# Chattanooga Hot Spring, Colorado

Chattanooga Hot Spring in Colorado. Short Walk · Public Land. San Juan County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/chattanooga-hot-spring
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Chattanooga Hot Spring?

No water temperature is on record for Chattanooga Hot Spring. It's a short walk from the road. We haven't confirmed whether it has a pool or charges a fee.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | Unknown (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.7 (Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 126 mg/L |
| Elevation | 10,720 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 458 ft from the nearest road (Million Dollar Highway) |
| Land | San Juan National Forest, USFS |
| County | San Juan County |
| Nearest town | Silverton |
| Coordinates | 37.87290, -107.72530 |
| Nearest campground | South Mineral Campground, 5.4 mi |

## About Chattanooga Hot Spring

Chattanooga Hot Spring is a thermal spring within the San Juan National Forest, San Juan County, Colorado, a little over five miles from Silverton, and it sits very high, above ten thousand feet. No temperature is on file, so this page cannot tell you how hot it is and you should not assume it is soakable. Access is open per the record. A 1995 USGS sample found alkaline water with low mineral content.

Reaching it means several hundred feet on foot from the Million Dollar Highway, so you pull over and walk a short way. Forest Service land, national forest designation. Winter here is enormous: the record shows over twelve feet of snow, and precipitation is high year round. The yearly mean sits in the mid thirties, which at that altitude means a short season.

Best months are not given. Twelve feet of snow annually says the walk in will be buried for much of the year; pick your timing from the climate chart. Short walk from the Million Dollar Highway on open Forest Service ground. South Mineral Campground is listed at about five miles. Fees: none on record. Temperature unknown, so test before you touch the water.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1995-09-19 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.7 |
| Total dissolved solids | 126 mg/L |
| Calcium | 29 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 2.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 3 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 54 mg/L |
| Chloride | 0.1 mg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Mountain Village](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/mountain-village), 21 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [Ouray Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/ouray-hot-springs): 156°F source, pH 7.1, Roadside, near Ouray, Ouray County, developed pools, pools 95–106°F, $30 day pass, year-round
- [Ouray Hot Springs Pool, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/ouray-hot-springs-pool): Roadside, near Ouray, Ouray County, developed pools, pools 95–106°F, $30 day pass, year-round
- [Orvis Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/orvis-hot-spring): 126°F source, pH 6.6, Short Walk, near Ouray, Ouray County, developed pools, pools 65–112°F, $35 day pass, year-round
- [Lemon Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/lemon-hot-spring): 91°F source, pH 7.2, Roadside, near Mountain Village, San Miguel County
- [Rico 2, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/rico-2): Roadside, near Mountain Village, San Miguel County, private, no public access
- [Dunton Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/dunton-hot-spring): 108°F source, pH 6.4, Short Walk, near Mountain Village, San Miguel County, developed pools, pools 85–106°F

## Questions

**Where is Chattanooga Hot Spring located?**
Chattanooga Hot Spring is located in San Juan County, Colorado at 10,720 feet elevation, near Silverton. Coordinates: 37.8729°N, 107.7253°W.

**How do I get to Chattanooga Hot Spring?**
Chattanooga Hot Spring has Short Walk road access, with the nearest road being Million Dollar Highway (458 ft from the road).

**Is Chattanooga Hot Spring free to visit?**
Chattanooga Hot Spring has Open access. It is managed by USFS.

**Can I camp near Chattanooga Hot Spring?**
Yes, South Mineral Campground is located nearby (5.4 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Chattanooga Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.7 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 126 mg/L.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga_Hot_Spring