Waunita Hot Springs Ranch

What to expect

Waunita Hot Springs Ranch sits at 8,946 feet in a quiet valley east of Gunnison, about 10 miles west of the Continental Divide. The ranch buildings stand at the edge of the forest, looking across open pasture to Tomichi Dome, with Gunnison National Forest land on most sides. There is very little traffic, and the only neighbors are usually deer and elk.

The hot spring feeds one big pool. It measures 35 by 90 feet, which the ranch says makes it one of the largest private swimming pools in Colorado, and it is filled entirely with natural hot spring water. Depending on the season it sits at about 95 to 102°F35 to 39°C: warm enough to soak, cool enough to actually swim laps. Next to it are a bathhouse with men’s and women’s changing areas and showers, and hot tubs held at 100 to 104°F38 to 40°C. The newest addition is a pair of soaking tubs beside the creek.

This is a family-owned ranch, not a spa. The mood is relaxed and rural, with a front lawn for softball and cornhole, a barn that serves as a meeting and dance hall, a billiard room and library in the main ranch house, and a few resident dogs, cats and ducks.

History

The ranch tells its own history. The area was Ute country before it was homesteaded in the late 1880s, and by around 1900 Waunita Hot Springs was well known for its water. For a time a Chicago doctor, Charles Davis, owned it and brought patients out for summers of bathing. During the Depression it changed hands several times, and in the 1950s it hosted the Monarch Baseball Camp.

The Pringle family bought the property in 1962, driving out from Texas, and ran it as a full-service dude ranch from 1965 to 2016. After the summer of 2016 they moved away from week-long guest-ranch stays to a year-round model built around group rentals, weddings, retreats and vacation stays. The ranch site is also the historic town site of Waunita Hot Springs, which is why the name appears on most Colorado road maps.

Prices and booking

Day use (pool rates page, checked October 2026):

• Adults: $25
• Students and seniors 65 and over: $20
• Kids 3 to 11: $15
• Kids 2 and under: free
• Towel rental: $2

Day use is limited. The ranch is booked by private groups much of the time, and the pool is closed to day visitors on those dates. Always call 970-641-1266 or email info@waunita.com before you drive out, and check the ranch and pool calendar on the website.

Lodging only, per night:

• Single $165, double $195, three in a room $225, four $255, five $285.
• Includes your room, unlimited use of the hot springs pool, and coffee, tea and snacks. Bring simple, ready-made food for meals.

Group rentals (DIY meals, using the ranch’s commercial kitchen): $2,500 a night for up to 25 guests in 2026, $2,800 in 2027 and $3,100 in 2028, plus $50 for each extra guest. Children 2 and under are free. Catered breakfast and dinner can be added at $70 per adult per day, $50 for children 8 to 13 and $35 for children 3 to 7. Lodging tax is 8.9% and meal tax 4.9%. Groups pay a non-refundable 25% deposit at booking and the balance 60 days before arrival. Most bookings are groups of 25 or more, but individual rooms are available on some dates.

Rules and etiquette

The ranch posts a short code of conduct for the pool:

• Swimsuits are required.
• No drugs, no alcohol, no smoking and no vaping at the pool.
• Family atmosphere. Everyone is welcome unless their behavior affects other guests.
• Pets: leave them at home if you are coming for a day soak.

For overnight guests, all rooms are non-smoking, and parties, marijuana and drugs are not allowed. Beer and wine are fine in moderation in your room and in an adults-only area before dinner, but not in public areas or at the hot springs.

Getting there

The ranch is at 8007 County Road 887, about 27 miles east of Gunnison by the ranch’s own count (some regional guides say 26).

• From Gunnison: Drive east on US 50 to mile post 176 and turn north onto County Road 887. Follow it up to the ranch.
• From Denver: Take US 285 about 200 miles to US 50 at Poncha Springs, then go west on US 50 over Monarch Pass to mile post 176 and turn north on County Road 887.
• From Colorado Springs: Drive about 150 miles west on US 50 to mile post 176 and turn north.

Two warnings from the ranch: do not turn onto County Road 888, and do not trust GPS for the last part of the route. Use the mile post and the county road number. Gunnison has a regional airport if you are flying in.

When to go

The ranch is open year-round, but private bookings decide when you can soak. Check the calendar first.

Winter is a strong time for a visit. Monarch Mountain, known for its natural snowfall and easy, car-to-lift setup, is over the pass to the east, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort is north of Gunnison. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are all close. A soak in the big warm pool after a cold day is the point of coming.

Summer and fall bring hiking, mountain biking and ATV riding on the forest roads just past the ranch gate, rafting on the Taylor and Gunnison rivers, and fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, which the ranch calls the largest reservoir in Colorado. These are also the busiest months for weddings and reunions, so day use can be hard to get.

Where to stay nearby

• On site: rooms in the historic Ranch House, upstairs above the dining hall, and in the Hillside Lodge, which has two sections of four rooms or two family units. Every room has a private bathroom.
• Gunnison: about 27 miles west, with motels, restaurants and full services.
• Salida and Poncha Springs: east over Monarch Pass, with more lodging and the city-run Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center.
• Camping: the surrounding Gunnison National Forest has Forest Service campgrounds and dispersed sites. Check fire rules in summer.

Safety notes

• Altitude: the ranch is at 8,946 feet. The pool is mild, but the hot tubs at up to 104°F40°C plus altitude can leave you lightheaded. Drink water.
• Winter driving: Monarch Pass on US 50 can be snowy and icy, and County Road 887 is a rural road. Carry winter gear and check conditions.
• Remoteness: the ranch is a long way from town services. Arrive with fuel and food, especially if you are self-catering.
• Wildlife: deer and elk are common around the property, especially at dusk on the county road.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Gunnison Pioneer Museum in Gunnison is a good rainy-day stop. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a longer drive west past Blue Mesa Reservoir. If you want another soak on the way east, the Chalk Creek valley near Nathrop, south of Buena Vista, has several spring-fed rentals, including Treehouse Hot Springs.