Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs

Garfield County, Colorado · Near Carbondale
39.2478°N, 107.2372°W
Roadside Camping nearby (3.7 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs is on file for Garfield County, Colorado, ten miles from Carbondale, as a named spring with a 1975 USGS water sample and no temperature reading. The name includes both ranch and hot, and the record has nothing on temperature or ownership. Redstone campground is under four miles away.

Location
21 miles from Glenwood Springs, CO

Forty feet off a road the record does not name. Snowfall is heavy, 105 inches in an average winter, with about two feet of total precipitation. A yearly average in the mid forties. No elevation is on record, no land unit, no designation, so the setting beyond the weather is a blank, and Carbondale is the only town attached.

There are no listed best months. Nearly nine feet of snow annually means the road matters more than the spring in winter. Camp at Redstone. Fees: none on record. The 1975 sample showed alkaline water with iron and sulfate in the mix. Temperature and access both need confirming from some other source.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs.

Setting
Hillside
The spring sits on a steep slope that climbs to the west.
Highest ground nearby
499 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the west
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Heat Below
157 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 2½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 95% of the springs on this site.

Heat flow measures the warmth working its way up through the ground from deep inside the earth. Where it runs high, rain and snowmelt that seep down through cracks in the rock come back up hot.

Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.

Monthly Climate
23°
Jan
26°
Feb
34°
Mar
40°
Apr
48°
May
63°
Jun
68°
Jul
66°
Aug
59°
Sep
45°
Oct
31°
Nov
22°
Dec
Annual Precip: 24.9 in Annual Snow: 104.5 in
Current Conditions
Today 76° Low 50° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 37% precip
Wednesday 76° Low 50° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 55% precip
Thursday 75° Low 48° Showers And Thunderstorms 75% precip
Friday 74° Low 45° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 74% precip
Saturday 74° Low 44° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 44% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 1975-04-26

The water at Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs is alkaline (pH 8.6).

pH 8.6 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 37 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 28 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 16 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 18 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 2 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 30 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Redstone 3.7 mi away

Overview Redstone Campground is set amidst a scattering of aspen groves on a ridge above the Crystal River at 7,800 feet, creating an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in White River National Forest. Sites in the campground are widely spaced and offer wonderful views of red rock outcroppings and cliffs, though an understory of tall grass and a scattered forest provides plenty of privacy.Recreation Crystal River, a tributary of Roaring Fork River, is renowned for its...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
No data recorded
Avg Air Temp 44°F
Access
Road Access Roadside
Distance to Road 40 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs located?
Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs is located in Garfield County, Colorado, near Carbondale. Coordinates: 39.2478°N, 107.2372°W.
How do I get to Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs?
Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs has Roadside road access (40 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs?
Yes, Redstone is located nearby (3.7 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 8.6 (alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia