Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa

What to expect

Joyful Journey sits on open sagebrush flats at the top of the San Luis Valley, at about 7,700 feet. There is no forest and no canyon here. Instead you get a wide, flat valley floor and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains running along the eastern skyline, which is the view from the pools. At night, with almost no towns nearby, the sky is very dark.

The water comes up through travertine at roughly 120 to 145°F49 to 63°C, according to the regional tourism office, and the spa cools it before it reaches the pools. It is a sodium bicarbonate water with notable boron, calcium, lithium and magnesium. The pools are tiled, outdoor and surrounded by decking, so this is a developed, tidy soak rather than a rock pool in the dirt.

It is a small, quiet place. The atmosphere is closer to a retreat than a water park: there is yoga, massage and facials by appointment, and the hottest pool is set aside for near-silence. Families do come, but the general mood is calm.

The pools

• Cool pool: about 98°F37°C, the easiest place for long soaks and for kids.
• Tower Pool (medium): about 104°F40°C.
• View Pool (hot): about 108°F42°C. This is the designated quiet pool, and the spa asks that conversation stay at a whisper.
• Two jacuzzi tubs: about 104°F40°C.
• Baby pool: filled with spring water, for children under 4.
• Cold plunge, cold shower and dry sauna: the sauna is included with pool entry.
• Private pools: the spa has opened private pools. It does not post prices, so contact the front desk to book.

The spa checks pool temperatures every hour.

Prices and booking

Day prices from the spa’s own pools page, checked October 2026:

• Adults: $18
• Children 4 to 14: $15
• Seniors 65 and over: $15
• Local soak (with ID): $15
• Tuesdays: $12 all day
• Rentals: swimsuit $2, towel $4, robe $5

Membership passes are offered, and you get a free pass on your birthday with ID. Day soaking is walk-in. Lodging needs a booking through the website or by email to [email protected], with a 50% deposit and at least 72 hours’ notice to cancel. In autumn 2026 the website noted that the phone system was temporarily down, so email is the reliable way to reach them.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits on. This is not a clothing-optional spring.
• No alcohol in the pool area. Smoking only in the designated smoking pavilion.
• Quiet in the View Pool. Save conversations for the other pools.
• Kids: under 4 in the baby pool only, under 12 with an adult at all times.
• Pets: never in the pool area. Day visitors can leave dogs in the shaded kennel near day parking (bring water and your own lock). Emotional support animals are not allowed in the bathhouses or pool area.

Getting there

The spa is at 28640 County Road 58 EE, right off Colorado Highway 17, about 1 mile south of the junction with US-285.

• From Salida: Take US-285 south over Poncha Pass, about 32 miles. Where US-285 bends west toward Saguache, keep straight onto Highway 17 south. The spa is about a mile further on.
• From Alamosa: Drive about 50 miles north on Highway 17 through Hooper and Moffat.
• From Denver: Allow about four hours via US-285 through Fairplay and Buena Vista.

Roads are paved, and there is a dedicated day parking area.

When to go

The spa is open all year, and the valley is very different by season. Summer days are warm and dry, with afternoon thunderstorms. Autumn is a good time to come, with the aspens turning on the Sangre de Cristos and cold, clear nights. Winter is cold, often well below freezing after dark, which makes the hot pool and sauna feel well earned. Snow on the valley floor is usually light compared with the mountains, but Poncha Pass can be icy.

Tuesdays are the cheapest day. Evenings are popular for stargazing, but day guests have to be out by 8 pm on Friday and Saturday, so book a room if you want a late soak on a weekend.

Where to stay nearby

• On site: the Lodge (hotel rooms with private bathrooms), the Casita, all-season yurts, tipis, RV sites with or without 50-amp electric (no water or sewer hookups) and tent sites. Every overnight stay includes soaking from arrival day to departure day, plus breakfast and dinner. Check-in is 4 pm and check-out 11 am. Overnight guests get a soaking towel, and robes are included in the Casita, the Lodge and the yurts.
• Crestone: about 30 minutes south and east, a small mountain town with retreat centers, cafes and a few inns.
• Salida: about 32 miles north, with the widest range of hotels and restaurants in the area.
• Great Sand Dunes National Park: about 40 minutes away, with Pinon Flats Campground and private lodging near the park entrance.

Safety notes

• Heat and altitude: the View Pool sits at about 108°F42°C and you are at roughly 7,700 feet. Drink water, take breaks and get out if you feel dizzy.
• Sun: there is little shade on the valley floor. Wear a hat and sunscreen between soaks.
• Cold nights: temperatures drop fast after sunset, even in summer. Bring warm layers for walking back to a tent or tipi.
• Fire rules: the valley is dry and fire restrictions are common in summer. Follow posted rules at campsites.

Nearby stops worth adding

Great Sand Dunes National Park is the obvious pairing, about 40 minutes away, with the tallest dunes in North America and seasonal Medano Creek. Crestone has short trails into the Sangre de Cristos and several spiritual centers that welcome visitors. If you want to compare soaks, Valley View Hot Springs is a clothing-optional, more rustic spring at the north end of the same valley.