Developed hot spring pool · Colorado
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens
Chaffee County, Colorado · 5.4 miles southwest of Buena Vista, CO
Also searched as:Charlotte Hot Springs Buena Vista · Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens Tickets · Charlotte Hot Springs Resort County Road 306 Buena Vista CO · Charlotte Springs
Last updated
- Type
- Developed Developed hot spring pool
- Water temperature
- 127°F (53°C) at the source
- Cost
- Paid entry (check current price)
- Hours or season
- Not recorded
- Clothing
- Not recorded
- Nearest town
- Buena Vista, CO (5 mi / 9 km)
- Coordinates
- Pools or sources
- 2
- Scalding: recorded at 50°C or above. Water at this temperature causes burns in seconds.
About Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is a developed hot spring pool in Chaffee County, Colorado, about 5.4 miles southwest of Buena Vista, CO. The nearest large city is Colorado Springs, CO, roughly 75 miles away as the crow flies.
The temperature at the source has been recorded at 127°F (53°C), and readings across the site range from 127°F to 136°F. That puts it in the "too hot to enter at the source" range. Water this hot can burn skin quickly. Soaking pools are usually cooled by mixing with creek or tap water. Never enter the source itself. At developed sites the soaking pools are normally cooled to a comfortable level, so the pools you sit in will be cooler than this figure.
This is a developed site with built pools, tubs or a bathhouse, so there is usually an entry fee, set opening hours and basic facilities.
The site has 2 mapped pools or sources within about 500 meters of each other, including Cottonwood Hot Springs.
Water temperature
Too hot to enter at the source. Water this hot can burn skin quickly. Soaking pools are usually cooled by mixing with creek or tap water. Never enter the source itself.
Readings come from the NOAA thermal springs list, OpenStreetMap mappers, USGS water quality samples, and other public sources. Temperatures change with season, flow and pool design. See our soak temperature guide for safe soaking times.
Water chemistry
| sulfate | 87 mg/l |
|---|---|
| chloride | 23 mg/l |
| bicarbonate | 71 mg/l |
| sodium | 81 mg/l |
| calcium | 9.5 mg/l |
| magnesium | 0.8 mg/l |
| potassium | 2.5 mg/l |
| silica | 48 mg/l |
Laboratory values from public geochemistry records, sampled 1993. Mineral content does not mean the water is safe to drink.
Map and directions
Red marks Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens. Other colored dots are nearby springs in this directory. Coordinates: 38.80952, -106.22282.
Getting there
- Nearest town: Buena Vista, CO. The spring is about 5.4 miles (9 km) southwest of town in a straight line.
- Nearest large city: Colorado Springs, CO, about 75 miles (121 km) in a straight line.
- Planning from a city? See hot springs near Colorado Springs, CO.
- Use the directions buttons above for a driving route. Final roads to many springs are unpaved, seasonal or closed in winter, so check road conditions before you go.
Weather forecast
Live forecast for this exact spot from the US National Weather Service.
Hot springs near Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens
- Hortense Hot Spring 181°F
- Poncha Hot Springs 160°F
- Lower Waunita Hot Springs 167°F
- Upper Waunita Hot Springs 176°F
- Hartsel Hot Springs 126°F
- Conundrum Hot Springs 100°F
Before you go
- Check the operator, land manager or park website for current hours, fees and closures. Details in any directory can go out of date.
- Keep your head above water. Warm fresh water can carry Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly amoeba that enters through the nose.
- Drink water, limit soaks to 10 to 20 minutes at a time in very hot water, and skip alcohol.
- Read our hot spring etiquette guide and safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
How hot is Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens?
The temperature at the source has been recorded at 127°F (53°C), which is too hot to enter at the source. Water this hot can burn skin quickly. Soaking pools are usually cooled by mixing with creek or tap water. Never enter the source itself.
Where is Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens?
Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is in Chaffee County, Colorado, about 5.4 miles southwest of Buena Vista, CO. The GPS coordinates are 38.8095, -106.2228.
Is Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens free?
No. It is recorded as a paid site. Check the operator's website for current prices and booking rules.
What hot springs are near Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens?
The closest listed spring is Hortense Hot Spring, about 5.9 miles southeast. Poncha Hot Springs is about 23 miles away.
What should I bring to a hot spring?
Water to drink, a towel, sandals with grip, a bag to pack out trash, and warm layers for after your soak. At primitive springs bring a headlamp and tell someone where you are going.
Sources and corrections
This listing combines the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, OpenStreetMap, the USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal, the NOAA NCEI Thermal Springs List. Data last refreshed August 2026. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4
Visited recently? Send a correction, such as a temperature reading, fee, closure or photo. If you look after this spring and want it removed, see removal requests.