Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Strawberry Park Hot Springs is a rustic, stone-lined hot springs in the forest north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, open 365 days a year.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, CO
Forget tiled pools and lap lanes. Strawberry Park is a set of sand-bottomed, stone-walled pools built into the banks of Hot Springs Creek in a forested valley north of Steamboat. Mineral water comes out of the ground hot, mixes with cold creek water, and settles into pools of about 102 to 106 degrees, with steam drifting through the aspens and lodgepole pines. In winter you soak with snow piled on the rocks around you. In summer the creek roars beside you. After dark the pools go lantern-lit, adults-only and clothing-optional, and the no-lights, no-photos rule leaves you with a sky full of stars. Rustic cabins, covered wagons, a converted train caboose, massage and watsu sessions are available for people who don’t want to leave.
The springs were placed on the Routt County Register of Historic Places in 2013, and much of the stonework around the pools was built by hand. Admission is limited by a strict reservation system, partly because parking at the end of the dirt road is scarce. Two-hour pool slots open 30 days in advance and often sell out, especially on winter weekends.
Photo Gallery
Note: no openly licensed photos of Strawberry Park Hot Springs itself were available, so these are area photos of Steamboat Springs, about 7 miles away. Photo credits: Steamboat Springs CO from hot air balloon by dbking (CC BY 2.0); Steamboat Springs, CO 80487, USA – panoramio by olekinderhook (CC BY 3.0); Blizzard – Steamboat Springs, Colorado – Flickr – gregor y by Greg Younger from Parker, Colorado, USA, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
News & Events
Book pool times and lodging on the Pool Reservation page for Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, CO.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at Strawberry Park Hot Springs?
- Natural soaking: Soak in stone-lined, sand-bottomed mineral pools of about 102 to 106 degrees beside Hot Springs Creek.
- Stargazing soak: Visit after dark for an adults-only, lantern-lit soak under the stars.
- Massage and watsu: Book massage or in-water watsu therapy on site.
- Rustic overnight stays: Stay in cabins, a covered wagon or a converted train caboose.
- Winter visit: Soak surrounded by snow after a day at Steamboat Resort.
What is nearby Strawberry Park Hot Springs?
- Steamboat Resort: One of Colorado’s best-known ski areas, famous for its Champagne Powder.
- Fish Creek Falls: A 280-foot waterfall a short walk from a trailhead just outside town.
- Old Town Hot Springs: A family-friendly hot springs with pools and slides in downtown Steamboat.
- Downtown Steamboat Springs: A Western main street lined with restaurants, shops and galleries.
- Steamboat Lake State Park: A mountain lake north of town for camping, paddling and fishing.
When was Strawberry Park Hot Springs established?
The springs have been used for generations. The developed pools, with hand-built stone masonry walls along Hot Springs Creek, were placed on the Routt County Register of Historic Places in 2013.
When is Strawberry Park Hot Springs open?
The springs are open 365 days a year. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last entry 8:00 p.m.) and Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to midnight (last entry 10:00 p.m.). Reservations are required for two-hour slots and open 30 days ahead, with no waitlist. Admission is $30 for adults and $20 for children 17 and under, cash only, and there is no ATM on site.
Are there age restrictions at Strawberry Park Hot Springs?
Children are welcome during the day, and kids under 3 must wear swim diapers. After sundown the pools are clothing-optional and 18+ only, with no exceptions. Photos, video and bright lights aren’t allowed after dark. In winter, the dirt road to the springs requires a four-wheel- or all-wheel-drive vehicle with good snow tires; shuttles run by Sweet Pea Tours and Hot Springs Shuttle are an easier option. Want a family-friendly soak with big pools? Try Glenwood Hot Springs Resort.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs is located at 44200 County Road 36, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487. Call (970) 879-0342 or visit strawberryhotsprings.com to reserve.