Rhodes Warm Springs

What to expect

Rhodes Warm Springs is a name in the federal records, not a place you can visit for a soak. The US Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System lists it as a spring in Park County, and Wikipedia’s list of Colorado hot springs repeats that entry, placing it near Fairplay with access by Warm Springs Road. The USGS mineral resources database carries the same spring under the name Rhodes Hot Springs, with “Rhodes Warm Springs” as its alternate name.

That database is where the only hard numbers come from. It cites an old Colorado Geological Survey inventory of the state’s geothermal resources, which recorded the water at 79°F26°C (about 79°F26°C) and the flow at around 250 gallons per minute. A spring at that temperature would feel cool to most people expecting a hot soak, closer to a heated swimming pool.

Beyond that, there is nothing. We found no developed pool, no operator, no Forest Service or BLM recreation page and no trip reports from people who have soaked here. The database itself warns that its locations have not been checked for accuracy and that sites should be assumed to be on private property.

Who owns the land

When we checked the mapped coordinates against the Bureau of Land Management’s national surface management data, the point falls on private land. OpenStreetMap places the same point on Warm Springs Road, a local road in the rural residential area southwest of Fairplay. Federal coordinates can be off by a few hundred feet, but nothing suggests there is public land around the spring.

That is why this listing is marked as not open. If a landowner ever opens the spring to visitors, or a public agency documents access, we will update it.

Why it is on our list

Hot spring directories often build their lists from federal map data, which is how cool, undeveloped springs like this one end up on soaking lists. A name in the federal database only means that a feature was recorded there. It does not mean the water is warm enough to enjoy, that anyone has built a pool, or that the public can reach it.

The published details do not even agree on the basics. Wikipedia’s list gives an elevation of about 10,200 feet, while the USGS mineral database lists 9,800 feet. Neither entry describes a pool. We include the spring so anyone who finds the name elsewhere gets a straight answer before driving to South Park.

Getting there

There is no public site to drive to, and no signed parking area, trail or pullout. For orientation only: the mapped point is roughly 5 miles southwest of Fairplay in a straight line, in the high, open basin of South Park, with the Mosquito Range rising to the west. Fairplay sits on US Highway 285 and Colorado Highway 9.

Warm Springs Road serves private homes. Do not drive onto private roads or walk onto fenced or posted land to search for the spring. Colorado landowners have strong trespass protections, and residents in rural subdivisions notice unfamiliar cars quickly.

When to go

Because there is no public site, there is no best time to visit. For context, this is some of the highest inhabited country in Colorado, at around 10,000 feet. Winters in South Park are long, cold and windy, and snow is possible in any month. The main travel season for hiking and camping around Fairplay runs from about June to September.

Rules and access

• Treat the spring as private. Federal land-status data places it on private land. Ask the owner before entering any private parcel.
• Do not trespass to look for it. Fences, gates and signs mean what they say.
• No facilities. There is no parking, toilet, trash service or pool.
• On public land nearby, follow posted rules and current fire restrictions, and pack out your trash.

Where to stay nearby

Fairplay is the closest town, with motels, cabins, restaurants and fuel. It is also home to South Park City, an outdoor museum of restored mining-era buildings. Alma, a few miles north on Highway 9, is a smaller base below Hoosier Pass. National forest campgrounds in the Pike National Forest lie in the mountains around South Park. Check Recreation.gov or the South Park Ranger District for season dates and fees.

Safety notes

• Altitude: At around 10,000 feet, altitude sickness is a real risk for visitors coming from low elevation. Drink water and take it easy on the first day.
• Weather: Summer afternoon thunderstorms and lightning are common in South Park, and winter brings blowing snow and very cold nights.
• Water quality: Unmanaged springs can carry bacteria. Do not drink untreated spring water or put your head under it.
• Private land: Respect closures and signs. Trespassing is the most likely way a visit here goes wrong.

Soaking alternatives nearby

If you came to South Park hoping for hot water, head southwest to the Upper Arkansas Valley, where there are several developed springs with clear access rules. Antero Hot Springs Cabins near Nathrop offers private soaks for cabin guests. In Salida, the city-run Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center has a hot soaking pool and private tubs open to the public. East of the Sawatch Range, Swissvale Warm Springs is another warm spring worth checking, so read its listing for access first.