Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs

What to expect

Avalanche Ranch is a family-owned cabin ranch on 36 acres in the Crystal River Valley, about 12 miles south of Carbondale and 4 miles north of the village of Redstone. The Ogilby and Jacober family runs it. Old log cabins, a few sheep wagons, a stocked trout pond and about half a mile of river frontage come first. The hot springs are a newer addition, and for many visitors now the main reason to come.

There are three pools set into a hillside in a tiered layout. Water from a geothermal well enters the top, and the mineral load has built up red travertine where it settles and spills down. A small waterfall feeds the largest pool. The ranch puts the temperature range at 93 to 104°F34 to 40°C, with the upper pools hottest and the big lower pool the coolest. Nothing is added to the water. From the pools you look north toward Mount Sopris, at 12,953 feet, and across to Elephant Mountain and the Avalanche Creek valley.

This is a quiet place. The ranch is clear that the springs are not for parties, music or heavy drinking, and pool quiet hours run from 9 pm to 8 am.

History

The pools have a good origin story. According to the Colorado Hot Springs Loop, the Ogilby family knew of geothermal water on the east side of the Crystal River, but surveys gave the ranch side only even odds. In the winter of 2008, Kayo Ogilby, a teacher at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, took a geology class on a field trip near the ranch, and students noticed vents melting snow along Highway 133. The family drilled and hit a strong flow. An insulated pipeline from the well went in during summer 2010 and pool construction began that fall.

The ranch itself is much older. The original homestead house dates to 1913, and the cabins were built between the 1890s and the 1950s before being restored.

Getting there

The ranch is at 12863 Colorado Highway 133, Redstone. Highway 133 runs south from Carbondale up the Crystal River toward Redstone, Marble and McClure Pass.

• From Glenwood Springs: Take Highway 82 southeast to Carbondale, then turn south on Highway 133. The ranch is about 12 miles from Carbondale.
• From Aspen: Take Highway 82 northwest to Carbondale and pick up Highway 133 south.
• From Paonia and the south: Come north over McClure Pass on Highway 133, through Redstone. The ranch is about 4 miles past the village.

Parking is on site, with up to two vehicles per cabin. In winter the ranch says the roads are well maintained, but you need snow tires, four-wheel drive or chains. Snow usually starts in October and builds from late November.

When to go

The ranch is open year-round. Summer, the winter holidays, and the Martin Luther King and Presidents’ Day weekends are high season, with a three-night minimum in cabins. The rest of the year is low season, with a two-night minimum.

For day visitors, weekdays outside summer are the easiest to book. Avoid Wednesdays: the pools are closed from 9 am to 5 pm for cleaning. Winter is a good time, with snow around the pools and fewer people on the road.

The ranch suggests booking weekend lodging at least six months out. Summer dates open up to a year in advance.

Prices and booking

Day passes: $34 per person for a 4-hour slot, 9 am to 1 pm or 1 pm to 5 pm. Towels are $2 and swimsuits rent for $2. Reservations are required, full payment is due when you book, and you need to cancel at least 48 hours ahead. Everyone using the pools signs a waiver.

Lodging: Pool access is included for registered guests in each unit, from check-in at 3 pm to check-out at 11 am. Nightly rates listed by the ranch:

• Sheep wagons (sleep 2): $142, no minimum stay. Restrooms and showers are at the hot springs.
• Hill Top tiny house (sleeps 2): $192
• Studio cabins (sleep 2 to 5): $217 to $292
• One and two-bedroom cabins (sleep 6): $317 to $332
• Ranch House (three bedrooms, sleeps 8): $540

A 50% deposit is due when you book and the balance 14 days before arrival. Cancelling more than 14 days ahead gets a refund minus a $25 fee. Inside 14 days you lose the full payment, and weather is not accepted as a reason. Extra vehicles are $15 per night.

Rules: swimsuits required, no smoking, no glass and no pets in the pool area. Children under 14 must be with an adult, and babies need swim diapers. There is no lifeguard.

Massage is available in a studio near the springs with 24 hours’ notice: $150 for 50 minutes, $216 for 80 and $295 for 110.

Where to stay nearby

Staying on the ranch is the simplest option, and the only way to soak after 5 pm. Cabins have kitchens, but the wagons do not, and there is no restaurant on site. Redstone, 4 miles south, has a general store and a couple of restaurants. Carbondale, 12 miles north, has groceries and more places to eat and stay. Glenwood Springs, beyond Carbondale, has the biggest range of hotels in the area.

Safety notes

• No signal: There is no cell service on the property. Tell someone your plans, and use the lodge phone if you need to call out.
• Hot water: The upper pools reach 104°F40°C. Keep soaks short, drink water, and cool off in the lower pool.
• Children: No lifeguard is on duty. Keep young kids within reach.
• Winter driving: Highway 133 can be icy, and McClure Pass to the south is steep. Carry chains or have proper winter tires.
• Wildlife: The ranch borders national forest and wilderness. Keep food secured and dogs leashed.

Nearby stops worth adding

Penny Hot Springs, a free primitive soak on the bank of the Crystal River, is a short drive south on Highway 133. Redstone has its historic castle and coke ovens, and further up the valley the town of Marble and the Crystal Mill are popular summer side trips.