Desert Reef Hot Spring
Resort · Florence
Clothing optional · No phones or cameras
Desert Reef Hot Spring is an adults-only soaking retreat in the high desert outside Florence, Colorado. The water comes from an artesian well more than 1,000 feet deep, where geothermal heat brings it up at 125 to 135°F. It is cooled before it reaches the pools, and travertine gives the pools their blue color. Most are flow-through, and roughly 98 percent of the water goes back to the Arkansas River.
The main pool measures 36 by 50 feet and holds about 40,400 gallons. Four smaller pools and a few art installations are spread around the grounds. The site lists average temperatures of 100–104°F in winter and 96–108°F in summer. Pools are drained and cleaned every Tuesday, when the property is closed to day guests.
Day passes cost $25 on weekdays and $35 from Friday evening through Sunday, with a military discount. Booking ahead is strongly recommended, though walk-ins are taken when there is room. Swimsuits are optional except on Fridays until 6:30 p.m. Guests must be 18 or older and should bring their own towel or robe. Phones and cameras are kept out of the main pool area, and there are no lockers, so leave valuables in the car. Changing rooms have showers.
If you want to stay, you can book a renovated Airstream, a tiny home with its own private hot spring, or a van camping spot. Soaking is included for overnight guests.
Visitor policy
The facility is clothing optional in set areas on set days and is for guests 18 and over; suits or cover-ups are required in marked areas, and on Fridays until 6:30 pm. Phones should stay in your car or at the front desk. Cameras, radios, TVs, phones, pagers, computers, smart glasses and other communication or recording devices are not allowed in the main pool area.
Source: Desert Reef PoliciesThe pools
- Main pool · 36 ft by 50 ft, about 40,400 gallons. Not open to overnight guests on Tuesday evening.
Amenities
Facilities
- Changing rooms with showers
- Shade structures and parasols
- Art installations
- Full facility rentals
Food & drink
- Bring your own (2 alcoholic drinks per person, no glass)
Lodging
- Renovated Airstreams
- Tiny homes with private hot spring
- Van camping sites
Parking
- Parking lot
Before you go
Best time to visit: Reviewers visit in every season. Evenings are recommended in summer, when the sun is strong and shade is limited, and several people call it quiet and uncrowded most of the time. Winter soaks come up less often but get praise. Fridays before 6:30 p.m. are swimsuit-required, so pick another day if you prefer to soak clothing-optional.
- Leave your phone in the car or at the front desk. Phones and cameras are not allowed in the main pool area, and it is part of the experience.
- Single men need to arrive with a partner or a woman; the rule is enforced and several would-be visitors were turned away. Read the policies before you drive out.
- Know that clothing is optional on most days. Some reviewers say they were surprised by it, so check the site first if that matters to you.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat and a reusable water bottle. Shade structures and parasols are available if you ask at the front desk.
- Keep your voice low. Quiet is the house rule, and reviewers who liked the place say it is what makes it peaceful.
- Book ahead for weekends and evenings. Walk-ins are taken when there is room, but you may be turned away.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Quiet, calm, phone-free atmosphere that feels like a real escape
- Friendly, helpful staff
- Clean pools, showers and changing rooms
- Several pools at different temperatures
- Open desert setting with mountain views and art around the grounds
- Relaxed, comfortable clothing-optional policy for those who want it
- Often uncrowded, so the pools feel private
Cons
- The single-male rule upsets some visitors, and it is the most common reason for 1-star reviews
- Strict quiet and no-phone rules feel heavy-handed to some groups of friends
- Clothing-optional days surprised some visitors who did not see it ahead of time
- Limited shade in summer, and some find the water too cool or too hot on a given day
- Prices have gone up, and some say the lodging is not worth the cost
- No food is sold on site, so plan to bring your own
- A few lodging guests report refund delays, a poorly heated private tiny-home pool, or unclean Airstreams
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Desert Reef alone as a man?
No. Single men, or groups of only men, must be accompanied by a partner or a woman. This is the most common complaint in reviews, so read the policies before booking.
Is Desert Reef clothing optional?
Yes, in the main pool area on most days. Swimsuits are required on Fridays until 6:30 p.m. and in other posted areas. Some reviewers were surprised by this, so plan on it.
Can I bring my phone or camera?
No. Phones, cameras and other devices stay out of the main pool area. Leave them in the car or at the front desk.
Can I bring children or pets?
No. Guests must be 18 or older, and pets (other than documented service animals) are not allowed on the property, including the parking lot.
Do I need a reservation?
Booking ahead is strongly recommended, but walk-ins are taken when there is room. For a soak, you can cancel for a refund up to 2 hours before your time.
Can I bring food and drinks?
Bring your own food and water; none is sold on site. You may bring up to two alcoholic drinks per person, with no glass in the pool area.
What are the hours?
Day soaks run 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursday through Sunday, and 4 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The property is closed to day guests on Tuesday.
Nearby hot springs
- Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center · about 53 miles away
- Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort · about 65 miles away
- Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens · about 70 miles away
Last checked October 26, 2026
Sources: desertreefhotspring.com