Dec 29, 2023
Written By: J.Couch
If you are looking for a way to unwind after a long day of skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing, you might want to consider visiting the Strawberry Park Hot Springs north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. These natural hot springs are nestled in the mountains and offer a variety of pools with different temperatures and views. You can soak in the warm water, enjoy the fresh air, and admire the scenic surroundings.
We decided to go to the hot springs on a Friday night at 4pm time slot, hoping to catch the sunset and the stars. Make sure that you go online and make a reservation for the specific time slot you want. Do it a few days in advance to get the time you want. If it is not available, you can check back often to see if someone has canceled and the time slot has opened up. We drove from downtown Steamboat Springs, which only takes about 15 minutes. The road was paved until the last couple miles, where it turns into a dirt road. We have a four-wheel drive vehicle with all-weather tires, which was required from November to May. The road was a bit bumpy and steep, but we made it to the parking lot without any trouble. You definitely want to have 4 wheel or all-wheel drive going up there in the winter.
We paid $20 in cash a piece at the entrance, as they did not accept credit cards or checks and they don’t have an ATM on site. We also forgot to bring a flashlight, as there were very few lights at the springs, but the flashlight on the phone worked well as a backup. They do have a heated cabin where you can change into your swimsuit and a short walk down to the pools from there. We had already changed into our swimsuit prior and just headed to the pools. There were several pools to choose from, ranging from 101°F to 106°F. They were closer to the river, not sure if some were higher up on the hill but didn’t see any. There were a few that were more secluded than others. We started at the very end with the coolest and moved up to the hotter pools. We tried a few of them and settled on one that was not scalding and had a nice view of the snowy trees and hills around us. This also seemed to be the one that everyone else thought was the perfect pool.
The water was soothing and relaxing, and we felt our muscles and stress melt away. The air was crisp and cool, in fact it was about 15 degrees at the time and getting colder as the sun was starting to set. We could hear the sound of the river flowing next to us. The sky was clear and we could see the stars coming out and twinkling above us as the sun set. The river runs next to the hot springs and can be a refreshing jump into the cold water. In fact, a lot of people were doing this and then getting back in the hot springs. I decided to give it a try, it was a little of a shock when you first get in but not bad after you are in for a minute or so. I swam up towards the head of the pool when the cold water is coming in and it gets considerably colder the closer you get. I was not able to stay there more than a few seconds because it felt like jumping in an ice bath. It was a magical experience and we really enjoyed our time here. Keep in mind after dark it becomes clothing optional, but with the fact that there is very minimal lighting, it helps keep you from seeing something that you didn’t want to see. If you know what I mean.
We stayed at the springs for about an hour and a half to two hours. Our hands were well past wrinkled when we decided to call it a night. They close at 10 pm, so make sure you get there with enough time to enjoy before they close. We got out, quickly dried off and changed back into our frozen clothes that we had set on the chairs. At this point I think the temperature had gotten down to about 10 degrees. We drove back to town, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It was a perfect way to end our day and our week that was quickly coming to an end.
If you are looking for a unique and relaxing activity in Steamboat Springs, we highly recommend visiting the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. They are open year-round, from 10am to 10pm. You can also book a massage or stay overnight in one of their cabins or wagons. Just make sure to bring cash, a flashlight, and a four-wheel drive vehicle if you go in the winter. You won’t regret it!
I hope you like this blog post. If you want to learn more about the Strawberry Park Hot Springs, you can check out their website. If you have been up there before, share your experience in the comments below.
Thanks for wandering with us,
The Wandering Couchs
