The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring)
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) is a resort hot spring listed near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Colorado Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Open daily — day visitors buy passes at the Bathhouse (no advance reservation needed, line shorter Mon–Thu) for soaking 9am–9:30pm; General Admission ~$74 covers 25 original pools, while the Wellness Day Pass ($119 Mon–Thu/$159 Fri–Sun) adds adult-only Relaxation Terrace and 23 new wellness pools plus towel/locker/robe; overnight guests soak 24 hours; the Mother Spring itself (up to 144°F) is viewable only.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 8 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in town for the San Juan River area.
Pagosa Springs is under a mile from the spring.
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 The Springs Resort — Day Pass options (GA $74, Wellness $119/$159, locals rate, 9am–9:30pm).
- Cost: Reported $74 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 100°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 at Bathhouse front desk
- Best time to go: Monday–Thursday — cheaper Wellness pricing and much shorter bathhouse lines; summer weekends and holidays pack the terraces
- Clothing reality: Official: swim attire required — family resort, not clothing-optional.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Best in class for this batch: developed resort with terraced pools, some ramp/lift access and accessible rooms — confirm specific pool access with resort
- GA pass is one-time entry (wellness tiers include day-of re-entry) — confirm at purchase
- Locals (60-mile radius) get ~$30 rate with valid ID, in-person only
- Weekend Bathhouse lines — arrive early; Mon–Thu shortest
- Pools cleared at 9:30pm though bathhouse open to 10pm
- Silver jewelry tarnishes instantly in the mineral water — remove it
- Towel/robe/locker NOT included in GA — rent at Bathhouse or upgrade to Wellness pass
- Cabana packages (2 passes + cabana) start ~$433 weekday/$493 weekend
- No pets in pool area
- Hazard: Mother Spring source reaches ~144°F — viewing area only, do not touch/enter
- Hazard: Pool temps span 83–114°F — hottest upper pools can scald
- Hazard: Mineral terraces slippery
About this spring
The Springs Resort & Spa on Hot Springs Blvd, home of the 'Great Pagosa Hot Spring' (Mother Spring) — certified by Guinness as the world's deepest geothermal hot spring (1,002 ft measured without hitting bottom). The resort operates 25+ terraced mineral pools (~83-114°F) along the San Juan River. The Mother Spring itself (110-144°F) is viewable but far too hot for soaking. Fee: Day pass ~$74 adults / $42 children (varies by day); locals ~$29. Source spring reaches 144°F — do not touch or enter. Pets not allowed in pool area.
The Springs Resort & Spa occupies both banks of the San Juan River in downtown Pagosa Springs and is fed by the 'Mother Spring' (Great Pagosa Hot Spring), which holds the Guinness World Record for the deepest geothermal hot spring measured by a plumb line: 1,002 feet (305.41 m), measured August 20, 2011 by Durango hydrologist John Casey. The true depth is unknown — the line ran out before hitting bottom, and an earlier 2,500-foot line reportedly ran out as well; a 2020 re-measurement involving the Colorado School of Mines and USGS again reached 1,002 feet without finding the bottom. The Mother Spring is a viewing feature only: its surface is about 131°F and the thermal layer roughly 45 feet down runs near 144°F — far too hot to touch. The Southern Ute knew the spring as 'Pah gosah,' healing waters.
The resort itself is genuinely soakable and operates 25 'Original Pools' plus adult-only Relaxation Terrace pools along the river — more than 50 pools in total across pass tiers — ranging from cool river plunges to about 110–114°F. Day guests are admitted 9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; General Admission is about $74 for adults (one-time entry, 25 pools including five adults-only terrace pools), with child (~$42), senior, military, and local-resident (~$29–30) rates, and a Wellness Day Pass unlocks all 50+ pools including adult-only areas and spa amenities. Overnight guests get 24-hour soaking. Swimsuits are required and the Mother Spring itself is strictly off-limits for contact.
Directions & trailhead access
165 Hot Springs Blvd in downtown Pagosa Springs along the San Juan River; the Mother Spring is a short walk behind the resort with interpretive signage.
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 | 100°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 131°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $74 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | The Springs Resort — Day Pass options (GA $74, Wellness $119/$159, locals rate, 9am–9:30pm) |
The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) FAQ
Is The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) open right now?
Open daily — day visitors buy passes at the Bathhouse (no advance reservation needed, line shorter Mon–Thu) for soaking 9am–9:30pm; General Admission ~$74 covers 25 original pools, while the Wellness Day Pass ($119 Mon–Thu/$159 Fri–Sun) adds adult-only Relaxation Terrace and 23 new wellness pools plus towel/locker/robe; overnight guests soak 24 hours; the Mother Spring itself (up to 144°F) is viewable only. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) free?
The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) is listed with reported fees near Pagosa Springs. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring)?
The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) has a reported soak temperature of 100°F and a historical source temperature of 131°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) clothing optional?
The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring)?
The Springs Resort (Great Pagosa Hot Spring) is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Pagosa Springs
Stay in town for the San Juan River area. Choose and book your pool visit separately.
Pagosa Springs is under a mile from the spring.
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- The Springs Resort — Day Pass options (GA $74, Wellness $119/$159, locals rate, 9am–9:30pm) — operator · 2026-09
- The Springs Resort — Hot Springs FAQ (walk-in purchase, hours) — operator · 2026-09
- hotsprings.co — The Springs Resort 2026 pricing summary — community · 2026
- SheBuysTravel — Springs Resort day pass report — community · 2025
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/deepest-geothermal-hot-spring-measured-by-a-plumb-line
- www.pagosahotsprings.com
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagosa_hot_springs
- www.explorepagosa.com/worlds-deepest-hot-spring
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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