# Dunton Hot Spring, Colorado

Dunton Hot Spring in Colorado. 108°F (42°C). Short Walk. San Miguel County.

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

## Can you soak at Dunton Hot Spring?

Yes. Dunton Hot Spring is a developed hot spring with pools from 85 to 106°F.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 108°F (42°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 6.4 (Slightly Acidic) |
| Elevation | 8,850 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| County | San Miguel County |
| Nearest town | Mountain Village |
| Coordinates | 37.77100, -108.09100 |
| Best months to soak | December, January, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | CAYTON CAMPGROUND, 6.2 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Developed pools |
| Pool temperature | 85–106°F |
| Getting there | remote dirt road about 30 mi southwest of Telluride, near Dolores |
| Operator | Dunton Destinations, https://www.duntondestinations.com/hot-springs/ |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.duntondestinations.com/hot-springs/, https://guide.michelin.com/ch/it/hotels-stays/dolores/dunton-hot-springs-100

## About Dunton Hot Spring

Dunton Hot Spring is a soaking-temperature spring the record files under San Miguel County, Colorado, about seventeen miles from Mountain Village, though Wikipedia places it in Dolores County in the San Juan Mountains, between Cortez and Telluride. Hot enough for a long soak, by the reading on file. The file says nothing on access, and nothing on ownership. Wikipedia notes a cluster of log buildings called Dunton a few hundred feet from the springs.

The walk in runs about a fifth of a mile, off a nameless road. High country, near nine thousand feet. Winter buries the place, better than eleven feet of snow and heavy precipitation overall. The yearly average sits below forty. Nothing is given for land unit or designation.

Wikipedia describes Dunton Hot Springs as a geothermal mineral spring in the San Juan Mountains of Dolores County, roughly thirty-five miles northeast of Cortez and twenty-five southwest of Telluride. The unincorporated community of Dunton, a group of log buildings on the West Fork of the Dolores River, stands a few hundred feet northwest of the springs. The USGS record includes a 1976 sample.

On paper the best time is deep winter, December through February. A short walk in. Cayton Campground is around six miles away on the record. Fee unrecorded. The 1976 sample showed slightly acidic water with iron. Nobody has filled on record, and the log buildings Wikipedia mentions suggest a settlement right beside it, so confirm before you arrive.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-04-15 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 |
| Calcium | 340 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 45 mg/L |
| Sodium | 34 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 310 mg/L |
| Chloride | 7 mg/L |
| Iron | 1,100 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Mountain Village](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/mountain-village), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [Geyser Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/geyser-warm-spring): 82°F source, TDS 1,630 mg/L, Short Walk, near Mountain Village, San Miguel County
- [Paradise Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/paradise-warm-spring): 115°F source, pH 6.8, Short Walk, near Mountain Village, San Miguel County, private, no public access
- [Rico 2, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/rico-2): Roadside, near Mountain Village, San Miguel County, private, no public access
- [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
- [Chattanooga Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/chattanooga-hot-spring): pH 8.7, TDS 126 mg/L, Short Walk, near Silverton, San Juan County
- [Pinkerton Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/pinkerton-hot-springs-1): 90°F source, pH 6.4, Short Walk, near Durango, La Plata County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Dunton Hot Spring?**
Dunton Hot Spring has a water temperature of 108°F (42°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Dunton Hot Spring located?**
Dunton Hot Spring is located in San Miguel County, Colorado at 8,850 feet elevation, near Mountain Village. Coordinates: 37.7710°N, 108.0910°W.

**How do I get to Dunton Hot Spring?**
Dunton Hot Spring has Short Walk road access (0.2 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Dunton Hot Spring?**
Yes, Cayton Campground is located nearby (6.2 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Dunton Hot Spring?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 6.4 (slightly acidic).

## Sources

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