# Cottonwood Hot Springs, Colorado

Cottonwood Hot Springs in Colorado. 136°F (58°C). Roadside. Chaffee County.

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

## Can you soak at Cottonwood Hot Springs?

Yes. Cottonwood Hot Springs is a developed hot spring. A day pass costs $45 as of October 2026.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 136°F (58°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 8.5 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 8,683 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 135 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Chaffee County |
| Nearest town | Buena Vista |
| Coordinates | 38.81200, -106.22600 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | COLLEGIATE PEAKS, 4.8 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Developed pools |
| Cost | $45 day pass. Kids 12 and under $35; same price Mon-Sun; price year not stated on page (checked 2026-10) |
| Hours | 8am-12am daily |
| Season | Year-round |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Swimsuit required |
| Getting there | west of Buena Vista in Chaffee County |
| Operator | Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa, https://www.cottonwoodhs.com/ |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.cottonwoodhs.com/

## About Cottonwood Hot Springs

Cottonwood Hot Springs comes out hot, near the upper end of hot, too much for a straight soak at the source. It is in Chaffee County, Colorado, about five miles from Buena Vista, close to eighty-seven hundred feet up. Public access and land owner are missing from the record. A USGS site exists, and a 1976 sample showed alkaline water carrying iron.

An unnamed road runs past within a couple hundred feet; this one is a pull-over. High country with real winter, five-plus feet of snow, a yearly mean below forty. Precipitation is moderate across the year. The file has nothing on land unit or designation. Study the climate chart before any cold-season trip.

Winter gets the nod in the record for best months. Roadside. Collegiate Peaks campground is about five miles away by the file. Fee: not recorded. It is hot enough to hurt; test before contact and do not sit in the outflow without checking it first. Access status is blank, so establish who owns the ground.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-07-20 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 8.5 |
| Calcium | 6.3 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 110 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 100 mg/L |
| Chloride | 30 mg/L |
| Iron | 20 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Buena Vista](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/buena-vista), 7 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [Hortense Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/hortense-hot-spring): 181°F source, Short Walk, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County
- [Mount Princeton Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/mount-princeton-hot-springs): 133°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County, developed pools, pools 82–99°F, $40 day pass, year-round
- [Aqua Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/aqua-hot-spring): TDS 143 mg/L, Roadside, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County, private, no public access, pools 101–108°F, overnight guests only, year-round
- [Browns Canyon Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/browns-canyon-warm-spring): 77°F source, pH 8.0, Roadside, near Salida, Chaffee County
- [Browns Grotto Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/browns-grotto-warm-spring): 73°F source, pH 8.0, Short Walk, near Salida, Chaffee County
- [Salida Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/salida-hot-springs): pH 7.4, Roadside, near Salida, Chaffee County, developed pools, $17 day pass, year-round

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Cottonwood Hot Springs?**
Cottonwood Hot Springs has a water temperature of 136°F (58°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Cottonwood Hot Springs located?**
Cottonwood Hot Springs is located in Chaffee County, Colorado at 8,683 feet elevation, near Buena Vista. Coordinates: 38.8120°N, 106.2260°W.

**How do I get to Cottonwood Hot Springs?**
Cottonwood Hot Springs has Roadside road access (135 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Cottonwood Hot Springs?**
Yes, Collegiate Peaks is located nearby (4.8 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Cottonwood Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 8.5 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Cottonwood Hot Springs?**
With care. At 136°F Cottonwood Hot Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.

## Sources

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