Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens

What to expect

Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens is one of the smaller public soaks in Chaffee County, a county better known for the big resorts along the Arkansas River valley. It sits in the trees along Cottonwood Creek, a few miles up the road toward Cottonwood Pass, and it is run by a local family rather than a resort group. Uncover Colorado describes it as the newest addition to the county’s lineup of public hot spring pools, and it still has that small-business feel: a front desk, a few pools, a garden, and not much else.

The setup is simple. There are three shallow, round soaking pools, each roughly 17 feet in diameter, arranged so the water moves from a top pool to a middle pool to a bottom pool. Each step down is a few degrees cooler, which makes it easy to find your temperature. Photos on the operator’s site show shade sails over one of the pools and a picnic shelter next to it.

The second half of the name is the indoor botanical garden. It is a warm, plant-filled greenhouse space with a small waterfall, and it is free to walk through. The family asks for donations to help care for the animals kept there. If you are soaking with kids, the garden is a good break between pool sessions.

The property is tied to a longer local story. According to the family’s own history page, Charlotte Vickerson married Roy Merrifield in 1924, and the couple later inherited the land from Mr. Holloway, the man they had cared for. Their grandson Glen and his wife Bonnie now run the hot springs, Merrifield’s Greenhouse & Garden Hut in Buena Vista, and the Merrifield Homestead Cabins next door.

The pools

The operator posts typical temperatures for each pool by season. These vary with the weather, so treat them as a guide:

• Top pool: about 107-110°F42-43°C in both winter and summer. This is the hot one, best for short dips.
• Middle pool: about 104-108°F40-42°C in winter and 102-106°F39-41°C in summer.
• Bottom pool: about 102-105°F39-41°C in winter and 99-104°F37-40°C in summer. This is the pool for longer soaks and for children.

The pools are shallow, so you sit rather than float. The operator does not publish a clothing policy, but this is a family public facility with child pricing, so bring a swimsuit.

Getting there

Charlotte Hot Springs is at 19256 County Road 343, Buena Vista, CO 81211. From the stoplight on US-24 in Buena Vista, head west on Main Street, which becomes County Road 306 (Cottonwood Pass Road). The springs are about 5.5 miles from the center of town by road, roughly a 12-minute drive, off CR 306 on the short side road CR 343. CR 306 is a paved highway to this point, and a normal car is fine in good weather.

Do not confuse it with Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa, a separate business on CR 306 close by. If your map app sends you there, keep checking the address. From Denver, Buena Vista is about 2.5 hours via US-285. From Colorado Springs, take US-24 west over Wilkerson Pass and Trout Creek Pass.

When to go

The springs are open every day of the year, so the question is mostly crowds and weather.

• Winter (November to April) is the classic soaking season. The middle and bottom pools run warmer, the air is cold, and steam rises off the water. Hours are shorter, with closing at 8pm. CR 306 is plowed, but carry winter gear and check conditions after storms.
• Summer (May to October) has longer hours, until 9pm, and cooler lower pools. Afternoons can feel hot under the sun, so the shade sails help. Evenings are the best summer soak.
• Weekends and holidays draw more visitors from the Front Range, and since there are no reservations, a weekday morning is the safest bet for space.

Prices and booking

Day passes are sold at the front desk. There are no online bookings. The operator’s posted rates:

Day	Adults	Ages 17 and under, 65+, military
Monday to Thursday	$30	$25
Friday to Sunday	$35	$30

Children 3 and under are free. Towels rent for $10, with $5 refunded when you return the towel in the same condition. Lock rentals are $5, fully refunded on return. Bringing your own towel saves money.

Uncover Colorado also notes that people living in Chaffee and surrounding counties can buy 10-soak and 20-soak punch passes. Ask at the desk for current local pricing, since the operator does not post it online.

The botanical garden is free. A donation is appreciated.

Where to stay nearby

• Merrifield Homestead Cabins at 19320 County Road 306 are run by the same family. The Merrifield Cabin sleeps four and the Holloway Cabin sleeps two, and bookings go through Airbnb. See the Merrifield Homestead Cabins listing for more.
• Buena Vista, about 5.5 miles east, has motels, inns, restaurants and grocery stores, plus easy access to the Arkansas River for rafting.
• National forest camping is common in the San Isabel National Forest up Cottonwood Creek and along the road toward Cottonwood Pass. Check current fire restrictions and campground rules with the Salida Ranger District.

Safety notes

• Hot top pool: At 107-110°F42-43°C, the top pool is hotter than most people can handle for more than a few minutes. Start in the bottom pool and work up.
• Altitude: Buena Vista is near 8,000 feet, and the springs sit higher still. Hot water plus altitude can leave you lightheaded. Drink water, skip alcohol before soaking, and get out if you feel dizzy.
• Kids: Children love the bottom pool, but supervise them closely around the hotter pools.
• Winter driving: CR 306 climbs toward Cottonwood Pass. The pass itself closes in winter, but the road to the springs stays open. Snow and ice can still make the drive slow after dark.

Nearby stops worth adding

Buena Vista’s riverside park and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area are a short drive east. If you want to compare a few soaks in one trip, the area west of Buena Vista and south toward Nathrop has several commercial hot springs within half an hour.