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Soaking Up the Goodness of the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort

Soaking in a hot tub after a long day of skiing or hiking is an essential part of the Colorado mountain experience. And no hot tub can compete with the healing waters of the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa.

About 10 minutes to the west of Granby sits the town of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. The town (and the springs) are located in a very narrow valley formed by the neighboring bluffs. Despite being the county seat for Grand County, there’s not much to the town other than the Hot Sulphur Hot Springs.

Grand County is Colorado’s winter playground. There is so many exciting things to do in Grand County in the winter, but sitting in the hot springs may be our favorite!

Indoor pool at the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa

The Hot Sulphur Springs Resort, one of the best Colorado hot springs resorts, sits at the Northern edge of the town, across the river and train tracks at the base of the bluff. It just feels secluded and set apart from the world…and that’s the whole idea.

The Hot Springs in Grand County

The Native American Ute Tribe were the first to find and use the Hot Sulphur Spring. They bathed themselves in the warm waters and were the first to notice the therapeutic benefits from the healing waters.

The hot springs were documented…and subsequently “purchased” in a deal of questionable legal standing, by newspaper publisher William Newton Byers in 1840. The town was originally named Saratoga West, after the famous springs town of Saratoga Springs, New York.

The waterfall and Ute hot springs in Grand County

Byers vision of turning the springs into a resort destination was realized shortly before his death in 1903. The first bath house at the hot springs near Granby was completed around the 20th Century.

Through Byers efforts, as the West was settled, ranchers, miners, and adventurers were also able to discover the value in a good bath…and the relaxation to be found in the thermal waters.

The current resort at the Hot Sulphur Springs near Granby has been in operation for approximately 150 years. The resort was extensively renovated in 1997.

The hot springs near Granby in the winter

While the buildings have been a recent invention, the Hot Sulphur Springs hot springs water has been flowing constantly since the beginning of time. The water comes from deep in the earth and is heated by naturally occurring fissures in the earth’s crust. The super-heated water than comes to the surface, where it is channeled into the various pools at the resort.

The water flows at a rate of over 8,000 gallons of water an hour. Given the constant flow, the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa is able to use the water without filtration or chemicals.

About the Hot Springs Resort

We had just arrived when Laura menionted, “This is going to feel so good.” We had no idea how right she should be!

There are 24 pools (3 indoor, the rest outdoor) of varying temps. They range from an 80-degree cool pool (open in summers only) to the hot springs, which range in temperature from 95º-112ºF. We spent hours lounging in the thermal waters talking and jumping from pool to pool. Yes, we tried them all.

Buildings and pools of the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa in Grand County

Each of the Hot Sulphur Springs pools has a unique view of the town or the surrounding hillside. As we soaked in the water, we also spent time counting all of the deer around us.

This is a full-service resort. Like any spa destination, they offer various massages and body treatments, which should be pre-booked. Many years ago, I had the best deep-tissue massage of my life here.

Inside the bath house, there are separate mens and womens changing rooms, which have toilets, showers, and a limited number of pay-lockers. If you are visiting the area, towels and robes are available for rent.

Private hot springs pool for two

Please note, bathing suits are required for all visitors. While other hot springs may cater to naturists or nudists, the Hot Sulphur Springs in Coloroado is a family establishment.

The Resort Hours, Costs, and Details

The resort in Hot Sulphur Springs is open every day of the year from 8am-10pm.

The cost to enter was $20 – and worth every penny.

Address:5609 Spring Rd, Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451

GPS Coordinates: 40.075144, -106.111090

Where to Stay in Hot Sulphur Springs

The Hot Sulphur Springs lodging options are basic, but comfortable. The resort itself has about 10 rooms for overnight visitors, as well as a cabin dating from the 1840s. However, the resort mostly caters to day tourists, locals, and those staying in Granby or Winter Park.

Bearclaw Cabin at the River Run RV Resort in the snow in Granby Colorado
Cabin at the River Run Resort

These are the closest hot springs near Winter Park, so many people stay there and drive up. Check out the Winter Park hotel options.

But the best bet for many travelers is to stay in or near Granby. There are a handful of hotel options in Granby. We stayed at the River Run RV Resort in Granby, the closest property on the west end of town. We never would have considered staying at an RV resort, however, we found they had cute little cabins to stay in, which were perfect for our needs.

Where to Eat

For a town with less than 700 inhabitants, there aren’t many options for Hot Sulphur Springs restaurants. Here are three:

The Dean Public House. The Dean is a modern restaurant concept in a historic building. Patrons sit at communal tables while enjoying “mountain tapas.” The description doesn’t really do it justice. Just trust us when we say, the Dean is a must visit!

The bar at the Dean Public House
Bar at the Dean Public House

Yaki’s Place. A homey coffee shop that also serves breakfast and lunch.

The Dairy Delight. A seasonal roadside quick service restaurant serving burgers, shakes, and ice cream.

There are more options in Granby, Frazer, and Winter Park if you want to drive for it.

A cocktail at the Dean Public House
Craft cocktail at the Dean Public House

We were the guests of Visit Grand County. All opinions of the warm and relaxing are our own.

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Nicholas Hammer

Monday 7th of September 2020

All you've mentioned sounds delightful...and in truth, it is --- we live here...and sadly, you mentioned nothing of the little community of Kremmling, to the west about 15 minutes --- which also has accommodations, several very good restaurants, like the Dean West, Moose Cafe, Big Shooter Coffee or Los Amigos, voted the best Mexican food in Grand County, several years running. Kremmling is also steeped in history to its agricultural roots, also with mining and settlers during the turn of the century...and Kremmling is widely known as the Sportsman's paradise --- with an incredible selection of world class fly fishing, snowmobiling, hunting and a wonderful little airport. Kremmling and Hot Sulphur both, are known for their small town feel, where it's more of a small community feel, where people truly care about one another, and visitor's alike - we hear alot, that coming to these two little mountain towns is like stepping back in time, where people are decent...and just openly nice to you! Come enjoy our little towns!!

Lance Longwell

Sunday 15th of November 2020

Thanks for point this out. We actually have another article on Grand County, which includes other towns besides Hot Sulphur Springs https://traveladdicts.net/things-to-do-in-winter-park-colorado-granby-fraser/. While we don't include Kremmling, we'll consider adding it on future visits.

Rachel

Wednesday 28th of November 2012

That hot spring seems nice, and seems like you really had a lot of fun.. 24 pools, wow! :) I sure will visit this hot spring resort when I drop by Colorado.

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