SunWater Spa

What to expect

SunWater Spa is a soaking spa, not a hot spring pool. You book a private cedar tub for 90 minutes, and staff fill it with mineral water from 7 Minute Spring, one of the historic springs that gave Manitou Springs its name. The water is heated for the tubs, which are set between 99°F and 104°F37°C and 40°C. It is a good option if you want a quiet, private soak with a view of the mountains above town, and less so if you want a big shared pool or natural hot water.

The tubs are spread across open-air decks on three levels at 514 El Paso Boulevard, with one more tub up the hill. Most face west or southwest toward the foothills of Pikes Peak, and several are named after the peaks you can see from them. The spa describes the whole place as a whisper zone, so expect low voices and few phones.

Every soak includes the traditional sauna, two cold plunges and the indoor saline pools on the ground floor. The spa also runs massage, skincare and a daily schedule of yoga and other classes. It was founded by Don Goede and Kat Tudor, and a 2022 local news story described it as being in its seventh year.

The water

Manitou Springs sits on a cluster of mineral springs. Local reporting counts eight running through town, and you can taste several of them at public fountains on a self-guided walk. Some taste like plain water with an earthy edge, others more like tonic or soda water. 7 Minute Spring got its name, according to the Mineral Springs Foundation, because the newly drilled well once threw up a small geyser every seven minutes.

SunWater draws its tub water from that spring. The spa describes it as karst aquifer water that picks up minerals as it moves through cracks and faults in the rock. The spa heats it to soaking temperature. Treat it as a mineral bath rather than geothermal water.

The tubs

The operator lists these tubs, most for up to four people:

• Third level: Cameron Cone (up to six, call to book a larger group), Sugarloaf Mountain and Red Mountain, plus Mount Rosa, a two-person Japanese-style ofuro tub with no jets.
• Second level: Sheep Mountain, Iron Mountain, Eagle Mountain and Raspberry Mountain. Eagle and Raspberry are shaded by sails in summer, and Raspberry overlooks Memorial Park.
• Ground level: Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mountain and 7 Minute Spring, next to the sauna, saline pools and garden. Rocky Mountain is the spa’s limited ADA-accessible tub.
• Mary’s Mountain: A separate tub up the hill from the main decks with its own private dry sauna for two.

Upper-level tubs have the widest views. If stairs are a problem, ask for a ground-level tub when you book.

Getting there

Manitou Springs is at the foot of Pikes Peak, just west of Colorado Springs. From I-25, take US 24 west toward Manitou Springs and Woodland Park, and follow the signs into town. SunWater Spa is at 514 El Paso Boulevard, near the east end of town by Memorial Park, a few minutes from US 24.

Parking is the main hassle. Manitou Springs enforces paid city parking from 7am to 6pm, and it is free after 6pm. There are on-street spaces on the south and west sides of the building, and rates vary by block. On busy summer weekends, give yourself extra time to find a space, or walk in from wherever you are staying in town.

When to go

The spa is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm and closed on Mondays. It runs all year.

Mornings are quieter and cheaper. The early-bird soak at 8am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is $28 per person. Evenings are popular, especially in winter when steam rises off the tubs, and parking is free after 6pm. Summer weekends are when Manitou is at its busiest, and tubs book out, so reserve ahead.

Prices and booking

• Standard soak: Priced per person for a 90-minute private tub. The operator shows current rates when you book online, and prices can vary by tub.
• Early bird: $28 per person for an 8am soak, Tuesday to Thursday. Not available for Mary’s Mountain.
• Locals: Manitou Springs residents get discounted soaks on Wednesdays with proof of residency.
• Groups: Tubs hold up to four people in most cases. Call (719) 695-7007 for larger groups.
• Discounts: Colorado’s tourism office lists military and senior discounts.
• Cancellations: No refunds within 24 hours of the appointment. If you book two or more services, the window is 48 hours.

Age rules: Guests must be 14 or older. Minors aged 14 to 17 need a parent or guardian present for the whole soak, and one adult can supervise no more than three minors.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuit or clothing at all times in the soaking areas.
• Zero tolerance for alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes and illegal drugs. The spa points out that heat and altitude make their effects stronger.
• Keep it quiet. The decks are a whisper zone.
• Bring your own towel if you can. Towels can be borrowed or bought, and a robe and towel are provided if you book a soak plus another spa service.

Where to stay nearby

SunWater does not have its own lodging. Manitou Springs has small hotels, inns and vacation rentals within walking distance of the spa, and Colorado Springs, a short drive east, has the full range of hotels. For camping, Pike National Forest campgrounds lie up US 24 toward Woodland Park.

Safety notes

• Altitude: Manitou Springs is above 6,000 feet. Hot water and altitude together can make you dizzy. Drink water and cool off between soaks.
• Hot and cold: Move between the tubs, sauna and cold plunges slowly, and skip the plunges if you have heart problems.
• Pregnancy and health: Ask your doctor before soaking if you are pregnant or have a medical condition.
• Wet decks and stairs: The tubs are on several levels connected by stairs, which can be slick.

Nearby stops worth adding

Walk the Manitou Springs mineral springs and taste the different fountains. Garden of the Gods, with its red sandstone fins, is a short drive away, and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway leaves from Manitou. If you want a geothermal soak in the region, Desert Reef Hot Springs near Florence and Dakota Hot Springs at Penrose are both south of Colorado Springs, near Cañon City.