Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado)

Rio Blanco County, Colorado · Near Rangely
40.5316°N, 108.9287°W
56°F air · Good soaking weather Open Hike NPS Camping nearby (3.4 mi)
Aerial view of the ground around Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado) LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado)
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.

The name says Moffat County and the record files it under Rio Blanco County. Either way this is a thermal point inside Dinosaur National Monument, on National Park Service land, with Rangely the closest town at thirty-odd miles. No temperature is recorded. Water chemistry from a 1983 sample runs alkaline with low dissolved solids. Access is open, subject to the monument's rules.

Location

Dry country. Annual precipitation comes in around a foot and snowfall a few feet. The average temperature is mild for Colorado. You reach the spring on foot, a little over a mile from the nearest road. Echo Park Campground sits about three and a half miles away, the natural base if you are already in that corner of the monument.

National monument rules apply. Echo Park is the listed campground. No best months appear in the record because no temperature does. Do not count on warm water. The 1983 sample is the only chemistry on file and it says nothing about heat. The walk in is over a mile each way on Park Service ground.

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 Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado).

Setting
Canyon floor
Steep ground climbs away on both sides of the spring.
Highest ground nearby
1,084 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from southwest to northeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Heat Below
89 milliwatts per square meter of heat flow

That's about 1½ times the US average of 65. It's higher than at 29% 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
22°
Jan
27°
Feb
39°
Mar
48°
Apr
59°
May
74°
Jun
81°
Jul
78°
Aug
69°
Sep
52°
Oct
38°
Nov
24°
Dec
Annual Precip: 12.0 in Annual Snow: 41.9 in
Current Conditions
56°F
N 0.0 mph 23% Good soaking weather
Today 78° Low 56° Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 36% precip
Wednesday 75° Low 57° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 26% precip
Thursday 73° Low 55° Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 53% precip
Friday 73° Low 52° Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 27% precip
Saturday 72° Low 51° Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 14% precip
Water Chemistry Sampled 1983-09-06

The water at Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado) is alkaline (pH 8.8) with 211 mg/L total dissolved solids. It is notably rich in magnesium (known for muscle relaxation and stress relief).

pH 8.8 Alkaline
pH influences mineral absorption through skin
Higher mineral concentration for therapeutic soaking
Calcium 35 mg/L
May support bone density and joint health
Magnesium 32 mg/L
Known for muscle relaxation and stress relief
Sodium 7 mg/L
Supports circulation and skin hydration
Sulfate 21 mg/L
Traditionally used for skin conditions and inflammation
Chloride 6 mg/L
Natural antiseptic with skin health benefits
Nearby Camping
Nearby Camping
Echo Park Campground 3.4 mi away

Overview Echo Park Campground is located adjacent to the Green River. There are vault toilets, drinking water spigots (seasonal), and a self-pay station. This location has both first-come first-served individual sites and a group site: Individual sites. Individual sites are all first come, first served.  Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a first-come first-served site. Once on site, you can pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using...

Reservable Yes
Reserve on Recreation.gov →
Temperature
No data recorded
Avg Air Temp 51°F
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 1.2 mi
Land
Ownership FED
Agency NPS
Designation NM
Unit Dinosaur National Monument
Manager NPS
Protection 1 - Permanently protected, managed for nature
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado) located?
Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado) is located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, near Rangely. Coordinates: 40.5316°N, 108.9287°W.
How do I get to Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado)?
Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado) has Hike road access (1.2 mi from the road).
Is Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado) free to visit?
Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado) has Open access. It is managed by NPS.
Can I camp near Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado)?
Yes, Echo Park Campground is located nearby (3.4 miles away).
What minerals are in the water at Warm Springs (Moffat County, Colorado)?
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride. The pH is 8.8 (alkaline). Total dissolved solids measure 211 mg/L.
Sources: USGS NWIS, Wikipedia