Best Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Strawberry Park Hot Springs

My husband Matt and I have been to our fair share of hot springs (Read about our other hot spring experience here)… And Strawberry Park Hot Springs is definitely up there on our list. Nestled in the mountains near Steamboat Springs, Strawberry Park Hot Springs is an amazing destination for anyone to visit and has an incredible 360º degree view of the Rocky Mountains. If you’re looking for the best hot springs to visit in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, then look no further.

How to Get to Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Part of what makes Strawberry Park Hot Springs so great is its secluded location. I don’t know about you, but when I go to relax in a thermal pool, I want to be surrounded by the least amount of people. I also do not want to worry about any type of city noises, which is both what makes Strawberry Park so great.

There are two different options to get there:

If you’re coming from the town of Steamboat Springs, you can drive up County Road 36 all the way up to the park. It will take approximately 20-30 minutes. If you’re coming in the winter (Nov 1 – May 1), the county does require you to be in a 4WD vehicle with snow tires/chains. The road up is a long and windy one, so make sure you’re prepared.

Another option if you don’t have access to a 4WD vehicle is arranging for a shuttle service with other third-party companies offering these packages. Some include passes, while others require you to have your own reservations. You can find more information about that here: Shuttle to Steamboat Springs Hot Springs.

If you’re driving from Denver or Grand Junction, the drive will take approximately 3 hours, depending on the traffic.

About Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Once you get to the hot springs, you will find yourself right in the heart of the mountains. The Park does a great job of keeping the elements natural. This includes the the rock formations that border the pools and the stairs. This creates the overall experience of feeling really immersed in nature.

The Park is completely outdoors and is made up mainly of one large pool that’s been divided in 2-3 areas, as well as a couple of other smaller pools close by. The temperatures are advertised at being approximately 102º F (39 Cº), but can vary slightly due to the elements.

And for those who are worried about the “smell,” we personally did not experience the typical “sulphuric” smell that is well known around natural hot springs. We were very pleasantly surprised.

It also features a “cold” pool for those who want to take a break from the heat. Since we went during the winter, we only spent about 15 seconds in this water. There were a few other brave souls that also made their way in the pool, but didn’t stay there very long (for good reason!)

Amenities

Please be mindful that Strawberry Park Hot Springs amenities are quite humble, and only include a restroom and changing room area. That is, unless you’re staying in one of the cabins on site (Read more about this below). Towels, lockers and other toiletries are not provided. Because they are operating off-grid, there are also limited outlets for public use if you are planning to bring anything such as a hair dryer or any other hair styling tool.

Currently due to their added COVID restrictions, changing room areas are also limited. I suggest the best thing to do is to already be in your swimsuit. This way, you can simply remove any outer layers and be ready to hop into the pool. Again, since lockers are not provided, I would travel lightly and bring only the necessities (ie. water – hydration is key!).

There is also no food or beverage service, which also means no alcohol on premises.

Reservations

The entrance fee to the Park is $20, and they only take cash on the premises. However, due to their added COVID measures, they currently require reservations to be made in advance. Again, for the latest requirements, be sure to check their website here. Once you arrive, you will need to show them your reservation in order to be able to pay and enter the Park.

They state that the entrance fee is only good for 2 hours, however this doesn’t seem heavily monitored. Note that this means there is no re-entry. Children under 18 are allowed, however, need an adult to accompany them at all times and cannot stay later than 2pm.

Accommodations

Within the Park, there are several options for accommodations for those who wish to stay overnight. This includes access to the hot springs after-hours (8pm-10am). I believe regular guests are able to stay up until 10pm. As mentioned above, no children under 18 years of age are allowed after 2pm, so be sure to keep that in mind if you are planning to make reservations. We also hear that clothing is optional at night, so it might make more sense to keep your little ones at home 😉

There are a variety of options to choose from, ranging from tent sites to a train caboose, which is their most comfortable offering. However, all accommodations are not luxury offerings and have no electricity, limited running water, with linens and blankets only provided in some of their accommodations. Most run off of solar lights and a shared central bath house with showers.

If you’re thinking about going for any of these options, be sure to book ahead as capacity is extremely limited and go quite fast, especially during the holiday season.

There is also potential to boondock/ disperse camp around the area, but you’ll definitely have to do your research on this first. To read more about things to know about your first time boondocking, you can check out our other post here!