South Canyon Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
South Canyon Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Reported soak temperature: 106°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Colorado Hot Springs Loop — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free primitive hillside pools ('Hippy Hot Springs') on City of Glenwood Springs parkland ~5 mi west of town — year-round, no fee/permit, 0.2-mi trail from a CR-134 pullout with a creek crossing and steep muddy pitch; clothing-optional custom, dogs prohibited by posted rule; city documents flag unhealthy fecal-bacteria levels, trash and public-safety issues — soak at your own risk and don't submerge your head.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 8 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in town for Glenwood’s developed pools.
Glenwood Springs is about 5 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 City of Glenwood Springs — South Canyon Management Plan (adopted Feb 2024).
- 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 106°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 — open city parkland
- Best time to go: Early weekday mornings — cleanest water and fewest people; evenings/weekends draw crowds and occasional party behavior
- Clothing reality: No official clothing rule — unofficial clothing-optional custom on city parkland; mix of suited and nude soakers. Public indecency laws technically apply on city land; nudity is tolerated practice, not a protected right.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: NOT accessible — creek crossing plus steep muddy hill to hillside pools
- City staff report documents 'unhealthy fecal coliform bacteria levels' — keep head out, don't swallow, avoid with open wounds
- No facilities whatsoever — no toilets, trash, water; pack out everything
- Short hike includes a creek crossing and a steep muddy section — slippery when wet/icy
- Small pullout parking fills fast on weekends; roadside dumping problems noted
- Active shooting range and landfill up-canyon — noise, trucks
- Illegal camping and fires are chronic problems — campfires prohibited, area is high wildfire risk with one way in/out
- Pools maintained by volunteers; conditions vary week to week
- Hazard: Documented fecal bacteria contamination
- Hazard: Broken glass and trash reported
- Hazard: High wildfire risk, single access route
- Hazard: Unpredictable behavior by some users reported in reviews
- Hazard: Source pools can hit ~112°F
About this spring
Free undeveloped hot springs on a hillside above South Canyon Creek, ~5 miles west of Glenwood Springs on City of Glenwood Springs land — also called Hippy Hot Springs. One main primitive rock pool (~100-112°F) reached by a very short trail. Clothing-optional and popular with locals. Occasional unwanted attention reported — early morning/weekdays quieter. Muddy trail; pack out trash.
South Canyon Hot Springs — locally called the 'Hippy Hot Springs' — is a free, undeveloped soaking spot on a hillside above South Canyon Creek about five miles west of Glenwood Springs. From I-70 Exit 111 you turn onto County Road 134/South Canyon Creek Road, park at a gravel pullout about 1.2 miles from the exit, then walk roughly 0.2 miles down a dirt path, across the creek, and up the hill to one main rock-and-mud pool (sometimes a second smaller pool) running about 100–112°F with a noticeable sulfur smell. There are no facilities, no fee, and no permit requirement; clothing is optional and dogs are not allowed. The pools sit on City of Glenwood Springs parkland — the city owns roughly 3,000 acres in South Canyon, purchased largely in 1956 — and early testing cited in city documents measured the springs' flow around 100 gallons per minute at roughly 118°F at the source.
There are real caveats. A 2021 City staff report described the pools as having 'insufficient filtration flow and unhealthy fecal coliform bacteria levels,' and the city has flagged illegal camping, dumping, and fire risk in the canyon; a South Canyon Management Plan was adopted in early 2024 and the city has entertained a lease-option for possible commercial development by the owners of Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Visitors report occasional unwanted attention; early mornings and weekdays are quieter. Pack out all trash — the site survives on volunteer cleanup and local goodwill.
Directions & trailhead access
I-70 Exit 111 (South Canyon) ~5 mi west of Glenwood Springs, onto County Road 134; park at the gravel pullout ~1.2 mi from the exit and walk ~0.2 mi across the creek and up the hill.
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 | 106°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 118°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | City of Glenwood Springs — South Canyon Management Plan (adopted Feb 2024) |
South Canyon Hot Springs FAQ
Is South Canyon Hot Springs open right now?
Free primitive hillside pools ('Hippy Hot Springs') on City of Glenwood Springs parkland ~5 mi west of town — year-round, no fee/permit, 0.2-mi trail from a CR-134 pullout with a creek crossing and steep muddy pitch; clothing-optional custom, dogs prohibited by posted rule; city documents flag unhealthy fecal-bacteria levels, trash and public-safety issues — soak at your own risk and don't submerge your head. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Is South Canyon Hot Springs free?
South Canyon Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Garfield County, Colorado. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is South Canyon Hot Springs?
South Canyon Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 106°F and a historical source temperature of 118°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is South Canyon Hot Springs clothing optional?
South Canyon Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access South Canyon Hot Springs?
South Canyon Hot Springs is on public land — verify current road access, fees and rules with the land manager before visiting.
Where to stay in Glenwood Springs
Stay in town for Glenwood’s developed pools. Admission is separate unless your chosen room rate explicitly includes it.
Glenwood Springs is about 5 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- City of Glenwood Springs — South Canyon Management Plan (adopted Feb 2024) — official · 2024-02
- City of Glenwood Springs — Staff Report May 20, 2021 (bacteria/safety findings) — official · 2021-05
- Post Independent — City Council passes South Canyon Management Plan — news · 2024-02
- Hot Springs Guides — South Canyon Hot Springs — community · 2025
- Find A Spring — South Canyon (user reports) — community · 2025-08
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
- www.cogs.us/677/South-Canyon-Management-Plan
- www.postindependent.com/news/local/city-prepares-lease-for-south-canyon-springs-study
- www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/south-canyon-hot-springs
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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