Orvis Hot Springs

What to expect

Orvis Hot Springs is an old-school, low-key soaking spot on the valley floor between Ridgway and Ouray. It is clothing optional for adults, it bans phones and cameras around the water, and it does not heat or chlorinate any of its pools. The result is quiet, with people reading on the lawn, drifting in the big pond and talking in low voices.

The operator describes the water as natural lithium mineral water, never heated or treated. Pools and ponds are scattered across a fenced yard with views of the San Juan Mountains. There is a main building with an indoor pool, two private tubs, changing areas and a shared kitchen, plus a sauna outside.

The history here goes back well before the bathhouse. The operator notes that the Tabeguache band of the Ute people, led by Chief Ouray, soaked at these springs when they lived in the Uncompahgre River valley.

The pools

The operator lists ten soaking areas. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather:

• The Pond: The main pool, about 40 feet across and up to 5 feet deep. Spring water rises through the floor, with the biggest flow coming from a cave under a rock bench. The seasonal average is 100-106°F38-41°C, and the operator aims for 103-104°F39-40°C. A cooler plunge is attached, and a flume of water gives a back massage.
• North Pond: About 30 feet across and 4 feet deep, behind the Pond, averaging about 100°F38°C.
• Island Pond: A 20 by 8 foot, 2-foot-deep pond with a waterfall, fed by 127°F71°C water from a source called the Crater on the high point of the property.
• Smokers Pond: An 8-foot round pool at 103-107°F39-42°C. It is the only place tobacco smoking is allowed. Cannabis smoking is not allowed anywhere.
• Lobster Pot: The hottest tub, 108-114°F42-46°C, behind a privacy fence next to the sauna.
• Cold plunge: 62°F17°C, beside the sauna.
• Watsu Pool: A 16-foot, 4-foot-deep pool built for Watsu sessions and kept silent.
• Indoor Pool: 3 feet deep, averaging about 98°F37°C. Swimsuits are required here from 7am to 9pm.
• Two private indoor tubs: 102-110°F39-43°C, first come, first served, at no extra charge.

Getting there

Ridgway sits at the junction of US 550 and Colorado 62, about 26 miles south of Montrose. Montrose Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport.

From Ridgway, drive south on US 550 toward Ouray and turn onto County Road 3. The springs are at 1585 County Road 3, a couple of miles south of town and about 9 miles north of Ouray. Telluride is about 37 miles away over Dallas Divide on Colorado 62 and 145.

Parking is right next to the building. Day soakers park perpendicular to the building or to the AmeriGas fence. Overnight guests get assigned spots when they check in.

When to go

Orvis is open year-round, 9am to 9pm every day. Day soakers must arrive by 8pm. The valley sits around 6,900 feet, so winter nights are cold and the big pond steams hard. Summer days can be warm enough that the cooler North Pond and Indoor Pool are more comfortable than the hot tubs.

Weekday mornings are the quietest time for day visitors. Summer weekends and holiday periods fill the yard, especially when Ouray and Telluride are busy.

Check the cleaning calendar. The Main Pond and the North Pond and Quiet Pool each close from 7am to 2pm on set days, roughly twice a month each, with dates posted on the operator’s pond cleaning page. Smaller pools are cleaned on fixed weekdays: the island and smokers ponds on Thursdays, and the sauna, Lobster Pot and cold plunge on Fridays.

Prices and booking

Day soaking needs no reservation. Rates on the operator site, posted in March 2026:

• Adult, all day: $35
• Adult, one-hour quick dip: $35 prepaid, with $5 refunded at checkout
• Children 4-12: $12
• Children 3 and under: Free
• Towel rental: $3
• Annual membership: $185, with $15 member soaks

Lodging: Six simple rooms with no phones or TVs. A room for one or two adults is $249 a night plus tax and includes two days of soaking for two. Extra adults are $65 and extra children 3-12 are $25. Check-in is 3pm to 8pm in person, and checkout is 11am. Lodging guests can soak from 9am on arrival day after telling the front desk.

Camping: Tent, vehicle and RV camping year-round, limited to 30 guests a night. It costs $65 per adult and $25 per child 4-12 per night, with two days of soaking included. RVs can be up to 30 feet. The operator lists no hookups, and campers share the indoor kitchen.

Full payment secures a booking. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a refund minus a $20 fee.

Massage: Available 9am to 9pm, from $85 for 30 minutes to $185 for 90 minutes, soaking included. Call (970) 779-1797.

Rules and etiquette

• Clothing optional for adults 18 and over outdoors and in the sauna. Under-18s wear swimsuits, and must stay with an adult.
• No phones, cameras or electronics in the soaking areas, including e-readers. Removal comes without a refund.
• No glass and no alcohol on the grounds. Overnight guests can keep it in their room or campsite.
• Respect people’s space. Staring or invasive behavior that draws complaints from two guests gets you removed for good.
• Quiet hours run 9pm to 9am. No idling vehicles, generators or loud music.
• Pets are allowed only in the campground, leashed. Two resident cats roam the property, so mention allergies before you book a room.

Where to stay nearby

Staying on site gives you 24-hour pool access, which is the best part of an Orvis visit. Beyond that:

• Ridgway State Park, just north of Ridgway on US 550, has large campgrounds on Ridgway Reservoir.
• Ridgway has a handful of inns and motels, a few minutes away.
• Ouray, about 15 minutes south, has many hotels, several with their own hot spring pools, and the town’s public hot springs pool.
• Dunton Hot Springs is a high-end option much farther away, southwest of Telluride.

Safety notes

• Heat: The Lobster Pot reaches 114°F46°C. Limit soaks to a few minutes there, and cool off in the plunge or the North Pond.
• Untreated water: No chlorine is used. Do not put your head under, and skip a soak if you have open cuts.
• Alcohol: It is banned on the grounds for a reason. Heat and drinking together cause fainting.
• Altitude: At about 6,900 feet, visitors from low elevations feel the heat faster than at home. Drink water.
• Night walking: Paths between the pools are dim after dark. Bring sandals with grip.