Round stone-rimmed hot spring pool with a wooden pergola, boulders and pine trees under a blue sky

Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens

Developed pool · Buena Vista

Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is a public hot springs just outside Buena Vista, run by the Merrifield family, who also own a greenhouse and two nearby cabins that can be booked through their website or Airbnb. Day passes are sold at the front desk, and the springs don't take reservations.

The soaking is in three shallow pools, each about 17 feet across, called the top, middle and bottom pools. The top pool runs 107–110°F all year. The middle and bottom pools shift with the weather: the middle runs 104–108°F in winter and 102–106°F in summer, and the bottom runs 102–105°F in winter and 99–104°F in summer.

Admission depends on the day. An adult pass is $30 from Monday to Thursday and $35 from Friday to Sunday. Children 17 and under, seniors 65 and over and military pay less, and kids 3 and under are free, which makes it an easy outing for families. Towels ($10) and locks ($5) can be rented, and $5 of each rental fee is refunded when you return the item in the same condition.

The botanical gardens are free to walk through, with donations welcome to help care for the animals there. The springs are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from May through October and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November through April.

The pools

  • Top Pool · About 17 ft across, shallow
    107–110°F
  • Middle Pool · About 17 ft across, shallow
    Winter 104–108°F, summer 102–106°F
  • Bottom Pool · About 17 ft across, shallow
    Winter 102–105°F, summer 99–104°F

Amenities

Facilities

  • Towel rental
  • Lock rental
  • Botanical gardens (free entry)
  • Front-desk day passes

Family & kids

  • Discounted child pricing
  • Free for ages 3 & under

Lodging

  • Merrifield Cabin (sleeps 4; 2 bedrooms)
  • Holloway Cabin (sleeps 2; 1 bedroom)
  • Cabins are nearby, run by the same owners (separate address)

Before you go

Best time to visit: Reviewers visit in every season, and most describe the pools as calm rather than crowded. Cold or snowy days, including after a day of skiing or snowboarding, get several happy mentions. Afternoons can be livelier when families arrive, and a few reviewers wished for a quieter zone.

  • Rent a lock ($5) for your belongings; $5 of it comes back when you return the key.
  • Move between the three pools. The top pool is the hottest (107–110°F) and the lower two are cooler.
  • Bring your own snacks. Reviewers mention eating in the greenhouse seating area, and some saw a food truck out front that was not always open.
  • Walk through the greenhouse and gardens before or after your soak; many reviewers enjoy them as much as the pools.
  • Look but don't touch the parrots. Reviewers say signs warn that they bite.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Clean pools, bathrooms and showers
  • Friendly, helpful staff
  • Three pools at different temperatures
  • Free botanical gardens and greenhouse with plants and animals to look at
  • Calm, relaxed atmosphere that is usually not crowded
  • No reservations needed

Cons

  • Pools are small and shallow, with limited room and seating when it gets busy
  • Little shade or privacy; a few reviewers wanted a quieter area away from groups and children
  • A few reviewers saw phones and cameras used in the pools and felt uncomfortable

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a reservation?

No. The springs don't take reservations. Day passes are bought at the front desk when you arrive.

How much does a day pass cost?

Adults pay $30 Monday to Thursday and $35 Friday to Sunday. Children 17 and under, seniors 65 and over and military pay $25 on weekdays and $30 on weekends. Children 3 and under are free.

What are the hours?

The springs are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from May through October and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November through April.

How hot are the pools?

The top pool runs 107–110°F all year. The middle pool runs 104–108°F in winter and 102–106°F in summer, and the bottom pool runs 102–105°F in winter and 99–104°F in summer.

Is it good for kids?

Children are welcome and get a lower price, and kids 3 and under are free. The site states no age limit. Reviewers say families tend to arrive in the afternoon and the lower pool can get livelier then.

Should I bring a towel and lock?

You can rent a towel ($10) and a lock ($5) at the front desk, and $5 of each is refunded when you return it in the same condition.

Can I see the gardens without soaking?

Yes. The botanical gardens are free to walk through, and donations help care for the animals there. Reviewers mention parrots, turtles and bearded dragons.

Nearby hot springs

Last checked October 26, 2026

Sources: charlottehotspringscabins.com, coloradohotspringsresort.com