Natural hot spring · Colorado
Pagosa Hot Spring
Archuleta County, Colorado
Also searched as:Free Hot Springs Pagosa Springs · Pagosa Springs Public Hot Springs
Last updated
- Type
- Natural Natural hot spring
- Water temperature
- 133°F (56°C) at the source
- Cost
- Free
- Hours or season
- Not recorded
- Clothing
- Not recorded
- Nearest town
- Pagosa Springs, CO
- Coordinates
- Pools or sources
- 5
- Undeveloped source: no staff, no facilities, and no maintained access. Conditions change.
- Scalding: recorded at 50°C or above. Water at this temperature causes burns in seconds.
About Pagosa Hot Spring
Editor's note. Pagosa Springs is built around the Great Pagosa hot spring. Its Mother Spring was certified by Guinness World Records in 2011 as the deepest known geothermal hot spring. Several commercial pools in town, including terraced pools beside the San Juan River, use this water.
Pagosa Hot Spring is a natural hot spring in Archuleta County, Colorado, on the edge of Pagosa Springs, CO. The nearest large city is Farmington, NM, roughly 76 miles away as the crow flies.
The temperature at the source has been recorded at 133°F (56°C). 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.
It is a natural spring with little or no development. Some natural springs have rock pools you can sit in, while others are too hot, too shallow or on land where soaking is not allowed.
The site has 5 mapped pools or sources within about 500 meters of each other, including The Mother Spring.
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 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.
Map and directions
Red marks Pagosa Hot Spring. Other colored dots are nearby springs in this directory. Coordinates: 37.26553, -107.01026.
Getting there
- Nearest town: Pagosa Springs, CO.
- Nearest large city: Farmington, NM, about 76 miles (122 km) in a straight line.
- Planning from a city? See hot springs near Farmington, NM.
- 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 Pagosa Hot Spring
- Rainbow Hot Springs 104°F
- Piedra River Hot Springs 108°F
- Birdsie Warm Spring 86°F
- Wagon Wheel Gap Hot Springs 135°F
- Pinkerton Hot Springs 90°F
- Durango Hot Springs 97°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.
- Pack out everything you bring, including food scraps. Do not use soap in natural pools.
- 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 Pagosa Hot Spring?
The temperature at the source has been recorded at 133°F (56°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 Pagosa Hot Spring?
Pagosa Hot Spring is in Archuleta County, Colorado, at Pagosa Springs, CO. The GPS coordinates are 37.2655, -107.0103.
Is Pagosa Hot Spring free?
Yes. It is recorded as free to visit. Parking passes or recreation fees may still apply on public land.
Can you soak at Pagosa Hot Spring?
The source is too hot to enter safely. Natural springs vary. Some have pools built by visitors, others are too hot or shallow, and some are on private land or in areas where bathing is banned. Check local rules and test the water before you get in.
What hot springs are near Pagosa Hot Spring?
The closest listed spring is Rainbow Hot Springs, about 17 miles north. Piedra River Hot Springs is about 19 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 OpenStreetMap, the USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal. 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.