Old Town Hot Springs

What to expect

Old Town Hot Springs is the town pool of Steamboat Springs, built on top of a hot spring. It is run by a nonprofit that dates back to 1935, and it serves locals as a gym, lap pool and swim school as much as it serves visitors who want a soak. Expect lifeguards, lane lines, kids on the slides and a front desk, not a quiet mountain spring.

All of the pools draw on the Heart Spring, which the operator says pumps about 250 gallons per minute and has done so steadily for more than a century. The water carries a long list of dissolved minerals, led by chloride, sodium, sulfate, silica and calcium, plus a little lithium. The operator notes that the water is recognized by the Balneology Association of North America as a therapeutic mineral water. That is their description, not a medical claim.

The setting is right in town, on Lincoln Avenue (US 40) at the east end of downtown, with Emerald Mountain to the west and the ski area to the east. Steam rises off the outdoor pools on winter mornings, and snow piles up on the deck.

The pools

The operator lists these soaking pools and temperatures:

• Heart Spring: 102-103°F39°C. Natural spring water, not chlorinated, turning over about every 15 minutes. Ages 18 and up.
• Spa One: 100-103°F38-39°C with jets, often in full sun.
• Spa Three: 104-105°F40-41°C with jets, the hottest soak, fed directly from the Heart Spring. Often shaded.
• Big Hot Pool: About 98°F37°C. The main family pool, with an aquatic climbing wall over the deep corner.
• Baby Hot Pool: 96-98°F36-37°C with a wraparound bench, quietest early and late in the day.
• Icebox: A 55°F13°C cold plunge for ages 18 and up.
• Splash Pool: A shallow, fenced, beach-entry pool for the youngest swimmers. No lifeguard is assigned to it.

There is also a lap pool, which most visitors ignore but locals use hard in the mornings.

Water slides: Two 230-foot slides. Riders must be at least 44 inches tall and strong swimmers, ride one at a time, and go feet-first on their backs. Unlimited rides cost $7 a day on top of admission. The slides open seasonally. In fall 2026 the operator lists them as closed, reopening for the winter season in December.

Climbing wall: The dryland climbing wall runs Monday to Friday 10am-6pm and weekends 9am-8pm, with adult-only climbs (15 and up) on Monday, Thursday and Friday evenings.

Getting there

Steamboat Springs is in northwest Colorado on US 40. From Denver, the usual route is I-70 west to Silverthorne, Colorado 9 north to Kremmling, then US 40 west over Rabbit Ears Pass into town. Allow about 3.5 hours in good weather and more in a snowstorm, when Rabbit Ears can be slow.

Old Town Hot Springs is at 136 Lincoln Avenue. Parking options:

• Main lot at the building, with upper and lower levels and accessible spaces next to the entrance. It fills at busy times.
• Lot C, on the site of the old tennis courts off the alley on 3rd Street between Oak and Pine. A pedestrian bridge and underpass lead to the facility.
• A small lot at Lincoln Avenue and Old Fish Creek Falls Road. Do not park on Old Fish Creek Falls Road itself; the city tickets and tows there.

None of the lots allow overnight parking or oversized vehicles. Steamboat’s free city bus runs along Lincoln Avenue, which is often easier than driving in winter.

When to go

The facility is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and some holidays.

Winter is peak season, and the busiest hours are late afternoon and evening when skiers come off the mountain. Mornings and weekdays are much calmer.

Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms. When lightning or thunder is observed, everyone leaves the water for at least 30 minutes after the last strike, and admission is not sold during a lightning call. Come in the morning or early afternoon.

Extreme cold can close the pools. Everything shuts at -10°F−23°C or colder. To open before 9:30am the air must be at least 0°F−18°C, and after 9:30am at least -5°F−21°C. There are no weather refunds.

Prices and booking

Day admission, as listed by the operator in 2026:

• Adults (15+): $35
• Youth (3-14): $27
• Seniors (65+): $32
• Ages 0-2: Free
• Five-visit punch pass: $140 adult, $108 youth, $128 senior. Each pass belongs to one person.
• Water slides: $7 for the day
• Towel rental: $3. Day-use lockers downstairs are free.

No reservation is needed. Day passes include the fitness center. Massages are booked separately and include hot springs admission. There are no refunds.

Age rules: Children under 10 must be supervised by someone at least 15 years old who is actively watching them, and lifeguards can require the adult to get in the water. Kids aged 10-17 visiting without an adult need a waiver signed by a parent or guardian before they can buy a pass. Children under 14 must pass a swim test to use the deep end of the lap pool unsupervised. The operator strongly discourages children from using the spas.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits required. No street clothes, underwear or sweats in the pools, and no nudity.
• Shower with soap before you get in.
• No glass, alcohol, smoking or vaping. Closed water bottles are fine, and food stays at least 5 feet from the pools.
• Swim diapers: Reusable swim diapers only. Disposable ones are not allowed.
• Spas are quiet zones. No loose flotation toys in any spa.
• Headphones are required if you play audio.

Where to stay nearby

There is no lodging at Old Town Hot Springs. Downtown Steamboat has hotels, motels and condos within walking distance along Lincoln Avenue and the side streets. The base of Steamboat Resort, with the largest concentration of ski lodging, is a short drive or free bus ride to the east.

For a different kind of soak, Strawberry Park Hot Springs is a rustic, rock-lined spring in the hills north of town. It has its own access rules, and the road can be difficult in winter, so check its policies before you go.

Safety notes

• Heat and altitude: Steamboat is at about 6,700 feet. Spa Three at 104-105°F40-41°C is hot enough to cause dizziness on a long soak. Drink water and get out to cool down.
• Children in spas: The hot spas are hard on small bodies. Keep young kids in the Big Hot Pool, Baby Hot Pool and Splash Pool.
• Slippery decks: Ice forms on outdoor walkways in winter. Walk, do not run.
• Lightning: Leave the water as soon as staff call it, and do not wait it out under a shelter on deck.
• Accessibility work: The operator is converting a family changing room into a universal changing room with an adult-sized changing table, due to open by the end of 2026. Expect some noise near the lobby while the work is under way.