Hot Sulphur Springs

Grand County, Colorado · Near Hot Sulphur Springs
40.0730°N, 106.1130°W · 7,723 ft
111°F 47°F air · Good soaking weather 7,723 ft Roadside Camping nearby (9.7 mi)

Hot Sulphur Springs, in Grand County, Colorado, is a hot spring half a mile out of the town of the same name, and the water on file reads 111 degrees. That is hot, above the comfortable soaking range for many people. A USGS site marks the spring. The record has no owner and no access status.

Location
39 miles from Idaho Springs, CO

Parshall Divide Road runs within about sixty feet, so this is a drive-up spring. Elevation is high, around 7,700 feet, and the climate matches: average temperature near 39, close to eight feet of snow most years, cool short summers. Willow Creek Group, roughly ten miles away, is as close as camping gets on file.

Winter gets the nod for best months. With the snow, that means counting on a plowed road into town. The water is hot enough to scald with prolonged contact, so test before you commit. No fee is on record here. Access unrecorded. Willow Creek Group is group camping by name, so check its rules before planning on it.

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 Hot Sulphur Springs.

Aerial view of the ground around Hot Sulphur Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Hot Sulphur 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.

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

A slice through the ground from south to north, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
132 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 83% 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
18°
Jan
21°
Feb
29°
Mar
35°
Apr
43°
May
57°
Jun
63°
Jul
62°
Aug
55°
Sep
40°
Oct
26°
Nov
17°
Dec
Annual Precip: 18.9 in Annual Snow: 94.0 in
Best Time to Visit
December Air 17°F · Water 111°F · +95° contrast
January Air 18°F · Water 111°F · +93° contrast
February Air 21°F · Water 111°F · +90° contrast
December offers 47°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
47°F
Mostly Cloudy N 0.0 mph 90% Good soaking weather
Today 70° Low 40° Chance Rain Showers 34% precip
Spring is +41° warmer
Wednesday 69° Low 41° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 43% precip
Spring is +42° warmer
Thursday 68° Low 38° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 72% precip
Spring is +43° warmer
Friday 67° Low 34° Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 36% precip
Spring is +44° warmer
Saturday 65° Low 32° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 24% precip
Spring is +46° warmer
Where to Stay

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Nearby Camping
Willow Creek Group 9.7 mi away

Overview Willow Creek Group Campground is located on Lake Granby, six miles north of Granby, in north central Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its great canoeing, kayaking, fishing and hiking opportunities.Recreation Willow Creek Reservoir is a 300-acre, no-wake lake. It is open to canoes, kayaks and other non-motorized boats. Anglers fish for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Willow Creek can be accessed nearby. National Fishing Week is held annually the first week in June. Numerous hiki...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Mile-High Advisory 7,723 ft

Hot Sulphur Springs sits at 7,723 feet above sea level, way above the mile-high mark. You may not feel the altitude strongly, but hot water still dehydrates you faster at elevation. UV is about 31% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
111°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 111°F (44°C)
Avg Air Temp 39°F
Above Ambient +72°F
Great soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road Parshall Divide Road
Distance to Road 58 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Hot Sulphur Springs?
Hot Sulphur Springs has a water temperature of 111°F (44°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Hot Sulphur Springs located?
Hot Sulphur Springs is located in Grand County, Colorado at 7,723 feet elevation, near Hot Sulphur Springs. Coordinates: 40.0730°N, 106.1130°W.
How do I get to Hot Sulphur Springs?
Hot Sulphur Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being Parshall Divide Road (58 ft from the road).
Can I camp near Hot Sulphur Springs?
Yes, Willow Creek Group is located nearby (9.7 miles away).
Is it safe to soak at Hot Sulphur Springs?
With care. At 111°F Hot Sulphur Springs is hot enough to need short sessions, fifteen to twenty minutes, and plenty of water. Enter slowly and get out if you feel light-headed.