Turquoise soaking pools beside a wooden fence, with bare trees and a mountain slope behind

Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa

Resort · Buena Vista

Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa sits beside Cottonwood Creek in the Collegiate Peaks Range, about 5 miles west of Buena Vista and surrounded by San Isabel National Forest. A hotel was built on this site in 1878, and the springs later served a sanitarium. Today it's a soaking, spa and lodging property open every day from 8 a.m. to midnight.

The water comes from naturally fed artesian springs, and the site says nothing artificial is added. A day soak covers the soaking tubs, a river plunge and a dry sauna. The listed average temperatures run from 85°F in the Belly pool up to 106°F in the Elbow pool, with the Head pool at 104°F, the Watsu pool at 90°F and a cold plunge at 80°F.

Walk-ins are always welcome, and reservations are available. Soaking costs $40 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under Monday to Thursday, and $45 and $35 Friday to Sunday. Towels aren't included. Bathing suits are required at all times, phones aren't allowed on the property, and the pools are meant for quiet relaxing, not splashing. Children must stay with an adult and leave the hot springs area after sundown.

You can also stay overnight in the lodge, creekside cabins, dormitory rooms, or RV and tent sites, with soaking included for overnight guests. The cabins have full kitchens and their own private hot spring tub. On-site therapists offer massage, reflexology, Reiki and sound baths, and one hour of soaking comes with each spa service.

The pools

  • Elbow
    106°F average
  • Head
    104°F average
  • Watsu
    90°F average
  • Belly
    85°F average
  • Cold Plunge · Cold plunge
    80°F average

Amenities

Facilities

  • Dry sauna (included with a soak)
  • River plunge
  • Cold plunge
  • Towels for sale
  • Massage and spa treatments
  • Reflexology, Reiki and sound baths

Family & kids

  • Children welcome (with an adult at all times)
  • Children leave the hot springs area after sundown

Food & drink

  • Coffee and light breakfast items for overnight guests
  • Full kitchens in the cabins

Lodging

  • Lodge rooms
  • Creekside cabins with a private hot spring tub
  • Dormitory rooms (shared bathrooms)
  • RV and tent sites

Before you go

Best time to visit: Reviewers soak in every season and praise evening and after-dark visits, when the lodge hours run to midnight and the crowd thins. Weekdays are cheaper ($40 vs $45 for adults) and a better bet for quiet, since some reviewers say louder groups show up despite the quiet-zone signs.

  • Leave your phone in the car or at the front desk. Phones and cameras aren't allowed at the pools, and swimsuits are required everywhere on the property.
  • Choose a weekday if you can: day soaks cost less Monday to Thursday and it tends to be calmer.
  • Temperatures are labeled at each pool, so work your way from the cooler pools to the hot ones and try the cold river plunge.
  • Don't count on the changing rooms. Reviewers call them basic, cramped and, at times, tepid or cold in the showers, so shower and change at your lodging if you have a room nearby.
  • No alcohol, glass or food in the soaking areas. Bring water or clear drinks only, and a towel, since towels aren't included in the day price.
  • Confirm the price and policies when you book. Several reviewers say prices have risen, and the home page and booking pages have shown different day rates.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Several labeled pools at different temperatures, plus a sauna and a cold river plunge
  • Quiet, mountain-and-creek setting with a relaxed, no-frills feel
  • Friendly, helpful staff
  • Open until midnight, and reviewers say no one rushes you out
  • Well-liked massage and spa treatments
  • Cabins with their own private hot spring tub

Cons

  • Changing rooms and showers are cramped and dated, and reviewers report cold or tepid shower water and uneven cleanliness
  • Lodging upkeep is inconsistent: some guests found cabins and rooms worn or dirty, and the price felt high for it
  • Prices have gone up, and several reviewers feel the soak, camping and cabin rates are steep
  • Some reviewers found the pools cooler than expected
  • Loud groups can break the quiet despite the quiet-zone signs
  • No phones, TVs or Wi-Fi in the rooms (by design)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a reservation to soak at Cottonwood?

No. Walk-ins are always welcome, and reservations are available. A day soak is $40 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under Monday to Thursday, and $45 and $35 Friday to Sunday. It includes the soaking tubs, river plunge and dry sauna.

Are phones allowed?

No. Phones and cameras are not allowed in the pool area, and guests are asked to leave them in the car or at the front desk. Rooms and cabins also have no phones, TVs or Wi-Fi.

Can I bring food, drinks or alcohol?

No. Alcohol and food are not allowed in the soaking areas, glass is banned, and the site asks for water or clear drinks only. The policies page also prohibits alcohol and smoking across the facility.

Do I have to wear a swimsuit?

Yes. Swimsuits are required at all times and in all areas of the property. A reviewer mentions a late-night clothing-optional rule, but the official policies say suits are required.

Can children and dogs come?

Children are welcome with an adult at all times and must leave the pool area after sundown. There is no lifeguard. Pets aren't allowed at the pools; dogs are only allowed in Cabins 1 and 3 and at RV and tent sites, for a nightly fee.

What are the changing rooms and showers like?

Basic. Guests are asked to shower before getting in. Reviewers describe the changing rooms as cramped and dated, and some report cold or tepid showers, so don't expect spa-level facilities.

Can day visitors explore the rest of the property?

No. Day guests are limited to the road, parking lot and main pool area, and must leave at closing (the site lists 8 a.m. to midnight).

Nearby hot springs

Last checked October 26, 2026

Sources: cottonwoodhs.com