Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well')
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') is a resort hot spring listed near Penrose, Colorado. Reported soak temperature: 97°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Colorado Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Clothing-optional resort ('The Well') on 160 acres in Penrose — 70-ft artesian-fed pool ~95-98°F plus a hotter 108°F tub; open Tue-Sun in two timed sessions (10am-3:15pm, 4pm-9:15pm), closed Mondays; online reservation REQUIRED for every guest including children (card holds booking, pay on arrival); swimsuits mandatory Tuesdays, optional Wed-Sun; camping and RV sites (no hookups) available.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
For a Royal Gorge region stay and a separate visit to Dakota near Penrose.
Cañon City is about 9 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 Dakota Hot Springs — official site & FAQs.
- Cost: Reported $21/adult — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 97°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; 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 beyond paid reservation
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Weekday sessions are quietest; Tuesday for guaranteed swimsuit environment; the 'Banana Belt' climate makes winter soaking pleasant
- Clothing reality: Official: suits optional Wed-Sun, REQUIRED every Tuesday. Legal on private property; nudity is common on optional days. Families attend on optional days too — first-timers who prefer suits should pick a Tuesday.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Drive-up facility, flat ground, bathhouse on site; large shallow pool (3-5 ft) relatively easy entry — confirm ramp/lift by phone
- Reservations required for EVERYONE incl. children — online only, credit card guarantees booking, NO phone reservations
- Same-day booking deadlines: 10am for morning session, 4pm for evening session
- Walk-ins only if space permits + $5/person surcharge
- Per one recent source, admission is CASH on arrival — card only guarantees the booking
- Closed Mondays (maintenance)
- 24-hour cancellation notice required
- No glass anywhere; alcohol permitted
- Pets allowed in campground but not the pool area
- RV sites have no hookups; campground check-in 4pm-9:15pm, open Tue-Sat nights
- Hazard: 108°F source tub — limit exposure
- Hazard: Unattended minors risk — supervision required at all times
About this spring
Clothing-optional artesian hot spring on 160 acres in the Arkansas River Valley at ~5,200 ft. Water comes from a 2,000-ft artesian well drilled by Conoco in 1924. Large 70-ft outdoor pool (95-98°F) plus a small circular wellhead tub (~108°F). Clothing optional Wed-Sun; swimsuits REQUIRED on Tuesdays. Fee: ~$21/adult per 5-hr session; reservations required, closed Mondays. Nudity expected Wed-Sun — visit Tuesday for suits-only. Reservations mandatory. Distinct from Desert Reef Hot Springs near Florence.
Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') is a clothing-optional artesian hot spring on 160 acres in the Arkansas River Valley at about 5,200 feet, on the south side of US-50 roughly one mile west of the CO-115 junction near Penrose. The water comes from a 2,000-foot artesian well drilled by Conoco in 1924 while searching for oil; it struck hot mineral water instead. The main attraction is a freeform 70-foot outdoor pool held at 95–98°F, plus a small 6-foot circular wellhead tub near 108°F. The mineral water contains salts, soda, and calcium with no measurable sulfur or iron, so it lacks the rotten-egg smell common to many springs, and the pool is continuously refreshed by natural artesian flow.
The facility operates two 5-hour sessions daily, 10 a.m.–3:15 p.m. and 4 p.m.–9:15 p.m., six days a week; it is closed Mondays because the pool is drained Sunday night and cleaned. Admission is about $21.40 per adult per session, and online reservations are required for every guest including children — phone reservations are not accepted and a credit card guarantees each booking. Clothing is optional Wednesday through Sunday; swimsuits are mandatory on Tuesdays. Tent and RV camping (no hookups) and rental campers are available Tuesday–Saturday nights; pets are welcome in the campground but not in pool areas. It is genuinely soakable and family-friendly despite the clothing-optional policy — visitors wanting a suits-only environment should go on Tuesday.
Directions & trailhead access
1 Malibu Blvd, Penrose — south side of US-50 ~1 mile west of the US-50/CO-115 junction, ~8 miles east of Cañon City.
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 | 97°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 108°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $21/adult — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Dakota Hot Springs — official site & FAQs |
Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') FAQ
Is Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') open right now?
Clothing-optional resort ('The Well') on 160 acres in Penrose — 70-ft artesian-fed pool ~95-98°F plus a hotter 108°F tub; open Tue-Sun in two timed sessions (10am-3:15pm, 4pm-9:15pm), closed Mondays; online reservation REQUIRED for every guest including children (card holds booking, pay on arrival); swimsuits mandatory Tuesdays, optional Wed-Sun; camping and RV sites (no hookups) available. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') free?
Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') is listed with reported fees near Penrose. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well')?
Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') has a reported soak temperature of 97°F and a historical source temperature of 108°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') clothing optional?
Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well')?
Dakota Hot Springs ('The Well') is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Cañon City
For a Royal Gorge region stay and a separate visit to Dakota near Penrose. Spring admission is not included in a town room.
Cañon City is about 9 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Dakota Hot Springs — official site & FAQs — operator · 2026-09
- Uncover Colorado — Dakota Hot Springs — community · 2025
- Hot Springs Guides — Dakota Hot Springs — community · 2025
- CA Travel Times — Dakota Hot Springs visitor guide — 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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.