# Hartsel Hot Springs, Colorado

Hartsel Hot Springs in Colorado. 126°F (52°C). Short Walk. Park County.

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

## Can you soak at Hartsel Hot Springs?

Only once it cools. The water leaves the ground at 126°F, hotter than any hot tub. 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 | 126°F (52°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 6.6 (Slightly Acidic) |
| Elevation | 8,954 ft |
| Access | Short Walk, 0.1 mi from the nearest road |
| County | Park County |
| Nearest town | Fairplay |
| Coordinates | 39.01700, -105.79300 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | HAPPY MEADOWS, 10.1 mi |

## About Hartsel Hot Springs

Hartsel Hot Springs comes out hot, in the range where you would want to mix it with cooler water before sitting in it. The site is in Park County, eighteen miles from Fairplay. The USGS keeps a chemistry record from 1976 and OpenStreetMap marks the point under the same name. Public access goes unrecorded, as does ownership.

Roughly five hundred feet separate the spring from the closest road, which the record files as a short walk. The elevation is close to nine thousand feet. This is a dry, high basin with modest snow for Colorado and not much rain. The record names no land unit and no road.

Winter months rank best in the record. Water this hot can burn; test before you touch. Happy Meadows campground is the nearest on file at about ten miles. The pH reading is slightly acidic and dates to 1976. Since land ownership and access are both blank, assume nothing about your right to be there until you have checked.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-04-26 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.6 |
| Calcium | 120 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 21 mg/L |
| Sodium | 670 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 380 mg/L |
| Chloride | 820 mg/L |
| Iron | 420 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Fairplay](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/fairplay), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [Rhodes Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/rhodes-warm-spring): 75°F source, pH 7.5, Short Walk, near Fairplay, Park County
- [Cottonwood Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/cottonwood-hot-springs): 136°F source, pH 8.5, Roadside, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County, developed pools, $45 day pass, year-round
- [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
- [Hortense Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/hortense-hot-spring): 181°F source, Short Walk, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County
- [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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hartsel Hot Springs?**
Hartsel Hot Springs has a water temperature of 126°F (52°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hartsel Hot Springs located?**
Hartsel Hot Springs is located in Park County, Colorado at 8,954 feet elevation, near Fairplay. Coordinates: 39.0170°N, 105.7930°W.

**How do I get to Hartsel Hot Springs?**
Hartsel Hot Springs has Short Walk road access (0.1 mi from the road).

**Can I camp near Hartsel Hot Springs?**
Yes, Happy Meadows is located nearby (10.1 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Hartsel Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 6.6 (slightly acidic).

**Is it safe to soak at Hartsel Hot Springs?**
With care. At 126°F Hartsel 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/Hartsel_Hot_Springs