The Springs Resort & Spa, Pagosa Springs, Colorado

The Springs Resort & Spa is a choose-your-own-soak experience on the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs. The resort describes more than 45 individual soaking pools, and its pool map notes temperatures ranging from about 45 to 114°F (28 to 46°C). That range changes how you soak: you can treat it like a gentle thermal circuit with warm pools and a cool dip, or you can do short rounds in hotter water and cool down by the river air.

The resort says its pools are fed by the Mother Spring, described as the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring. Local tourism sources report it as Guinness World Record certified at over 1,002 feet deep. The resort also notes the Mother Spring’s surface temperature is around 131°F, far too hot for direct soaking, which is why the resort’s pool variety matters. They cool and route the water into many different pools so you can choose your comfort level rather than enduring one fixed temperature.

In practice, this is a developed hot springs campus. You can find quiet corners early in the day, but popular evenings feel lively. It’s less “secret soak,” more “dial in your perfect pool and stay awhile.”

Where it is
The Springs Resort sits in Pagosa Springs at 323 Hot Springs Blvd, right along the San Juan River. You’re in a walkable town setting, which makes it easy to pair soaking with meals, a short stroll, or a longer drive into the San Juan Mountains.

By car
Most visitors arrive by road, often as part of a Southwest Colorado loop that includes Durango, Wolf Creek Pass travel, or summer mountain drives. Winter conditions can be serious in this part of the state. If you’re coming over passes, check forecasts and plan daylight driving if you’re not confident on icy roads.

Arrival and on-site flow
This is not a “park and find the spring” situation. It’s a managed resort environment with a bathhouse-style entry flow. Build time for check-in, changing, and orienting yourself to the pool map. With so many pools, your first 15 minutes should be scouting, not soaking. Pick a few pools that match your heat tolerance, then settle in.

Timing tip
If you want the calmest atmosphere, go early. If you want a more social vibe, evenings bring more energy. In practice, the same facility can feel like two different experiences depending on when you arrive.

Temperature management (45 to 114°F can surprise you)
The pool map lists temperatures from about 45 to 114°F. That range is a gift and a trap. It means you can build a safe, comfortable soak plan, but it also means you can accidentally hop from warm to very hot too quickly. Start moderate, keep rounds short in hotter pools, and take cooling breaks. If you’re pregnant or managing heart or blood-pressure concerns, follow medical guidance before soaking.

Minerals and personal items
The Springs’ water is mineral-rich and can affect jewelry. The resort specifically warns that silver jewelry can tarnish in sulfur water. Take jewelry off before you forget, and rinse after soaking to reduce mineral residue on skin and hair.

Etiquette (why crowded nights still work)
With many pools, spacing is usually possible if guests behave like adults. Keep voices reasonable, don’t sprawl across the best ledges, and rotate if you’re in a small pool that others clearly want to use. The resort’s hot springs FAQ notes that personal speakers are not permitted in the pools area, which helps keep the environment calmer. Photography should be handled carefully and respectfully; avoid capturing other guests, and keep phones low-key.

Hydration and alcohol
Hot soaking dehydrates you faster than you think. Drink water between rounds. If you drink alcohol, keep it light and be honest about how you feel. Hot water plus altitude plus alcohol is a common bad combo.

River and weather awareness
Outdoor soaking next to a river means temperature swings. Bring a robe or warm layer for transitions, especially in winter nights when the air can feel sharp the moment you exit the water.

The resort describes more than 45 individual soaking pools, and its published pool map emphasizes a large collection with distinct temperatures and “moods.” Depending on how pools are counted and grouped, the number can be described differently across resort materials, but the core takeaway is the same: there are many separate pools to choose from.

The pool map states temperatures range from about 45 to 114°F (28 to 46°C). If you’re new to hot springs, start in the warm zone, then experiment with hotter pools in short rounds.

The resort says its pools are fed by the Mother Spring, described as the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring. Local tourism sources report it as Guinness World Record certified at over 1,002 feet deep. The resort also notes the spring’s surface temperature is around 131°F, which is why soaking happens in cooled, managed pools rather than in the source itself.

This is a developed resort environment where guests soak in swimwear. If you forget a suit, the resort notes it sells swimwear in the bathhouse and boutique areas, which is a practical backup plan if you’re traveling.

The resort offers ADA room types, and some pools are designed for more accessible entry. Because the complex includes many separate pools with different edges and steps, accessibility varies. If you need a specific kind of entry, contact the resort and plan which pools you’ll use before arrival.