Splashland Hot Springs Swimming Pool

What to expect

Splashland is a summer swimming pool, not a quiet soaking spot. Think of a classic 1950s town pool, with lap lanes, a diving board, slides and kids everywhere, except that the water is geothermal and warmer than any normal outdoor pool at 7,500 feet in the San Luis Valley.

The pool is large. Accounts put it at about 150 feet long, with a 2018 Colorado Springs Gazette feature calling it the largest geothermal pool in the valley. Half of it is shallow, and the deep end reaches about 10 feet under the diving board. Hot water enters at about 102-104°F39-40°C and spreads out across the pool, which usually sits somewhere around 88-96°F31-36°C. On a cool morning, that feels warm. On a hot July afternoon, it feels like a lukewarm bath.

Recent renovations added a new pool building, a food court or concession stand, shade cabanas and picnic tables. There are three water slides, BBQ grills and tube rentals. Colorado’s tourism office lists the facility as ADA accessible, but call ahead if you need specific access details.

The water

Splashland is fed by two wells drilled about 40 feet apart and roughly 2,800 feet deep, just west of the pool, according to the Colorado Geological Survey. The survey recorded the well water at about 104°F40°C. Accounts of how the wells came about differ. One local history credits rancher Lloyd Jones with deciding to use the artesian hot water on his land after hearing about children drowning in irrigation ditches and the Rio Grande. Other sources say the owners hit the hot water while drilling for oil. Either way, the pool opened on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1955, under the name “Jones’ Splashland”, which was picked from more than 400 contest entries.

Outside the swim season, the well water does other work. The geological survey notes that in winter it heats the surrounding ranch buildings and supplies their hot water.

History

Jones ran the pool for more than three decades. In the 1950s, a season pass cost $10 for swimming four days a week, and large families paid no more than $50. Later owners struggled with running costs, and the pool closed for two seasons before reopening in 2010. It now runs as Splashland LLC and hosts swim lessons, water aerobics and an annual benefit sprint triathlon in the fall, with a 400-yard swim in the pool.

Getting there

Splashland is at 5895 State Highway 17, about 1 mile north of Alamosa.

• From Alamosa: Head north out of town on Highway 17. The pool is beside the highway shortly after you leave town.
• From Salida or Denver: Take US 285 south over Poncha Pass into the San Luis Valley, then pick up Highway 17 south toward Moffat, Hooper and Mosca. Splashland is beside the highway just before you reach Alamosa.
• From the west: US 160 from Del Norte and Monte Vista reaches Alamosa directly.

There is on-site parking, including space for buses. The pool is right off the paved highway, so access is easy in any car.

When to go

Splashland is a summer-only operation. The season usually starts around Memorial Day and ends in late August or mid-September. For 2026, the operator listed May 25 to August 31. If you are visiting in fall, winter or spring, it will be closed, and that is normal, not a closure.

Within the season, schedules shift. Lap swim is offered on weekday mornings from 6 to 9am, and open swim generally runs from late morning or midday until 7pm, Monday to Saturday. The Alamosa chamber also lists swim lessons on weekday mornings and family nights from 5 to 7pm. A 2018 account said the pool closed on Mondays for cleaning, while newer listings show Sunday as the day off. Call (719) 589-6258 to check. Some listings also give (719) 298-0662.

Afternoons in the valley can bring wind and thunderstorms, so mornings and early afternoons are often the most comfortable time to swim.

Prices and booking

We could not find a current official price list, and the operator’s website was not responding when we checked in October 2026. The most recent published figures, from Rio Grande County tourism in 2023, were:

• Adults: $12
• Kids: $6
• Seniors: $5

Splashland also sells 5-, 10- and 20-day punch passes, an extended season lap pass, couples lap passes, family night specials, and group and party rates. Military and senior discounts are offered. Group rentals run Monday to Saturday from 7 to 10pm, after the pool closes to the public, and should be booked at least two days ahead.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits required. This is a family pool.
• Outside food and drink are allowed, but no alcohol and no glass.
• Watch your kids. The deep end under the diving board is about 10 feet deep.
• Slides: Follow the attendant’s directions on the slides and keep clear of the landing area.

Where to stay nearby

Alamosa, a couple of minutes south, has chain hotels, motels and restaurants along Main Street and US 160. It is the main service town for the San Luis Valley.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is northeast of Alamosa and makes a good pairing with a swim, since the pool is warm after a cold morning on Medano Creek or a long climb up the dunes. The park’s Piñon Flats Campground is the classic place to camp, and there is lodging just outside the park entrance. The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, south of town, is a good stop for birding.

Safety notes

• Sun and altitude: Alamosa is about 7,500 feet up. The sun is strong, so use sunscreen and drink water.
• Diving: Only dive in the deep end under the board.
• Weather: Lightning storms build quickly in summer. Leave the water when staff call it.
• Warm water, not hot: At 88-96°F31-36°C, the pool is fine for long swims, but small children can still tire quickly in warm water.

Other geothermal pools in the valley

The San Luis Valley has several more warm water stops. Further north on Highway 17, near Hooper, is the Sand Dunes Pool, another pool fed by a deep hot water well. At the north end of the valley, Valley View Hot Springs has natural soaking ponds on the slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with strict booking rules and clothing-optional pools.