Strawberry Park Hot Springs
29050 Towhee Trail, Steamboat Springs, CO
Steamboat Springs, CO
Stone-lined pools of steaming mineral water beside a mountain creek, a rustic soak under the pines and stars above Steamboat.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs is one of Colorado's most beloved natural soaks, a set of stone-lined pools of steaming mineral water tucked into a forested creek valley above Steamboat Springs. Reached by a winding mountain road, it trades the polished feel of a commercial spa for rustic pools, pines, and the sound of the creek.
The springs have been carefully built up with natural stone to blend into their setting, so that soaking here feels like easing into a warm mountain stream rather than a resort pool. Especially on a cold night, with steam rising into the trees and stars overhead, it is an unforgettable experience and a perfect complement to a day on the nearby slopes and trails.
What Guests Love
- Natural stone-lined pools of steaming mineral water beside a creek
- A rustic, forested setting far removed from a commercial spa feel
- Soaking under the stars on a cold mountain night
- The scenic mountain drive up to reach the springs
Worth Knowing
- The access road is steep and rough; four-wheel drive or chains may be needed in winter
- It is cash-based and reservations are often required, so plan ahead before driving up
- After dark the springs are traditionally clothing-optional and adults-only, with family hours by day
- Facilities are rustic by design, so come prepared for a natural rather than resort experience
Details
Steamboat Springs, CO
Learn about Strawberry Park Hot Springs
The pools and the setting
Hot mineral water rises from the earth here and is channeled into a series of stone-lined pools of varying temperatures beside a cold mountain creek. Bathers can move between hotter and cooler pools, and the mingling of hot spring and creek water lets you find the temperature that suits you.
The whole site is designed to feel natural, with rock work, timber, and forest rather than concrete and tile. Surrounded by pines and the rushing creek, the springs offer a soak that feels wild and restorative, deeply connected to the mountain landscape around it.
Getting there and the practicalities
Reaching Strawberry Park is part of the experience. A scenic but steep and rough mountain road climbs from Steamboat Springs to the springs, and in winter it often requires four-wheel drive, chains, or a shuttle, as conditions can be challenging.
The springs are run in a low-key, cash-based way, and reservations are frequently required, so it is wise to plan ahead rather than simply drive up. The rustic facilities are intentional, part of the charm, so visitors come prepared for a natural setting rather than resort amenities.
Day and night at the springs
By day, the springs welcome families and visitors of all kinds, with the pools open in a relaxed, communal atmosphere amid the forest. It is a lovely place to soak and take in the mountain scenery in daylight.
After dark, the springs traditionally become clothing-optional and adults-only, an established part of their long-standing culture. On a clear, cold night, soaking in the hot pools with steam curling into the trees and a sky full of stars is the experience many visitors remember most.
The Yampa Valley and its healing waters
The Steamboat area is rich in geothermal springs, and the Ute people, whose ancestral homeland this is, long valued the valley's warm waters. That deep history of the land as a place of natural hot springs continues in the way visitors seek out these pools today.
Strawberry Park pairs naturally with the wider Steamboat experience, from winter skiing to summer hiking and biking. In every season the soak feels earned, whether easing tired muscles after the slopes in winter or capping a day on the trails in the long light of summer.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs
About 7 miles south
A genuine ranch and ski town with a lively main street and its own downtown hot springs.
Fish Creek Falls
About 8 miles south
A dramatic waterfall in a canyon just outside Steamboat, with an easy overlook.
Steamboat Ski Resort
About 8 miles south
The famous mountain known for its light Champagne Powder snow and summer trails.