Cottonwood Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Cottonwood Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Buena Vista, Colorado. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Colorado Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open daily 8 AM–midnight on County Road 306, ~6 miles west of Buena Vista toward Cottonwood Pass — several small stone soaking pools stepping from ~85°F to ~106°F plus a creek cold plunge and dry sauna; swimsuits REQUIRED at all times (not clothing-optional despite some third-party claims), children welcome with an adult but must leave after sundown; official prices conflict across its own pages — FAQ lists $40/$45 adult weekday/weekend while the Soak page shows $55 all-day/$45 three-hour tiers — reserve online ahead.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 7 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: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Cottonwood Hot Springs — official FAQs (suits required, kids-after-sundown rule, pet rules, $40/$45 pricing, pool temps 104/106/85/90/80°F, no phones).
- Cost: Reported $45 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°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 — online soak reservation or day pass; lodging via operator booking engine.
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings are quietest; the pools stay open until midnight so late-evening soaking under the stars is the signature window — kids must leave after sundown anyway, making nights adult-skewed.
- Clothing reality: Official: 'Yes, bathing suits are required at all times' — explicitly NOT clothing-optional. Customary: standard swimwear. One third-party review site (denverhotsprings.com) falsely claims adults-only clothing-optional — contradicted by the operator's own FAQ which also sells children's passes.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Terraced hillside pools with steps between them — limited accessibility; creek plunge requires navigating the creek bank; no documented lifts.
- NO phones permitted on the property — leave them in the car or at the front desk
- Children must be with an adult at all times AND must vacate the hot springs area after sundown; no lifeguard
- Published prices conflict across operator pages: FAQ $40 M-Th/$45 F-Sun adult and $30/$35 child; Soak page lists all-day $55/$50 adult, 3-hour $45/$40, child $45/$35 — confirm at booking
- Quiet-vibe rules enforced: no jumping, diving, splashing, loud voices; violators and their whole group removed without re-entry
- Water or clear beverages only — no glass, no alcohol; no smoking/vaping in pool area
- Dogs only allowed in Cabins 1 & 3 and RV/tent sites ($20/night, leashed) — never in pool area, lodge rooms or dorms; ADA service animals excepted
- Towels NOT included — bring your own or purchase on site
- Soaking reservations refundable only if cancelled 2+ hours ahead; refunds take up to 10 business days
- Check-in 4 PM / check-out 11 AM for stays; overnight reservations include 2 soaking passes, extras $55/guest
- No dining on site — Buena Vista restaurants are a 10–15 min drive
- Hazard: Upper pools run 104–106°F — limit soak time
- Hazard: Unfiltered untreated mineral water — algae on rocks is normal, not dirty
- Hazard: CR-306 is a paved county road but canyon driving; winter snow/ice on Cottonwood Pass approach (pass itself closed winters)
- Hazard: No lifeguard; pool depths vary
About this spring
Rustic resort in the Collegiate Peaks on Cottonwood Creek, ~5 miles west of Buena Vista, bordered by San Isabel National Forest. Terraced stone soaking pools (~80-110°F), spa, creekside cabins, lodge/dorm rooms, RV and tent sites. Used by Ute tribes historically. Fee: ~$45-55 adult day soak. Children must be supervised; natural unfiltered water means algae on rocks.
Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa sits at 18999 County Road 306, five miles west of Buena Vista in the Collegiate Peaks, bordered by Cottonwood Creek and San Isabel National Forest. It is a rustic, deliberately unpolished resort: a series of terraced, naturally fed stone soaking pools stepping down a hillside above the creek. The resort's own published average pool temperatures are Head 104°F, Elbow 106°F, Belly 85°F, Watsu 90°F, and a cold plunge around 80°F; third-party guides describe the pools as ranging roughly 94–110°F. The mineral water is unfiltered and untreated, so algae on the rocks is normal, and guests can also use a river plunge and dry sauna. On-site lodging includes creekside cabins, lodge and dormitory rooms, and RV and tent campsites; massage and spa treatments are bookable.
Current posted rates on the resort's soak page are $50–55 per adult for an all-day soak and $40–45 for a three-hour soak, with lower child rates; soaking is included for overnight guests (extra guests $55). Walk-ins are accepted and hours run roughly 8 a.m. to midnight. Historically the springs were used by the Ute, and in 1878–1879 Dr. Julia Adams and her husband built a hotel and sanitarium here that treated 'invalids' with waters advertised at 132–150°F; the hotel burned around 1900–1911 and was not rebuilt. Children must be supervised; the site is genuinely soakable and swimsuits are required.
Directions & trailhead access
18999 County Road 306, Buena Vista — 5 miles west of downtown on CR 306 (Cottonwood Pass road).
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 | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $45 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Cottonwood Hot Springs — official FAQs (suits required, kids-after-sundown rule, pet rules, $40/$45 pricing, pool temps 104/106/85/90/80°F, no phones) |
Cottonwood Hot Springs FAQ
Is Cottonwood Hot Springs open right now?
Open daily 8 AM–midnight on County Road 306, ~6 miles west of Buena Vista toward Cottonwood Pass — several small stone soaking pools stepping from ~85°F to ~106°F plus a creek cold plunge and dry sauna; swimsuits REQUIRED at all times (not clothing-optional despite some third-party claims), children welcome with an adult but must leave after sundown; official prices conflict across its own pages — FAQ lists $40/$45 adult weekday/weekend while the Soak page shows $55 all-day/$45 three-hour tiers — reserve online ahead. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Cottonwood Hot Springs free?
Cottonwood Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Buena Vista. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Cottonwood Hot Springs?
Cottonwood Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Cottonwood Hot Springs clothing optional?
Cottonwood Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Cottonwood Hot Springs?
Cottonwood Hot Springs 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
- Cottonwood Hot Springs — official FAQs (suits required, kids-after-sundown rule, pet rules, $40/$45 pricing, pool temps 104/106/85/90/80°F, no phones) — operator · 2026-09
- Cottonwood Hot Springs — official Soak page (8AM–12AM daily, all-day vs 3-hour pricing tiers) — operator · 2026-09
- Cottonwood Hot Springs — official homepage (hours, lodging) — operator · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Atlas — Cottonwood Hot Springs profile (6 terraced pools, unfiltered water, cabins) — community · 2026
- Denver Hot Springs — Cottonwood review (CONTAINS FALSE clothing-optional/adults-only claim — kept for conflict documentation) — community · 2026
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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