# Lower Waunita Hot Springs, Colorado

Lower Waunita Hot Springs in Colorado. 167°F (75°C). Roadside. Gunnison County.

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

## Can you soak at Lower Waunita Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 167°F, hot enough to burn skin. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 167°F (75°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.7 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 8,901 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 178 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Gunnison County |
| Nearest town | Gunnison |
| Coordinates | 38.51700, -106.51500 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MONARCH PARK, 10.3 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 167°F, the source water at Lower Waunita Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Lower Waunita Hot Springs

Lower Waunita Hot Springs is a scalding source in Gunnison County, twenty-two miles from the town of Gunnison. The reading is far above anything you could sit in untempered. A 1976 USGS sample puts the water slightly alkaline. Land owner and access status are empty, and OpenStreetMap has nothing for it.

Roadside, under two hundred feet from an unnamed road. This is high country, with heavy snow, six and a half feet or so each winter, and a dry climate otherwise. Gunnison is the only town in the record and it is a fair drive. Monarch Park campground is about ten miles away. Nothing is recorded for land unit.

Winter ranks best. At this temperature skin burns on contact, so stay clear of the source. With access unrecorded and no land owner listed, find out who controls the site before you go. Camping: Monarch Park, ten miles. The chemistry on file is a single sample from the mid-seventies.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-04-12 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.7 |
| Calcium | 8.5 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 150 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 160 mg/L |
| Chloride | 15 mg/L |
| Iron | 160 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Gunnison](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/gunnison), 0 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [Upper Waunita Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/upper-waunita-hot-springs): 176°F source, pH 7.9, Roadside, near Gunnison, Gunnison County, developed pools, pools 95–104°F
- [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
- [Hortense Hot Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/hortense-hot-spring): 181°F source, Short Walk, near Buena Vista, Chaffee County
- [Poncha Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/poncha-hot-springs): 160°F source, TDS 673 mg/L, Roadside, near Salida, 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
- [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

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Lower Waunita Hot Springs?**
Lower Waunita Hot Springs has a water temperature of 167°F (75°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Lower Waunita Hot Springs located?**
Lower Waunita Hot Springs is located in Gunnison County, Colorado at 8,901 feet elevation, near Gunnison. Coordinates: 38.5170°N, 106.5150°W.

**How do I get to Lower Waunita Hot Springs?**
Lower Waunita Hot Springs has Roadside road access (178 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Lower Waunita Hot Springs?**
Yes, Monarch Park is located nearby (10.3 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Lower Waunita Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.7 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Lower Waunita Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Lower Waunita Hot Springs reaches 167°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals