Penny Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Penny Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Redstone, 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
Open year-round and free at the Hwy 133 pullout — riverside rock pools rebuilt each year after runoff, but parking (~21 spaces) overflows badly, dogs/camping/glass are banned under the 2020 county rules, and pools are submerged/blown out during spring runoff (~late Apr–early Jun).
Checked March 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
For the Crystal River Valley leg toward Redstone and Penny.
Carbondale is about 12 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 Pitkin County Open Space & Trails — Penny Hot Springs.
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: No verified hike distance on record — confirm the route and road conditions.
- 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; free
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings; mid-summer through winter after runoff ends; avoid sunny weekend afternoons
- Clothing reality: Official: no clothing rule in the adopted 2020 Pitkin County ruleset (rules ban camping, dogs, glass, loud music). Customary: decades of clothing-optional 'hippie dip' tradition; nudity still common especially early/late. Legal: Colorado indecent-exposure statutes technically apply; no enforcement reports found.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Not accessible — steep informal path down a riverbank, slippery rocks
- Parking pullout holds ~19-21 vehicles; sheriff tickets cars outside striped areas; congestion/accidents on Hwy 133 documented (Aspen Times, Mar 2026)
- Day use only — overnight parking AND camping prohibited
- Dogs banned and glass containers banned under the 2020 management plan rules
- No trash cans — pack out all waste, including human waste per Leave No Trace signage
- Spring runoff (roughly late April–early June) floods/destroys the pools — verify conditions before driving out
- Vent water ~130-133°F — scalding; mix with river water
- Steep, slippery scramble from the pullout down to the riverbank; water shoes strongly advised
- Pitkin County P&Z approved parking/drainage/trail improvements June 3, 2025 — no construction in 2025; permits (floodplain no-rise, CDOT) pending, so expect construction-era disruption later
- Hazard: Scalding vent water (~133°F)
- Hazard: Crystal River current/high water during runoff
- Hazard: Steep slippery riverbank access
- Hazard: Highway traffic at the pullout
About this spring
Free primitive hot spring on the bank of the Crystal River at the mouth of the 'Narrows' granite canyon on CO-133. Visitors stack river rocks into basins mixing ~130°F vent water with cold river flow (~98-106°F). Managed under a Pitkin County Open Space plan adopted in 2020. Dogs, glass, and camping banned under county management plan. Very limited parking — tickets issued. Pools wash out during spring runoff; steep slippery descent.
Penny Hot Springs is a free roadside soak on the bank of the Crystal River where CO-133 narrows into the granite 'Narrows' canyon, about three miles north of Redstone. Visitors rebuild small basins from river rocks each season, mixing vent water reported near 130°F with cold river flow down to soaking range. A steep, slippery path drops from an unsigned highway pullout to the pools.
The site is managed under a Pitkin County Open Space plan adopted in 2020: dogs, glass, and camping are banned and use is day-only. The pullout holds roughly twenty cars and overflow parking is ticketed — county-documented congestion and accidents on Highway 133 make that more than a suggestion. During spring runoff the pools are submerged or blown out entirely; the dependable window is after runoff ends, mid-summer through winter.
Directions & trailhead access
On CO-133 near mile marker 55 (~3.2 mi north of Redstone) — park at the unsigned pullout on the east side of the highway and scramble down the steep rocky path to the river.
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 primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
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) | 130°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Pitkin County Open Space & Trails — Penny Hot Springs |
Penny Hot Springs FAQ
Is Penny Hot Springs open right now?
Open year-round and free at the Hwy 133 pullout — riverside rock pools rebuilt each year after runoff, but parking (~21 spaces) overflows badly, dogs/camping/glass are banned under the 2020 county rules, and pools are submerged/blown out during spring runoff (~late Apr–early Jun). (Status verified against an official source, last checked March 2026.)
Is Penny Hot Springs free?
Penny Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Pitkin County, Colorado. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Penny Hot Springs?
Penny Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 102°F and a historical source temperature of 130°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Penny Hot Springs clothing optional?
Penny Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Penny Hot Springs?
Penny Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Carbondale
For the Crystal River Valley leg toward Redstone and Penny. Check the separate riverbank access and parking before travelling.
Carbondale is about 12 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Pitkin County Open Space & Trails — Penny Hot Springs — official · 2026
- Penny Hot Springs Management Plan (adopted March 2020) — official · 2020-03
- KDNK — Pitkin County Officials Adopt Penny Hot Springs Management Plan (rules: camping/dogs/glass bans) — news · 2020-03
- The Sopris Sun — Penny Hot Springs improvement plans (June 3, 2025 P&Z approval; no 2025 construction) — news · 2025-06
- Aspen Times — Redstone residents concerned with Penny Hot Springs overuse — news · 2026-03
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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