Juniper Hot Springs

Moffat County, Colorado · Near Craig
40.4670°N, 107.9520°W · 5,990 ft
100°F 5,990 ft Roadside
Aerial view of the ground around Juniper Hot Springs LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Juniper 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.

Up in Moffat County, twenty-one miles from Craig, Juniper Hot Springs comes out of the ground at body heat, a soaking-warm temperature in the record. County Road 53 runs past within a few dozen yards. Land owner and public access are both missing, so who controls the spring is unknown from this data.

Location

The approach is roadside off County Road 53. The country here is dry, with modest snow and about a foot of rain a year, and the elevation is under six thousand feet. Craig is the only town the record names, and it is not close. No campground is attached to this point. The land columns are all empty.

The season ranking points to winter. Soaking warm means you can sit in it without tempering, assuming you have a right to be there, which the record does not establish. No campground is listed nearby. The 1976 sample shows mildly alkaline water. Check land status before driving out.

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 Juniper Hot Springs.

Setting
Gentle slope
The ground tilts gently up to the southwest.
Highest ground nearby
97 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
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
64 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's close to the US average of 65. It's higher than at 2% 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
17°
Jan
22°
Feb
33°
Mar
43°
Apr
54°
May
70°
Jun
76°
Jul
73°
Aug
64°
Sep
47°
Oct
33°
Nov
18°
Dec
Annual Precip: 13.4 in Annual Snow: 44.5 in
Best Time to Visit
January Air 17°F · Water 100°F · +83° contrast
December Air 18°F · Water 100°F · +82° contrast
February Air 22°F · Water 100°F · +78° contrast
January offers 59°F more contrast than July
Current Conditions
NNE 21.6 mph
Today 78° Low 44° Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 36% precip
Spring is +22° warmer
Wednesday 75° Low 45° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 32% precip
Spring is +25° warmer
Thursday 74° Low 42° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 56% precip
Spring is +26° warmer
Friday 73° Low 38° Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 29% precip
Spring is +27° warmer
Saturday 71° Low 36° Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 22% precip
Spring is +29° warmer
Water Chemistry Sampled 1976-04-08

The water at Juniper Hot Springs is slightly alkaline (pH 7.9). It is notably rich in sodium (supports circulation and skin hydration).

pH 7.9 Slightly Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Calcium 3 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 0 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 460 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 13 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 90 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Iron 20 µg/L
Iron-rich springs may support circulation
Mile-High Advisory 5,990 ft

Juniper Hot Springs sits at 5,990 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 24% stronger than at sea level, so bring sunscreen and drink more water than you normally would.

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Temperature
100°F
Warm Hot Boiling
Water Temp 100°F (38°C)
Avg Air Temp 46°F
Above Ambient +54°F
Good soaking conditions September
Access
Road Access Roadside
Nearest Road County Road 53
Distance to Road 65 ft
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Juniper Hot Springs?
Juniper Hot Springs has a water temperature of 100°F (38°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.
Where is Juniper Hot Springs located?
Juniper Hot Springs is located in Moffat County, Colorado at 5,990 feet elevation, near Craig. Coordinates: 40.4670°N, 107.9520°W.
How do I get to Juniper Hot Springs?
Juniper Hot Springs has Roadside road access, with the nearest road being County Road 53 (65 ft from the road).
What minerals are in the water at Juniper Hot Springs?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.9 (slightly alkaline).
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia