Pinkerton Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Free roadside geothermal mound on US-550 ~15 mi north of Durango, maintained by CDOT — a photo stop where you can at most dip feet in a shallow ~95-105F pool at the base; there are NO soaking pools, facilities, or fee.
Field notes — checked September 2026
- Hazard: Highway shoulder site — traffic on US-550
- Hazard: Slick mineral-crusted rock
- Hazard: Winter ice; CDOT built the mound partly to keep thermal flow off the travel lane
- NOT a soaking destination — no tubs or pools; at most a shallow foot-dip at the mound base
- Unmarked gravel pull-off parking on east side of US-550; watch traffic entering/exiting
- No restrooms, no facilities, no signage interpretation
- Open all hours, free, year-round (weather/road dependent in winter)
- Water flow varies seasonally — pool at base can be low or absent
Stop on Colorado Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free roadside geothermal mound on US-550 ~15 mi north of Durango, maintained by CDOT — a photo stop where you can at most dip feet in a shallow ~95-105F pool at the base; there are NO soaking pools, facilities, or fee.
Checked September 2026 · based on recent visitor reports · 7 sources ↓
About this spring
Free roadside geothermal spring ~10-15 miles north of Durango on US-550, famous for a vivid multicolored travertine/mineral mound (CDOT routed the water over stacked rock in 2001). Primarily a photo stop / foot soak — not a developed soaking destination. Highway curve pull-off — watch traffic. Slick rocks. Mostly a viewing feature.
Pinkerton Hot Springs is a free roadside geothermal feature on the east side of US-550 about 14–15 miles north of Durango in the Animas Valley — essentially a drive-up photo stop rather than a soaking destination. Its signature is a vivid mound of travertine and mineral deposits stained orange, red, yellow, and green by iron oxides and algae. The spring water originally surfaced on the west side of the highway and kept damaging the roadbed and icing the pavement; in 2001 the Colorado Department of Transportation piped the discharge under the highway to the east side and stacked rock (or concrete/limestone — sources differ) around the outflow, which mineralized into today's colorful cairn. CDOT added an interpretive sign in 2004.
Water trickling over the mound measures roughly 95–110°F, and a small pool at the base allows a foot soak; there is no real soaking pool, no facilities, and no fee. The pull-off sits on a highway curve — watch traffic, and expect slick, marshy ground around the mound. Historically the springs were part of a ranch developed in the 1870s by James Pinkerton, who ran a tourist spa and hotel on the site and bottled the water; the resort was abandoned by the 1930s and the property is now home to Colorado Timberline Academy.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
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.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Visit Four Corners — Pinkerton Hot Springs (free roadside stop, foot soak) |
Pinkerton Hot Springs FAQ
Is Pinkerton Hot Springs open right now?
Free roadside geothermal mound on US-550 ~15 mi north of Durango, maintained by CDOT — a photo stop where you can at most dip feet in a shallow ~95-105F pool at the base; there are NO soaking pools, facilities, or fee. (Status based on recent visitor reports, last checked September 2026.)
Can I soak at Pinkerton Hot Springs?
Free roadside geothermal mound on US-550 ~15 mi north of Durango, maintained by CDOT — a photo stop where you can at most dip feet in a shallow ~95-105F pool at the base; there are NO soaking pools, facilities, or fee.
Where can I check access to Pinkerton Hot Springs?
Check Visit Four Corners — Pinkerton Hot Springs (free roadside stop, foot soak): https://visitfourcorners.com/pinkerton-hot-springs/
Sources & references
- Visit Four Corners — Pinkerton Hot Springs (free roadside stop, foot soak) — community · 2025
- Soak Destinations — Pinkerton Hot Springs 2026 guide ('not for soaking', CDOT-maintained) — community · 2026
- hotsprings.co — Pinkerton Hot Springs (undeveloped, not recommended for bathing) — community · 2026
- Hot Springs Guides — Pinkerton Hot Springs (CDOT mound history) — community · 2025
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/sleuthing-hot-spring-takes-pinkerton-detective
- gregdisch.com/2020/01/25/pinkerton-hot-springs
- www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/41246
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