Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa is a hidden gem in Colorado, located eight miles north of downtown Durango, a small city that is home to some of the best natural beauty and preserved history in the country with archaeological sites, a national park, four nearby national monuments, pristine lakes and rivers, and more.

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Visitors are drawn to the powerful healing properties of the natural mineral hot springs at Durango Hot Springs, which feature the perfect blend of minerals without sulphuric odor. Their thermal waters are the only natural hot springs in the world to infuse nano-meter and micro-meter oxygen bubbles, which increase the health benefits and purity of the natural waters.

In addition to 32 different hot springs mineral pools, there are also two cold plunges, five private Japanese-inspired cedar Ofuro soaking tubs, a resort-style swimming pool with mountain views, a mineral water rain tower, and a reflexology walking path.

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There is also an on-site spa, Durango Hot Springs Spa, which combines the benefits of natural mineral hot springs soaking with therapeutic massages and other spa treatments to offer guests a unique experience that balances and revitalizes the mind, body, and soul.

We chatted with Neal Yeager, Spa Manager at Durango Hot Springs Spa, to learn more about treatments to try, insider tips, and more.

Key Features: Guests love the atmosphere and our highly trained, experienced therapists and aestheticians. We're in a special part of Colorado, surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, atop mineral hot springs that have been used for thousands of years. There is a healing and youthful energy here.

The spa team works together to curate a menu of services to match and elevate that experience. From the warm welcome at the reception area, to the variety of services for each client’s needs, the entire spa team is devoted to creating a unique experience that revitalizes the mind, body and soul.

Key Features: Spa guests have access to the Trimble Club with upscale changing rooms, lockers, and showers. Here, guests can check in for their spa treatment, prepare for a soak, or relax with tea by the fire in the reception area. The spa currently has four treatment rooms, with plans to renovate and expand the spa area in the near future.

Insider’s Tip: Arrive early to get checked in and enjoy a longer soaking experience before treatments. Guests receive two hours of complimentary soaking with any spa service 50 minutes or longer.

Durango Hot Springs water contain 32 minerals naturally occurring in the human body. While soaking, the body absorbs these healthful minerals. The minerals circulate through the body providing relaxation, pain relief, improved skin, and other benefits. The resort is also the first to infuse the mineral water with nanobubbles of medical grade oxygen. This enhances the water’s ability to oxygenate the body and skin, aiding in skin repair and recovery. 

With 32 soaking pools, there are places to find personal space to relax and reflect quietly, or people watch and socialize. In the summer the resort hosts live music on select nights to bring the community together.

Bonus: Spa guests are provided plush robes, slippers and towels.

Snacks Served: There is a selection of complimentary teas, coffee, and lemon cucumber water available in the reception area. Wine, beer, frozen drinks, and snacks are available for purchase at the resort concession area.

Splurge Treatment: Adding a private Ofuro tub is a great way to splurge after a couples massage, or any of the spa treatments. Outside of the spa, there are five private Japanese Ofuro tubs with great views of the mountains and resort. The minimalist design invites bathers to unwind and soak with little to distract from the mountain air, pine trees, gardens, and wildlife. Each tub is filled before use with geothermal mineral water set to the guest’s personal temperature preference.

Unique Treatment: Contrast therapy, which involves alternating between hot and cold temperatures, is extremely popular. It's a wellness trend that has spread beyond the professional athletes that call Durango home. The hot phase relaxes and loosens muscles, while the cold phase decreases inflammation and soreness.

There are two cold plunge pools at the resort. Guests can spend 30 seconds to minutes in the cold plunge pool. Immersion in cold water improves circulation and reduces muscle inflammation. Then, to loosen the muscles again, alternate with hot mineral soaking.

Essentially, the Stone-Cold Fire is the hot-cold plunge in the form of a massage. The cooled stones cause blood vessels to shrink, squeezing toxins out of sore muscles and assisting in processing them out of the body and assisting in inflammation. The heated stones cause the blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow to the superficial regions of the body. This provides a “deeper,” more effective feeling massage without the heavy pressure.

Insider’s Favorite: The Athlete’s Rescue is an athletic-focused massage that includes full-body CBD lotion. It’s a good treatment for active people that uses compression and stretching to promote flexibility, circulation, muscle lengthening, and restoration.

Featured Products: For facial treatments, the spa features Eminence Organic Skin Care and Skin Authority. The spa uses BIOTONE Advanced Therapy Massage Lotion and a selection of CBD products. The spa also has signature Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa soap, conditioner, and shampoo.

For more information on Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @durangohotsprings.

[Photos courtesy of Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa]

Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa

6475 County Road 203

Durango, CO 81303

970-247-0111