Public Hot Springs
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South Canyon Hot Springs

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Warning Private or unknown ownership in federal land records, and no owner or agency page; access can change without notice

From the BLM, checked Oct 12, 2026

South Canyon Hot Springs is a wild soak in Garfield County, Colorado, about 59 minutes' drive from Aspen: 118 F water at the source (1980 survey), a 0.06-mile walk from Canyon Creek Road, snow likely November to April.

  • Wild
  • Walk 0.06 mi
Directions
Drive timecomputed

about 59 min
47.2 mi from Aspen, no traffic

Drive times computed with GraphHopper; map data OpenStreetMap contributors.

The facts

Water
118 F at the source, not the pool
Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry SOUTH CANYON HOT SPRINGS
Walk
0.06 miles one way from Canyon Creek Road
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route · start 39.55443, -107.41025
Fee
Not posted by the agency
Checked on the source, checked Oct 12, 2026
Permit or reservation
None posted by the operator
Checked on the BLM, checked Oct 14, 2026
Snow
Likely November to April
Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons
Last checked
October 2026

Trail and trailhead

Canyon Creek Road

Distance
0.06 mile one way
Computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route
Climb
About 30 ft up and 20 ft down, one way
Computed from USGS 3DEP elevations at 14 points on our route, Oct 14, 2026 (rough)
Start
Canyon Creek Road
39.55443, -107.41025

Water temperature

118 F at the source, from NOAA's Thermal Springs List (1980 survey). That is where the water leaves the ground; the pool you sit in is cooler.

Quoted from the NOAA Thermal Springs List, checked Oct 11, 2026 (1980 survey), entry SOUTH CANYON HOT SPRINGS

Fees and rules

Do you have to pay to go to South Canyon Hot Springs?

Not posted by the agency.

Checked on the source, checked Oct 12, 2026

Do you need a permit or reservation for South Canyon Hot Springs?

None is posted. not posted

Checked on the BLM, checked Oct 14, 2026

Seasons and winter access

Snow likely November to April at the spring.

Snow likelySnow not likely

Computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasons

Before you go

  • No permit or reservation is posted.
  • Snow likely November to April.
  • Private or unknown ownership in federal land records, and no owner or agency page; access can change without notice

Getting there

Drive times from each town's center, no traffic (computed).

Aspen, ColoradoHot springs near Aspenabout 59 min47.2 miVail, ColoradoHot springs near Vailabout 68 min65.8 miGrand Junction, ColoradoHot springs near Grand Junctionabout 82 min83.1 mi
Google Maps Apple Maps

Both open at the start, Canyon Creek Road, not at the pool.

South Canyon

Colorado. Tap the map for directions. Outline: US Census, public domain.

Nearby hot springs (6)

Glenwood Hot SpringsNear Aspen · Coloradoabout 8 mindriveIron Mountain Hot SpringsNear Aspen · Coloradoabout 9 mindriveAvalanche Ranch Hot SpringsNear Aspen · Coloradoabout 41 mindriveConundrum Hot SpringsNear Aspen · Coloradoabout 69 mindriveRadium Hot SpringsNear Vail · Coloradoabout 1 h 33 mindriveIndian Hot SpringsNear Denver · Coloradoabout 2 h 14 mindrive

All 17 hot springs in Colorado

Questions

Is South Canyon Hot Springs free?

Not posted by the agency.

How long is the hike to South Canyon Hot Springs?

0.06 miles one way from Canyon Creek Road, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route.

Sources and last checked

Page last checked October 2026 (the oldest date below).

  • ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso: water temperatureChecked Oct 11, 2026
  • Walk: 0.06 mi, computed on an OpenStreetMap foot route (FOSSGIS routing, foot profile) from 39.55443, -107.41025Map data OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
  • Drive times from Aspen, Vail, Grand Junction: computed with GraphHopper 11.1, car profile, no trafficOpenStreetMap extract of Oct 12, 2026
  • Snow months (Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr): computed from NOAA snowfall, 2023 to 2026 seasonsMethod page explains the rule
  • Climb: computed from USGS 3DEP elevations along our OpenStreetMap foot routeComputed Oct 14, 2026

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DirectionsSources