Rico 2
Rico 2 is a numbered thermal point in San Miguel County, close to nineteen miles from Mountain Village and a stone's throw off Saint Lewis Road. There is no temperature in the record and no water chemistry. Ownership and access are blank. It sits high, near 8,800 feet.
Roadside, about sixty-five yards from Saint Lewis Road. At that elevation this is high country with deep winters, well over ten feet of snow, and a wet year. Cayton Campground is the nearest on record, a little under six miles away.
Nothing is listed for best months. No temperature has been recorded, so do not plan a soak around this one. Snow this deep is likely to close the road for a stretch of winter, so confirm Saint Lewis Road is passable. Ownership is unknown.
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 Rico 2.
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
- Canyon floor
- Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
- Highest ground nearby
- 620 ft above the spring
- Within a quarter mile, to the east
A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
That's about twice the US average of 65. It's higher than at 71% 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.
See every spring on the geothermal heat map →
Heat flow estimate: Stanford Thermal Earth Model (Aljubran & Horne, 2024), CC BY 4.0.
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Overview Cayton Campground is located along the San Juan Skyway (Colorado Highway 145) and the Dolores River. Visitors enjoy the area for its great fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities.Recreation The Dolores River is a popular fishing destination that can often be crowded on summer weekends. Anglers will find rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. The area boasts some excellent trails. The Colorado Trail follows the ridge across Bolam Pass. The Lizard Head and Cross Mountain Trails...
At 8,777 feet, Rico 2 is in high-altitude territory where the air is noticeably thinner. Soaking in hot water accelerates dehydration and can amplify altitude effects like headache and fatigue. UV radiation is roughly 35% stronger here. Wear sunscreen even on overcast days and take breaks from the water to rehydrate.
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Rico 2 is road-accessible, so you can bring more gear. Cold air temperatures make a changing robe or warm layers essential.
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