# Penny Hot Springs, Colorado

Penny Hot Springs in Colorado. 133°F (56°C). Short Walk · Public Land. Garfield County.

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

## Can you soak at Penny Hot Springs?

Yes. Penny Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools. Soaking is free. It's a short walk from the road.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 133°F (56°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.4 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 6,943 ft |
| Access | Short Walk · Public Land, 0.2 mi from the nearest road |
| Land | Pitkin County Open Space & Trails County Land - General, CNTY |
| County | Garfield County |
| Nearest town | Carbondale |
| Coordinates | 39.22700, -107.22400 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | REDSTONE, 2.3 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free. no fee or permit |
| Season | Year-round |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Clothing | Swimsuit required |
| Getting there | short steep rocky descent from CO 133 pullout near mile 55 |
| In winter | roadside pullout on CO 133, highway plowed |
| Operator | Pitkin County Open Space and Trails |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/penny-hot-springs-colorado, https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/post/penny-hot-springs-gets-management-plan, https://aspenjournalism.org/plan-for-penny-hot-springs-bans-dogs-calls-for-leave-no-trace-ethics/

## About Penny Hot Springs

Penny Hot Springs is a hot source on county open-space ground roughly a dozen miles from Carbondale. The record lists Garfield County for the spring while the land itself is held by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails. Water comes out hot, too much so to sit in straight from the outlet. Public access is recorded as unknown.

You leave the road and walk a few hundred yards. It sits on county land in the general open-space category, a little under seven thousand feet up. Winters are snowy, around a hundred inches in a typical year, with moderate precipitation overall. Redstone Campground is a bit over two miles away.

Wikipedia places the spring near Redstone, a historic mining town. The land is part of Pitkin County's open space holdings. The USGS carries a site number for it with a single pH reading from spring 1976.

Best months listed are midwinter. Access status is unknown on file, so check with Pitkin County Open Space and Trails before heading out. The water is hot, so test before you get in. Only a pH reading is on record for the chemistry, and it dates to 1976.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-04-10 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.4 |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Glenwood Springs](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/glenwood-springs), 23 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/avalanche-ranch-hot-springs): pH 8.6, Roadside, near Carbondale, Garfield County, developed pools, $34 day pass, year-round
- [Glenwood Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/glenwood-springs): 124°F source, pH 6.7, Roadside, near Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, developed pools, $42 day pass, year-round
- [Yampah Hot Springs Vapor Caves, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/yampah-hot-springs-vapor-caves): Roadside, near Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, developed pools, pools 110–112°F, day pass, year-round
- [Conundrum Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/conundrum-hot-springs): 100°F source, TDS 1,910 mg/L, Hike, near Crested Butte, Gunnison County, primitive pools, pools 100–102°F, parking or permit fee, jul-sep
- [Iron Mountain Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/iron-mountain-hot-springs): pH 8.5, TDS 22,000 mg/L, Roadside, near Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, developed pools, pools 89–108°F, $43 day pass, year-round
- [South Canyon Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/south-canyon-hot-springs): 118°F source, pH 7.3, TDS 778 mg/L, Roadside, near Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, primitive pools, pools 100–112°F, free, year-round

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Penny Hot Springs?**
Penny Hot Springs has a water temperature of 133°F (56°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Penny Hot Springs located?**
Penny Hot Springs is located in Garfield County, Colorado at 6,943 feet elevation, near Carbondale. Coordinates: 39.2270°N, 107.2240°W.

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

**Is Penny Hot Springs free to visit?**
Penny Hot Springs has Unknown access. It is managed by CNTY.

**Can I camp near Penny Hot Springs?**
Yes, Redstone is located nearby (2.3 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Penny Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH. The pH is 7.4 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Penny Hot Springs?**
With care. At 133°F Penny 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/Penny_Hot_Springs