Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa

What to expect

Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa is the reason the small Grand County town has its name. The resort sits on a slope above the Colorado River on the west side of town, and mineral water runs downhill through a long series of pools before it drains away. The operator says the water is used as it comes out of the ground: no chlorine, no filters and no pumps, just gravity moving it from pool to pool. That gives the place a less polished feel than a big chlorinated resort pool, and a stronger mineral smell.

The resort currently lists 19 public mineral pools. Other counts float around (Visit Grand County lists 22 pools and private baths), partly because the private tubs and the seasonal swimming pool are sometimes counted and sometimes not. The pools are a mix of small tiled and stone soaking tubs, some outdoors on the hillside and some under cover. Named ones include the Solarium pool, the Hillside pool and the Ute pool. The resort gives a temperature range of 98 to 112°F37 to 44°C, so you can move from warm to properly hot without leaving the property.

It is a working family resort rather than a luxury spa. Expect a historic motel, a lobby, renovated locker rooms with showers and changing areas, a picnic area, and a massage room. In summer a large chlorinated swimming pool opens as well.

The pools and facilities

• Public mineral pools: about 19, at 98 to 112°F37 to 44°C. Children under 12 are allowed in a set of family pools only; the rest are for guests 12 and older.
• Summer swimming pool: a large chlorinated pool that is closed outside the warm season.
• Private baths: one-hour bookings for up to four people, 18 and over only.
• Locker rooms: showers and changing areas. Lockers are coin-operated at 50 cents per use.
• Rentals: towels $3, robes $8. Bring your own to save money.
• Massage: Swedish and deep tissue. A massage booking includes a free all-day pool pass.
• Food: no eating in the pool areas, but there is a picnic area, and the resort points guests to the new 7670 Grill just up the road.

Prices and booking

Prices below are from the resort’s own pages, checked October 2026.

• Adult day pass (12+): $30 Monday to Thursday, $35 Friday to Sunday.
• Child (under 12): $16.
• Late entry, from 8:15 pm every night: $17 adults, $12 children.
• Private bath: $35 to reserve, plus $35 per person paid at check-in, for one hour. A $45 private bath and pool pass combo is also offered.

Walk-ins are fine for the public pools, and the last walk-in entry is 9:15 pm. For private baths, massages and rooms, book online through the resort site or call (970) 725-3306. There are no refunds, including when the pools close for lightning.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits are required. This is not a clothing-optional spring.
• No alcohol, smoking, vaping or eating in the pool areas or private baths. Staff may check bags.
• No pets. Only vested, medically trained service animals are allowed.
• Lightning closes everything. If a strike is within 5 miles, the pools and showers close until the storm moves on.
• No overnight parking or camping on the property.
• Keep your voice down in the smaller pools, which are often shared with strangers, and rinse off before you get in.

Getting there

The resort is at 5609 Spring Road in Hot Sulphur Springs, just off US-40 on the west side of town.

• From Denver: Take I-70 west to exit 232, then US-40 north over Berthoud Pass, through Winter Park and Fraser, and on to Granby. Stay on US-40 west to Hot Sulphur Springs. Allow about two hours in good conditions, more in snow.
• From Kremmling or Steamboat Springs: Head east on US-40. The road runs through Byers Canyon just before you reach town.

All the roads are paved, and there is parking at the resort. Berthoud Pass is a high, winding mountain pass, so check Colorado road conditions before you leave in winter and carry chains or good snow tires.

When to go

The resort is open every day of the year, and the experience changes a lot with the seasons. Winter is the classic time: Grand County is cold and snowy, and the contrast between frozen air and hot pools is the main draw. It also pairs well with a ski day at Winter Park or Granby Ranch. Summer brings the big swimming pool, more families and occasional afternoon thunderstorms that can close the pools for a while.

Weekends cost $5 more per adult and are busier. Weekday mornings are the calmest. If you just want a short soak, the 8:15 pm late-entry pass is a good deal, and on a clear night you get stars over the valley.

Where to stay nearby

• On site: the resort’s historic motel has 17 rooms of various sizes, plus a cabin and an apartment. Every stay includes pool passes for each day, including the days you check in and out. The resort runs promotions such as a three-nights-for-the-price-of-two offer outside holidays. The motel is not pet friendly.
• Ute Trail Motel: a sister property about 0.7 miles away in town, with 10 rooms (three with kitchenettes). It does take pets, and guests get discounted day passes at the springs.
• Granby: about 10 miles east on US-40, with more motels, restaurants and groceries.
• Winter Park: about 30 minutes east, with the widest choice of lodging in the county.

Safety notes

• Heat: the hottest pools reach about 112°F44°C. Start in a cooler pool, keep soaks short, drink water and get out if you feel dizzy or light-headed. This is especially important at nearly 7,700 feet of elevation, where dehydration comes on faster.
• Kids: stick to the pools set aside for under-12s, and keep children’s heads out of the water.
• Footing: wet stone and tile around the hillside pools can be slick, and in winter some paths can ice up. Wear sandals between pools.
• Water: the pools are not chlorinated. That is part of the appeal, but avoid soaking with open cuts and do not swallow the water.
• Storms: summer lightning is common in the high country. Follow staff instructions when the pools are cleared.

History

The springs were a winter camping ground for Native Americans long before the town existed, and Visit Grand County notes their use by the Ute people. The resort says William Newton Byers, founder of the Rocky Mountain News, was the first European American to document them, and that he took ownership of the springs in 1864 and founded the town. A hotel with hot and cold running water followed in 1903, the current motel has operated since 1943, and the complex was extensively renovated in 1996.

Nearby stops worth adding

Byers Canyon, just west of town on US-40, is a short, steep rock canyon on the Colorado River that is worth a slow drive or a stop at a pullout. Rocky Mountain National Park is reachable from Granby via US-34 through Grand Lake, about 45 minutes away, when Trail Ridge Road is open in summer.