The Centennial State is famous for its world-class river rapids, sky-high summits, and popular national parks. But somehow, its multitude of hot springs has remained an overlooked secret.

　　From rustic tubs in the wilderness, to full-service resorts with restaurants and posh spa offerings, Colorado is home to some seriously stunning geothermal pools, and its Historic Hot Springs Loop is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025. I’ve spent the last two years traveling to every soaking hub that I can muster (it’s a hard job, but somebody’s gotta do it), and put together the ultimate step-by-step guide for a weeklong road trip to the best hot springs in the state.

　　This loop can easily be modified into a long weekend or tackled from a different starting point, for those with limited time.

　　Day 1: Denver to Chaffee County Distance: 128 miles

　　It’s time to vacate the big city in search of steamy solace. Cruise through the conifer-studded hills of Highway 285 as you head southwest out of Denver. Hankering for a roadside attraction? The tiny town of Bailey is home to a historic Coney Island hotdog stand, serving up Polish hot links and elk jalepeño brats.

　　Once you arrive in Chaffee County, you’ll descend into a wide alpine valley, bordered by a wall of fourteeners known as the Collegiate Peaks. From here, you’ve got a few options for soaking. Nab a cabin or lodge room at the more upscale Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort (from $175 per night), reserve a car campsite at rustic Cottonwood Hot Springs (from $66 per night), or rent an entire house with its own private pool at Antero Hot Springs Cabins (from $385 per night). In the summer, nearby Buena Vista features world-class rafting and kayaking, so don’t forget your paddle.

　　*Day passes for Cottonwood and Mount Princeton are also available for purchase.

　　Day 2: Chaffee to Saguache County Distance: 57 miles

　　About an hour south of Buena Vista sit a handful of less-developed springs. If you’d like to beef up your day’s activities, head 30 minutes further south to the Crestone Mountain Zen Center, which is tucked away in the foothills of prominent Kit Carson Peak, where the former mining town has turned into a hub for Hindu, Buddhist, and new age spiritual practicies. You could also tick a national park off your list, by continuing south on Highway 17 for a day of dune sledding at Great Sand Dunes National Park.

　　Choose from two main hot springs when you bed down on day two: Joyful Journey (from $225 per night) and Valley View (from $50 per night). Valley View Hot Springs is part of a privately owned land trust, and you’ll have to pay a $35 annual membership fee to reserve a campsite, cabin, or day pass for soaking. It’s also an entirely clothing-optional property, ideal for those who want to go au naturel while they soak. Joyful Journey (day passes from $18) is a bit more developed, with clean, simple lodge rooms, glamping sites, and on-site dining options for when all that relaxing inevitably stokes your hunger.

　　Day 3: Saguache County to Pagosa Springs Distance: 109 miles

　　Wind through craggy, forested peaks on the two-hour drive along Highway 160 to Pagosa Springs. Pull over to hike the one-mile-long trail up to Treasure Falls, a thundering cascade that’s 105-feet high. Or, if you’re itching to get straight to soaking, brave the entire 109-mile drive until you come to the Springs Resort Spa (day passes from $67), situated on the banks of the powerful San Juan River.

　　Though it was first discovered by the Southern Ute Tribe centuries ago, this site has been home to a more European-style bathhouse since 1881. These days, it’s home to a full-service resort, with 25 individual hot spring pools, a variety of rooms and suites, on-site dining, and an elegant spa. Schedule a Wrath of the Rockies deep tissue massage to get the kinks out, then chow down on a Green Chile Cheeseburger as the sun sets over the river basin.

　　Day 4: Pagosa Springs to Durango Distance: 69 miles

　　Given the day’s shorter driving distance, I’d recommend sleeping in and grabbing breakfast in Pagosa Springs at Two Chicks and a Hippie, then motoring over to Chimney Rock National Monument, to learn about the rich Native history of Southern Colorado. Stop for lunch in the outdoorsy mecca of Durango (Grassburger is a local gem) before navigating slightly out of town to reach Durango Hot Springs Resort Spa (passes from $39, which you must book at least three months in advance).

