Orvis Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Orvis Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Ridgway, 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 9am–9pm for walk-in day soaking — $35 adult all-day, $12 kids 4–12, under-3 free, no reservation needed for day use; ten pools plus sauna with clothing-optional outdoor soaking (suits required for minors and in the indoor pool 7am–9pm); camping/lodging guests get 24-hour spring access — camping $65/adult/night includes two days of soaking, campground capped at 30 people.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 3 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
A San Juan Mountains base for Ouray’s town pools and a separate drive to Orvis near Ridgway.
Ouray is about 8 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 Orvis Hot Springs — Rates page (updated 2026-03-24).
- Cost: Reported $35 — 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-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 — day admission paid at desk; overnight reservations by phone/email
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings are most tranquil; summer weekends and fall color season draw the biggest crowds — arrive at 9am opening
- Clothing reality: Official: outdoor soaking areas and sauna clothing-optional; towel/robe required in main-building hallways; swimsuits REQUIRED in the indoor pool 7am–9pm and for all children at all times. Customary: most adults soak nude outdoors. Legal private property.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Pools and ponds spread over a compact riverside property with gravel paths; indoor pool has steps; no detailed ADA info published — call (970) 779-1797
- No electronics anywhere in soaking areas — phones/cameras/e-readers get you ejected without refund
- No glass or alcohol on the grounds (OK inside your room/campsite only)
- One-hour 'quick dip' costs same $35 — they refund $5 at checkout
- Campground limited to 30 people/night — reserve ahead for camping
- No hookups; max RV length 30 ft
- Quiet hours 9pm–9am; community kitchen closes 9pm
- Pets only in campground on leash — never at pools/grass/rooms ($100 fee if in room)
- Check-in for lodging/camping 3–8pm; late soakers must arrive by 8pm
- 48-hr cancellation on overnight stays ($20 fee)
- Towel rental $3 — bring your own
- Hazard: Untreated lithium-rich water at natural temps 65–114°F — test pools before entering; some run very hot
- Hazard: No lifeguards; dark property at night during 24-hr guest soaking
- Hazard: Pond/pool cleaning schedule closes individual pools temporarily
About this spring
Clothing-optional natural hot springs resort on County Road 3 just south of Ridgway — ten pools and ponds (65-114°F) fed by lithium-rich geothermal water that is never heated or chemically treated. Traditionally used by the Tabeguache Utes. Lodging, camping, and massage; deliberately low-tech (no electronics in soaking areas). Fee: Adult all-day ~$35; children $12. Clothing optional for 18+ in outdoor pools; suits required for minors and indoor pool. No electronics, glass, or alcohol. Pets only in campground.
Orvis Hot Springs spreads across ten named soaking areas on County Road 3 just south of Ridgway, fed by lithium-bearing geothermal water that is never heated or chemically treated — the same springs sacred to the Tabeguache band of Utes, the Uncompahgre valley people led by Chief Ouray, Ouray County's namesake. A 127°F source called the Crater emerges at the property's high point and gravity-feeds the ponds, heats the buildings, preheats showers, and warms winter walkways. Highlights include the Pond — a 40-foot-wide, rock-and-pebble-bottomed pool averaging 100–106°F with hot vents underfoot and a wooden flume for temperature control and back massage — the waterfall-fed Island Pond, the 103–107°F Smokers Pond, the 108–114°F Lobster Pot tapped at a well pit near the campground, and a 62°F cold plunge beside the sauna. Soaking is clothing-optional for adults outdoors, deliberately low-tech and electronics-free, with views of 14,150-foot Mount Sneffels; lodging, camping, and RV sites are on the property.
Directions & trailhead access
1585 County Road 3, Ridgway — about 1-1.5 miles south of town off US-550, ~8 miles north of Ouray.
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) | 127°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $35 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Orvis Hot Springs — Rates page (updated 2026-03-24) |
Orvis Hot Springs FAQ
Is Orvis Hot Springs open right now?
Open daily 9am–9pm for walk-in day soaking — $35 adult all-day, $12 kids 4–12, under-3 free, no reservation needed for day use; ten pools plus sauna with clothing-optional outdoor soaking (suits required for minors and in the indoor pool 7am–9pm); camping/lodging guests get 24-hour spring access — camping $65/adult/night includes two days of soaking, campground capped at 30 people. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Orvis Hot Springs free?
Orvis Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Ridgway. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Orvis Hot Springs?
Orvis Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 127°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Orvis Hot Springs clothing optional?
Orvis Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Orvis Hot Springs?
Orvis 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 Ouray
A San Juan Mountains base for Ouray’s town pools and a separate drive to Orvis near Ridgway.
Ouray is about 8 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Orvis Hot Springs — Rates page (updated 2026-03-24) — operator · 2026-03
- Orvis Hot Springs — Policies & Information (updated 2026-06-05) — operator · 2026-06
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
Official website: orvishotsprings.com
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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