# South Canyon Hot Springs, Colorado

South Canyon Hot Springs in Colorado. 118°F (48°C). Roadside. Garfield County.

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

## Can you soak at South Canyon Hot Springs?

Yes. South Canyon Hot Springs has natural, undeveloped pools that run from 100 to 112°F. Soaking is free. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 118°F (48°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.3 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Total dissolved solids | 778 mg/L |
| Elevation | 5,850 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 24 ft from the nearest road (Canyon Creek Road) |
| County | Garfield County |
| Nearest town | Glenwood Springs |
| Coordinates | 39.55200, -107.41200 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | Thompson Creek Campground, 17.3 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive pools |
| Cost | Free |
| Season | Year-round |
| Reservations | Not needed |
| Pool temperature | 100–112°F |
| Clothing | Clothing optional |
| Getting there | 0.2 mi steep rocky unmarked path from CR 134 parking, rough dirt road, high clearance advised |
| Operator | BLM (per one guide) |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.findinghotsprings.com/mag/south-canyon-hot-springs, https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/south-canyon-hot-springs-colorado

## About South Canyon Hot Springs

South Canyon Hot Springs surfaces about four miles from Glenwood Springs, in Garfield County, right alongside Canyon Creek Road. It runs hotter than most bodies will take without some cooling first. No landowner is named and access is unrecorded. Someone sampled the chemistry in August 2021, so the mineral picture holds up.

You can nearly touch it from the road. Canyon Creek Road passes within about twenty-five feet. Elevation is under six thousand feet. A snowy winter, around eighty inches, and a moderately dry year. Thompson Creek Campground, about seventeen miles away, is what the record gives for camping.

Winter, December through February, is the listed season. Roadside, so no walk. Hot enough that you test before you sit. Dissolved solids run high. Check who owns the land and what the access rules are before you go,, since the record says nothing.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 2021-08-11 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.3 |
| Total dissolved solids | 778 mg/L |
| Calcium | 6.26 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 1.19 mg/L |
| Sodium | 241 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 100 mg/L |
| Chloride | 195 mg/L |
| Iron | 8.8 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Glenwood Springs](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/colorado/glenwood-springs), 5 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Colorado](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado)
- [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
- [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
- [Dotsero Warm Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/dotsero-warm-springs): 90°F source, pH 7.0, Roadside, near Gypsum, Eagle County
- [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
- [Penny Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/penny-hot-springs): 133°F source, pH 7.4, Short Walk, near Carbondale, Garfield County, primitive pools, free, year-round

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at South Canyon Hot Springs?**
South Canyon Hot Springs has a water temperature of 118°F (48°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is South Canyon Hot Springs located?**
South Canyon Hot Springs is located in Garfield County, Colorado at 5,850 feet elevation, near Glenwood Springs. Coordinates: 39.5520°N, 107.4120°W.

**How do I get to South Canyon Hot Springs?**
South Canyon Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Canyon Creek Road (24 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near South Canyon Hot Springs?**
Yes, Thompson Creek Campground is located nearby (17.3 miles away). No fee.

**What minerals are in the water at South Canyon Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.3 (slightly alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 778 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at South Canyon Hot Springs?**
With care. At 118°F South Canyon 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/South_Canyon_Hot_Springs