# Pinkerton Hot Springs, Colorado

Pinkerton Hot Springs in Colorado. Roadside. La Plata County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/pinkerton-hot-springs-2
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Pinkerton Hot Springs?

No. Our research found no place to soak at Pinkerton Hot Springs.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | Unknown (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 6.4 (Slightly Acidic) |
| Access | Roadside, 81 ft from the nearest road (Animas Spring Road) |
| County | La Plata County |
| Nearest town | Durango |
| Coordinates | 37.44720, -107.80530 |
| Nearest campground | CHRIS PARK, 4.8 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Not a soaking spring |
| Cost | Free |
| Getting there | roadside pull-off on US 550 about 14 mi north of Durango |

Guides describe a rock formation around a CDOT discharge pipe (95-110F water) that you look at, not a pool. Historic resort site is now Colorado Timberline Academy. Slug pinkerton-hot-springs-1 duplicates this.

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://api.theoutbound.com/colorado/chillin/soak-at-pinkerton-hot-spring, https://gregdisch.com/?p=8847

## About Pinkerton Hot Springs

This Pinkerton Hot Springs entry is a thermal point beside Animas Spring Road, thirteen miles or so from Durango in La Plata County. The record carries no temperature, so do not assume it is soakable. Ownership and public access are not recorded either. What the record does hold is water chemistry from a 1976 survey, including pH and several dissolved minerals.

Roadside. The point is under thirty yards from Animas Spring Road. Elevation is not recorded. Winter snowfall totals around sixty-seven inches with a moderately wet year overall. Chris Park campground is a bit under five miles away.

The record lists no best months. Go to look, and do not count on a soak. Check ownership and access on the ground since the record is silent. The chemistry, nearly fifty years old, is the one hard thing on file beyond the location itself.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1976-04-16 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 |
| Calcium | 530 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 72 mg/L |
| Sodium | 720 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 540 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1,000 mg/L |
| Iron | 4,500 µg/L |

Records this spring holds:
- Most iron of Colorado's 42 springs with an iron reading: 4,500 µg/L

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Bayfield](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/bayfield), 27 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [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
- [Stratten Warm Spring, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/stratten-warm-spring): Roadside, near Durango, La Plata County
- [Tripp Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/tripp-hot-springs): 111°F source, Short Walk, near Durango, La Plata County
- [Trimble Hot Spr, Stratten Warm Spr, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/trimble-hot-spr-stratten-warm-spr): 97°F source, TDS 3,340 mg/L, Roadside, near Durango, La Plata County, developed pools, $59 day pass, year-round
- [Rico 2, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/rico-2): Roadside, near Mountain Village, San Miguel County, private, no public access
- [Piedra River Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/piedra-river-hot-springs-2): Short Walk, near Bayfield, La Plata County

## Questions

**Where is Pinkerton Hot Springs located?**
Pinkerton Hot Springs is located in La Plata County, Colorado, near Durango. Coordinates: 37.4472°N, 107.8053°W.

**How do I get to Pinkerton Hot Springs?**
Pinkerton Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Animas Spring Road (81 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Pinkerton Hot Springs?**
Yes, Chris Park is located nearby (4.8 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Pinkerton Hot Springs?**
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/Pinkerton_Hot_Springs