Mount Princeton Hot Springs

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort, about eight miles south of Buena Vista, sits along Chalk Creek at the foot of Mount Princeton — one of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks. The mineral-rich geothermal water feeds a series of outdoor pools set against a dramatic backdrop of granite cliffs and aspens. Temperatures vary by pool, ranging from warm wading areas to properly hot soaking pools.

The creek itself runs warm from natural hot spring seeps, and stone-walled creekside pools along the bank are among the most pleasant spots to soak. Day passes are available and the resort also offers accommodation. On clear days, the views up toward the Collegiate Peaks make this one of the more scenic hot spring settings in Colorado.

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A story
The hot springs near Buena Vista were considered sacred healing waters by the Ute people for centuries before European settlement. When miners flooded the region in the 1870s, they built bathhouses over the springs almost immediately — treating them as a recovery tool between stints in the mines. The water comes out of the ground at around 132°F and is cooled to comfortable soaking temperatures before entering the pools.