　　Enjoy phenomenal mountain views from this world-class spa, which offers a variety of organic facials and healing massages. Or simply book a two- to three-hour soaking window for the afternoon. At night, hang your hat at the Western-style log cabins at O-Bar-O (pup-friendly lodging from $200 per night available).

　　Day 5: Durango to Ouray Distance: 62 miles

　　This drive is more about the journey than the destination. Travel north on the Million Dollar Highway, one of the most stunning byways in the country. Originally built by railroad mogul Otto Mears in the 1880s, this high-altitude road tops out at a staggering 11,018 feet. Along the way, motorists can stop at Molas Pass for hiking trails and panoramic mountain views of the San Juans. If you’d rather go chasing waterfalls, pull over just before Ouray for a top-down look at Bear Creek Falls.

　　Ouray mountain biking trails

　　Either way, don’t miss a quick stopover in Silverton, a historic mining town that now serves as an outdoor recreation hub. Knock back a pint and some al pastor tacos at Avalanche Brewing Company, then continue past historic silver mines on the winding highway up to Ouray, often referred to as “the Switzerland of America.” If you’re camping nearby, opt for a day pass at Ouray Hot Springs Pool (from $26), right in the center of downtown. But if you prefer a few more creature comforts, this town has options galore. Choose between Twin Peaks Lodge (from $189 per night), Box Canyon Lodge (from $120 per night), and Wiesbaden Hot Springs (from $160 per night), each of which has its own private ponds, so you can stargaze while you soak.

　　Day 6: Ouray to Glenwood Springs Distance: 176 miles

　　Enjoy the shift from tree-topped summits to rust-red mesas on the three-hour drive north through Montrose and Grand Junction. If you’re a national parks junkie, stop over at Black Canyon of the Gunnison for cliff’s edge vistas into a narrow ravine of dark gneiss. In July and August, don’t forget to pull over in bucolic Palisade for a box of regionally famous peaches.

　　Savor the historic lodge and soaking ponds of Glenwood Hot Springs Resort (day passes from $38), which is home to the world’s largest hot springs pool, measuring a full two city blocks in length. Famous faces, like President Teddy Roosevelt and notorious gangster Al Capone, once frequented this geothermal spa, which was constructed in 1888. Of course, if you’d prefer a more solitude-centric soak, you could reserve a cabin or a coveted day pass at Avalanche Ranch (day passes from $34), 30 minutes away by car. There, you’ll find three steamy lagoons with views of towering Mount Sopris, plus a variety of funky log cabins, all pet-friendly. Pro tip: book at least one month in advance; this site can be competitive.

　　Day 7: Glenwood Springs to Steamboat Springs Distance: 115 miles

　　Though your soaking saga is nearly complete, there’s one more essential stop along the route: Steamboat Springs. Enjoy a dramatic morning drive through the tree-freckled cliffs of Glenwood Canyon before veering north onto Highway 131. Swerve past arid mesa tops and cow pastures all the way to your destination.

　　Steamboat Springs is a haven for serious skiers and snowboarders in the winter months, but come summer, it changes pace to become a rafting hub for those who dare to descend boulder-strewn Clear Creek. Here, Old Town Hot Springs offers a family-friendly soaking experience (day passes from $29), complete with waterslides and cold plunges. Just outside of town, Strawberry Park (day passes from $20, cash only) caters to nature lovers who prefer glamping and car camping options tucked away in the quietude of an old growth forest. Visiting while it’s dumping snow? The Hot Springs Shuttle offers a safe and easy ride when you’re done slaying the pow.

　　Emily Pennington is a national-parks expert and self-proclaimed hot-springs addict who’s also a longtime contributor to Outside. To date, she’s visited every U.S. national park and hiked on all seven continents. She recently wrote about visiting every national park, the most stunning trails in California, and a hot springs resort in a ghost town.