Experiences · Down valley
Hot springs near Aspen
The best-known soaks are down the valley in Glenwood Springs. What each one is like, what it costs, and how to make a day of it.
The best-known soaks are down the valley in Glenwood Springs. What each one is like, what it costs, and how to make a day of it.
The developed hot springs closest to Aspen are in Glenwood Springs, at the bottom of the Roaring Fork Valley: Glenwood Hot Springs, with what it calls the world's largest hot springs pool, and Iron Mountain Hot Springs, with 35 smaller pools from 89 to 112°F. Both are open daily, year-round.
Details are from each resort's own website, checked September 2026. Prices vary by date.
Paul Montiel · Aspen · Updated September 2026
A private car down the valley and back, passes arranged, robes and water in the car, lunch in Glenwood and a massage at the house when you return. Hot Springs Escape · ask us.
Glenwood Hot Springs: one huge pool, a children's area and no reservation needed.
Iron Mountain: smaller pools at a range of temperatures, the sauna area and cold plunges.
Either works as an evening, but the drive back up valley at night in winter is the part to plan: a driver means nobody has to.
A backcountry spring 8.5 miles in from Castle Creek Road. Overnight camping needs a Forest Service permit on Recreation.gov, released in batches: February 15 (for April–July), June 15 (August–November) and October 15 (December–March), 8 a.m. Mountain; they go fast. The trailhead road usually isn't plowed until late May.
A free, primitive riverside pool on the Crystal River south of Carbondale; day use only.
The Meadow, an adults-only (21+) lounge area with food and drink service, opened July 3, 2026 for Premier Access guests.
The developed hot springs nearest Aspen are in Glenwood Springs, down the Roaring Fork Valley: Glenwood Hot Springs and Iron Mountain Hot Springs.
A day pool pass is $38–$60 for adults and teens and $27–$38 for children, depending on date. It's open 9 a.m.–9 p.m. year-round and doesn't require a reservation.
Yes, year-round, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with no reservation needed for a day pass. The pools close for maintenance on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
Iron Mountain is open daily 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Its Sauna Summit adds five saunas and three plunge pools, and two new mineral pools (magnesium and potassium) opened in 2026.
Its 35 pools range from 89 to 112°F, with cold plunges at 45–55°F.
Yes. RFTA's VelociRFTA bus rapid transit runs between Aspen and Glenwood Springs year-round.
Yes, to camp overnight: Forest Service permits on Recreation.gov, released Feb 15, June 15 and Oct 15 for the following months.
We plan the soak around the rest of the trip: a driver down valley and back after dark, and a massage or dinner at the house when you return.
Leave your hotel or house mid-morning with nothing to carry. A private car takes you down the valley to the springs, with robes, towels and cold water waiting in the back. Soak for as long as you like, have a slow lunch in Glenwood, and come home to a massage and dinner at the house.
A day that never leaves the residence: a late breakfast, a massage in the afternoon light, a long lunch cooked for you, and oxygen and water on hand. For the day after a big ski day, or the day before you fly home.
A car and driver on call for dinner and the night out, so nobody hunts for a taxi at midnight.
Road conditions, openings and day trips worth the drive.
Written from Aspen by Paul Montiel. A few letters a season, only when something matters. Leave any time; we never share your address.Glenwood Hot Springs Resort · Iron Mountain Hot Springs · RFTA routes · White River National Forest: Conundrum Hot Springs overnight permits · Iron Mountain Hot Springs: news — checked September 28, 2026.
Tell us the day and the group. We'll arrange the driver and have the house ready when you're back.
Plan the day
