Tiered stone hot spring pools above a green lawn with lounge chairs, a larger pool beyond and red-rock mountains behind

Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa

Resort · Durango

Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa sits in the Animas Valley, a short drive north of downtown Durango, among ponderosa pines. The water comes out of the well at about 120°F and carries 32 minerals but no sulfur smell, so the air is clean mountain air. The pools themselves are man-made, and the site says the mineral pools are not chlorinated because the water is replaced roughly every two hours.

The campus is built around 32 pools and water features. The resort's pool map shows 14 hot pools in the family area and 13 hot pools for adults only (16+), running from 89°F to 112°F. There are also two cold plunges at 44–49°F, a reflexology path and a mineral shower. A 90,000-gallon zero-entry resort-style swimming pool and five private cedar Ofuro tubs you can book for an hour round it out. The mineral pools are for soaking, so splashing, swimming and toys are not allowed in them; children can play in the swimming pool instead.

Entry is by timed reservation in two- or three-hour slots, with no re-entry afterward. Adults pay $49 for two hours or $59 for three, and children pay $24 or $29. Swimwear is required, outside food, coolers and alcohol are not allowed, and pets are not permitted. A concession and a food truck serve drinks and meals, and a full spa offers massage and facials. Lodging is not available at the moment.

The pools

  • Resort-style swimming pool · 25 m, zero-entry, 90,000 gallons, up to 4 ft 6 in deep. Chlorinated.
  • Ofuro tubs · Five private cedar tubs for 1–2 guests, booked by the hour. You set the temperature.

Family area

49–109°F

14 hot pools plus a cold plunge; temperatures from the resort's pool map

  • Alta Lakes Upper · ADA accessible
    107°F
  • Alta Lakes Lower
    99°F
  • Limbo Hot · ADA accessible
    109°F
  • Lemon
    104°F
  • Lost Lake
    98°F
  • Trimble
    89°F
  • Adrenaline Falls
    104°F
  • Dutch Creek
    107°F
  • Jones Creek
    107°F
  • Junction · ADA accessible
    100°F
  • La Plata · ADA accessible
    106°F
  • Vallecito · ADA accessible
    105°F
  • Lightner · ADA accessible
    99°F
  • Clock Tower · ADA accessible
    101°F
  • Limbo Cold · Cold plunge. ADA accessible.
    49°F

Adults only (16+)

44–112°F

13 hot pools plus a cold plunge

  • Piedra
    102°F
  • Purgatory Hot · ADA accessible
    110°F
  • Grizzly
    106°F
  • Lower Cascade
    101°F
  • Upper Cascade
    110°F
  • Hermosa
    103°F
  • Animas · ADA accessible
    107°F
  • Electra
    105°F
  • Molas
    103°F
  • Florida
    108°F
  • Emerald
    112°F
  • Sunlight
    102°F
  • Haviland
    109°F
  • Purgatory Cold · Cold plunge. ADA accessible.
    44°F

Amenities

Facilities

  • Locker rooms
  • Free open storage cubbies
  • Rental lockers ($5 or $8)
  • Towels for sale
  • Reflexology walking path
  • Mineral rain tower
  • Full spa (massage and facials)
  • Water refill stations
  • Free parking

Family & kids

  • 14 family-area hot pools
  • Zero-entry swimming pool
  • Family locker room

Food & drink

  • Bear's Water Shed concession (drinks including alcohol, and snacks)
  • Food truck on site

Before you go

Best time to visit: Reviewers like weekday evenings best: it is quieter, and you can watch the sunset and then the lights come on around the pools. Winter soaks in the cold air are praised, including by skiers and snowboarders coming down from Purgatory. Holidays, Mother's Day and peak summer weekends are the busiest, so expect more people then.

  • Book a weekday evening slot if you want it calm. Weekends and holidays get crowded, and reviewers say the resort sells out then.
  • Reserve online ahead of time: reviewers who phoned or turned up without a booking were sometimes told it was full, and the site says there is no re-entry once your slot ends.
  • Wear water shoes or sandals for the walkways between pools, which can be slippery. Street shoes are not allowed in the pools.
  • Try the adults-only (16+) area for a quieter soak; reviewers name it as a favorite. With children you can use the family-area pools and the swimming pool.
  • Eat before or after, or buy snacks on site: outside food, coolers and alcohol are not allowed, and the concession and food truck are the only options. Parking is free.
  • Live music happens on some evenings. If you want a quiet night, check the resort's Live Music page first.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • A huge choice of pools at different temperatures, plus cold plunges and a big swimming pool
  • Separate adults-only (16+) area as well as a family area
  • Clean pools, locker rooms and grounds
  • Mountain views, especially at sunset or in the evening light
  • No sulfur smell
  • Friendly, helpful staff for many visitors
  • Food truck, concession with drinks and live music on some evenings
  • Good for families, with a zero-entry swimming pool for kids

Cons

  • Expensive, especially for families and locals; the price is the most common complaint
  • Crowded and noisy at holidays and on busy weekends, with some complaints about screaming kids or loud live music
  • Front-desk and staff service is hit-and-miss, with several reviewers describing rude or unhelpful treatment
  • Walkways around the pools can be slippery and uneven
  • Timed slots with no re-entry, so you can feel rushed
  • Limited food choices, and some reviewers found the food and pricing disappointing

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a reservation at Durango Hot Springs?

The Soak and FAQ pages say visits are booked in 2- or 3-hour timeslots, but the home page says reservations are only recommended. Weekends and holidays sell out, and reviewers who did not book ahead were sometimes turned away, so book online. There is no re-entry once your slot ends.

How much does it cost?

Adults pay $49 for two hours or $59 for three. Children pay $24 or $29. Reviewers often call this pricey, especially for families. Towels are sold at the front desk and lockers rent for $5 or $8.

Are kids allowed?

Yes. Anyone under 18 needs an adult, and children under 8 must stay within arm's reach. Kids use the family-area pools and the swimming pool, while 13 pools are adults only (16+). Splashing and toys are not allowed in the mineral pools.

Can I bring food or drinks?

No. Outside food, alcohol and coolers are not allowed, apart from water in a non-glass container. The Bear's Water Shed concession sells drinks, including alcohol, and snacks, and a food truck is on site.

What should I wear and bring?

Swimwear is required. Water shoes are fine in the pools, but street shoes are not. Footwear is recommended on the walkways because they can be slippery. Open cubbies are free and lockers rent for $5 or $8.

When is the best time to go?

Reviewers prefer weekday evenings for fewer people and sunset views, and many enjoy it in winter too. Holidays and busy weekends are the most crowded. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Can I stay overnight or bring my dog?

Lodging is not available at the moment, and pets are not allowed. Only ADA service animals are permitted. Parking is free.

Nearby hot springs

Last checked October 26, 2026

Sources: durangohotspringsresortandspa.com