35 adult).
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A town base for Cottonwood and the upper Arkansas Valley.
Buena Vista is about 5 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Colorado Hot Springs Loop — Charlotte Hot Springs.
- Cost: Reported $30 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 102°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — day pass purchased on site
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings for the quietest soak; winter Mon-Thu has shorter hours (9am-8pm) vs 9pm close Fri-Sun and all summer
- Clothing reality: Swimsuits required in the public pools (family venue); cabins have private pools where policy is your own.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Handicapped-friendly pathways to the three pools per Colorado Hot Springs Loop — one of the more accessible small resorts in the county
- No reservations for public pools — walk-in day pass only
- Pricing split Mon-Thu vs Fri-Sun: adult $30/$35; kids 17&under $25/$30; seniors 65+ & military $25/$30; 3 & under free
- Local punch passes ($200/10, $300/20 soaks) only for Chaffee + surrounding county residents
- Locker rental $5 (refunded on return), towel rental $10 ($5 back)
- No lifeguard on duty — supervise children at all times
- Pools are small/intimate — could feel crowded at peak times despite quiet vibe
- Indoor botanical garden is donation-based and open to public separately
- Hazard: No lifeguard
- Hazard: Winter mountain driving on CR 343 after storms
About this spring
Family-owned boutique hot springs that opened in late 2023 on a 60-acre property ~5 miles west of Buena Vista. Three small outdoor pools on a terraced deck with Mount Princeton views, plus a geothermally heated indoor botanical garden (tropical plants, fish ponds, reptiles, macaws). Two rental cabins with private hot springs. Fee: ~$30-35 adult day use. No lifeguard; small pools fill on busy days. Day pass ~$30 weekdays / ~$35 weekends for the three outdoor soaking pools plus indoor geothermal botanical garden.
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is a small family-owned geothermal property on 60 acres at 19256 County Road 343, about five miles west of downtown Buena Vista on the road toward Cottonwood Pass, adjacent to the Merrifield family greenhouses. The pools opened to the public in late 2023 and the resort is named for the founders' grandmother — the Merrifield family's Buena Vista roots go back to 1875. Three small outdoor soaking pools (roughly 12×12 to 16×16 feet each, reported around 102–109°F) sit on a terraced deck with Mount Princeton views; the water is non-sulfurous geothermal water sourced on site. Admission also includes an indoor botanical garden in a geothermally heated polycarbonate greenhouse with tropical plants, fish ponds, reptiles, and resident macaws — it can also be visited separately by donation.
Day passes are $30 adults Monday–Thursday and $35 Friday–Sunday (children 17 & under $25/$30, seniors and military $25/$30, kids 3 & under free); there are no reservations — you buy a pass on arrival — and locals can buy 10- and 20-soak punch passes. Hours run roughly 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon–Thu and 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Fri–Sun in winter, 9–9 daily in summer. Two rental cabins (Holloway and Merrifield, ~$450–700/night) each have their own private hot spring. There is no lifeguard and the pools are small, so capacity is limited on busy days; swimsuits are required in the public pools.
Directions & trailhead access
19256 County Road 343, ~5 miles west of downtown Buena Vista toward Cottonwood Pass — adjacent to Merrifield's Greenhouses.
Colorado geothermal context
Colorado's springs rise along fault zones threading the Rocky Mountains — the same tectonics that built the ranges drive deep groundwater circulation. Many sites sit above 7,000 feet, so snowpack closes roads and trailheads well into late spring, and afternoon thunderstorms are routine in summer. Resort valleys like Steamboat, Pagosa, and Ouray anchor the developed end of the spectrum.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across Colorado. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 102°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $30 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Colorado Hot Springs Loop — Charlotte Hot Springs |
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens FAQ
Is Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens open right now?
Boutique geothermal day-use facility ~5 mi west of Buena Vista on CR 343 — opened to the public in late 2023 with three small intimate soaking pools (12x12 to 16x16 ft) behind a privacy fence, an indoor botanical garden, and two rentable cabins each with a private hot-springs pool; no reservations taken for day use, just buy a day pass on arrival ($30-35 adult). (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens free?
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is listed with reported fees near Buena Vista. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens?
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens has a reported soak temperature of 102°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens clothing optional?
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens?
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Buena Vista
A town base for Cottonwood and the upper Arkansas Valley. Each spring has its own booking rules.
Buena Vista is about 5 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens — official site (services/pricing) — operator · 2026-09
- Colorado Hot Springs Loop — Charlotte Hot Springs — official · 2025
- Uncover Colorado — Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Charlotte Hot Springs — community · 2025
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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