We visited Pagosa Springs, Colorado, my favorite hot springs ever! Hot springs are one of my the best places to visit while in the mountains; there is so much healing and relaxation they provide, and they’re often located in beautiful towns and places. There are wild hot springs that you have to hike to and be rewarded by the warm water softening your tired bones. These are not wild, though they are about as luxurious as they come. We have been coming here for over ten years, and it has grown and transformed into more of a destination than in the past. Its pools are situated right in the downtown of Pagosa, with the San Juan river running through the middle. The location is surrounded by restaurants, patios, and shops that continue the charm of small-town America.
We hadn’t been back to Pagosa Springs in a number of years, and it is truly the heart of the town now, adding additional pools, lodging, and one of the best restaurants in town. They have a variety of packages available, and since we were only making a day trip to the springs, we opted for the Relaxation Terrace Pass. We really liked this option because you have access to the twenty original pools and five adult-only relaxation terrace pools. This was perfect for us to spend most of the day soaking. It was the middle of summer, but they have a lot of umbrellas that offer shade, and the upper pools were less crowded than the lower pools.
When we go to the springs, it’s a very meditative and healing experience, so we try to limit talking and focus on the healing geothermal waters. If you get too hot, you can just go cool off in the original ice plunge of the San Juan River. It’s such a picturesque place, looking over the edge of the pool onto the river walk with people enjoying the day or kids playing and tubing down the river in the distance. The pools range in temperature, and they have created levels along the hillside of the resort that offer privacy and seclusion when needed. Waterfalls of warm water run off into some of the pools, offering a dreamy massage on the neck and shoulders. Visitors can enjoy food and drinks by the poolside, which makes it a really fun time to come and enjoy the atmosphere and the remarkable space being held in this pocket of Colorado.
If you are interested in the science of the springs and looking for a more therapeutic experience of well-being at The Springs, you can experience their soaking journey. Created by Dr. Marcus Coplin, Medical Director of The Springs Resort, he has curated a soaking retreat that is intentional with science-based wisdom and hot spring insight to make your time spent in the waters truly therapeutic. Whether you’re looking for the Science-Based Soaking Journey, the Restoration Journey, the Deep Sleep Guide, or the Detox Guide, each one offers something to help you reconnect and find balance again.
Once we had our hours at the springs, we walked around the quaint town and headed into some of the shops downtown. We made our way to the Wild Finch, which is connected with the Springs Resort, and enjoyed some libations and a delicious chicken-fried elk steak with African curry and greens. Jeremy enjoyed the duck breast with roasted bok choy and a fig spread. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was modern and airy, and they also have a wonderful patio to sit outside and enjoy the cool mountain breeze.
The day spent in Pagosa was everything we were looking for to end our summer Colorado trip, and we are looking forward to coming back to stay at the resort and spend more time relaxing in the springs.