# Upper Waunita Hot Springs, Colorado

Upper Waunita Hot Springs in Colorado. 176°F (80°C). Roadside. Gunnison County.

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

## Can you soak at Upper Waunita Hot Springs?

Yes. Upper Waunita Hot Springs is a developed hot spring with pools from 95 to 104°F.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 176°F (80°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.9 (Slightly Alkaline) |
| Elevation | 8,940 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 181 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Gunnison County |
| Nearest town | Gunnison |
| Coordinates | 38.51400, -106.50800 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | MONARCH PARK, 9.9 mi |

## Plan your visit

| | |
|---|---|
| Type | Developed pools |
| Pool temperature | 95–104°F |
| Clothing | Swimsuit required |
| Getting there | 27 mi east of Gunnison on US 50 then 7.8 mi north on CR 887 |
| In winter | mountain road, check conditions |
| Operator | Waunita Hot Springs Ranch, http://www.waunita.com/ |

Checked October 2026. Sources: https://www.hotspringsguides.com/hot-springs/waunita-hot-springs-ranch-colorado, https://www.coloradocentralmagazine.com/?p=16779

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 176°F, the source water at Upper 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 Upper Waunita Hot Springs

Upper Waunita Hot Springs is scalding at the source, far past anything skin can take. It lies in Gunnison County, twenty-odd miles from Gunnison, at close to nine thousand feet. Nothing on file names a landowner or states an access rule. A USGS site number and a 1978 chemistry sample are the hard data here.

Roadside, about sixty yards from an unnamed road. Cold high country; the annual average sits well below anything you would call mild. Some eighty inches of snow fall over a winter, and the year is dry overall. Monarch Park Campground is about ten miles out, the closest on record.

The heart of winter is listed as best. You park and you are there. The temperature is dangerous; the source is hot enough to scald in seconds, so stay out of the outlet and do not test it with a hand. Chemistry dates to 1978. Who holds the land, and on what terms you can be there, is unverified.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1978-06-08 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.9 |
| Calcium | 6.5 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 0.1 mg/L |
| Sodium | 160 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 170 mg/L |
| Chloride | 22 mg/L |
| Iron | 30 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)
- [Lower Waunita Hot Springs, CO](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/colorado/lower-waunita-hot-springs): 167°F source, pH 7.7, Roadside, near Gunnison, Gunnison 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
- [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 Upper Waunita Hot Springs?**
Upper Waunita Hot Springs has a water temperature of 176°F (80°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Upper Waunita Hot Springs located?**
Upper Waunita Hot Springs is located in Gunnison County, Colorado at 8,940 feet elevation, near Gunnison. Coordinates: 38.5140°N, 106.5080°W.

**How do I get to Upper Waunita Hot Springs?**
Upper Waunita Hot Springs has Roadside road access (181 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Upper Waunita Hot Springs?**
Yes, Monarch Park is located nearby (9.9 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Upper Waunita Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.9 (slightly alkaline).

**Is it safe to soak at Upper Waunita Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Upper Waunita Hot Springs reaches 176°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
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waunita_Hot_Springs