Piedra River Hot Springs

What to expect

Piedra River Hot Springs is the wild alternative to the resort pools in Pagosa Springs. There is nothing built here. Hot water seeps out along the edge of the Piedra River in the San Juan National Forest, and visitors have stacked river rocks into a series of shallow pools between the bank and the current. Many people call it Sheep Creek Hot Springs, after the trail and trailhead you use to reach it.

The pools are shallow, but you can lie back and get fully under. The water is clearer than at many primitive springs, and you can usually see the rock bottom. The temperature depends on distance from the river. Pools tucked against the bank, farthest from the current, run in the low 100s°F. Pools nearer the river let in more cold water and cool into the 80s and 70s°F. There are also spots over hot rock and mud that are too hot to sit on, so feel around before you settle in.

It is a canyon-bottom setting, with forested slopes above and the river loud beside you. On a quiet weekday you may have it to yourself.

There are no toilets, trash cans or changing areas. Recent visitor reports describe trash left behind, including towels, swimsuits and cans. Bring a bag and carry out what you can.

Getting there

The springs are west of Pagosa Springs off US 160.

1. From Pagosa Springs, drive west on US 160 for roughly 16-20 miles (sources differ). The turn comes just past the turnoff for Chimney Rock.
2. Turn north onto First Fork Road (Forest Road 622, also signed Piedra Road in some guides). It is gravel and follows the Piedra River.
3. Drive about 6.7-7 miles to the Sheep Creek Trailhead, which some guides say is also signed for the Piedra River. There is plenty of parking. One guide places it at the junction with Monument Park Road.

First Fork Road is steep and narrow in places, with blind corners and drop-offs. Drive slowly, and take extra care after rain or snow.

The trail: Sheep Creek Trail is #599 in the Forest Service system, inside the Piedra Special Management Area. From the trailhead it heads downhill toward the river. The first mile is mostly descent, with a quarter mile or so of steep switchbacks. About halfway, the obvious path seems to carry straight on. Look for cairns and sticks pointing right toward the springs and follow them. The route then runs along the river, and the pools are on the left. A meadow with a fire pit sits along the trail before the turn to the springs, and the main trail carries on for several more miles beyond it.

Plan on under 45 minutes in and longer to climb out. The total drop is about 600 feet by one local guide’s measurement and about 800 feet by another.

When to go

July to early October is the best window. The river has dropped after runoff, the pools are intact and the road is dry.

Late spring and early summer bring snowmelt, and the Piedra can run high enough to swamp the lower pools. Check river conditions before you drive out in May or June.

Off-season weekdays are quiet. Summer weekends are much busier, and the small pools fill quickly.

Winter is possible but less certain. A local trail guide describes First Fork Road as open year-round, but other sources say access is often limited from late fall into spring. There is no plowing commitment in any source we found. Call the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest before a winter trip, and carry traction devices for the steep climb out.

Rules and etiquette

• No fee. None of the sources mention a fee or permit for the trailhead or springs.
• Clothing is optional. Recent visitors report that most people wear suits or underwear, but nudity is not unusual.
• Pack it in, pack it out. That includes food scraps and toilet paper.
• No soap or shampoo in the pools.
• Dogs are allowed on Sheep Creek Trail. Keep them out of the pools and away from other bathers.
• Bikes: Most of the trail is closed to bikes according to the state trail database.
• Share the pools. Rotate out of the hottest spots when others are waiting.

The springs sit in the Piedra Special Management Area, which has its own rules. Check current fire restrictions with the Forest Service before you light a campfire.

Where to stay nearby

• Dispersed camping: There are a couple of dispersed sites near the Sheep Creek Trailhead, and a meadow site with a fire pit along the trail. A local guide says people also camp near the springs. Check Forest Service rules for the Piedra Special Management Area before you plan on it.
• Piedra Hunter’s Campground is at the end of First Fork Road, farther north past the trailhead. A local trail guide notes a spring there for water. Treat any water before drinking it.
• Pagosa Springs has motels, vacation rentals and several hot spring resorts. The Springs Resort & Spa and Healing Waters Resort & Spa both have lodging. Nathan’s Hippy Dip Hot Spring is a free riverside soak in town.

Safety notes

• The climb out: It is short but steep. Carry water, especially on summer afternoons, and start back before dark.
• High water: The Piedra is cold and fast in runoff. Do not soak in pools that are being overtopped by the river, and keep children well back from the current.
• Hot spots: Some pockets of rock and mud are very hot. Test with your hand before you sit.
• Road: Blind curves and drop-offs on First Fork Road. Keep your speed down.
• Wildlife: This is black bear country. Store food properly if you camp.
• Remote: You are a long way from help. Tell someone your plan and download an offline map before you leave the highway.

Nearby stops worth adding

Chimney Rock National Monument is close to the First Fork Road turn on US 160. Its ruins and twin rock spires make a good pairing with a morning soak. The longer Piedra River Trail has its lower trailhead by the bridge at the end of First Fork Road and follows the river upstream through sandstone box canyons. It runs about 11 miles one way to an upper trailhead off Piedra Road north of Pagosa Springs.