Honest Review of Our Visit to Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Josiah and I (Ashley) visited Strawberry Park Hot Springs on January 2, 2025 (my 40th birthday!) while on a vacation to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

I’m the kind of person who likes to know exactly what to expect so I can know how to prepare, but I had trouble finding answers to all my questions before our visit, so I decided to write this blog post both to share about our visit and to help others who are planning a visit have a better idea of what to expect.

What is there to do at Strawberry Park Hot Springs?

The main activity at Strawberry Hot Springs is soaking in the various natural spring-fed pools. There are four large pools and a few other small pools which vary in temperature.

One of the larger hot pools is around 120° F (49° C), and it flows into the next warmest pool, which is around 105 F (40° C). Next to that is a cold pool, which our driver said is around 50° F (10° C), and then there is one more cold pool which is cold enough that it had large chunks of ice floating in it.

When I use a hot tub, I’m usually ready to get out after about 15 minutes, so before we went I was actually a little worried that I would get tired of being in the hot spring and then would have nothing to do but sit outside in the cold until time to go, but I needn’t have worried. Just going back and forth between the various pools easily filled up the hour and half or so that we were there.

One thing to know is that there is no cell service or WiFi at the hot springs, so you’ll be totally disconnected from the outside world while you are there.

How was it visiting in January?

Winter is an ideal time to visit Strawberry Park Hot Springs. The snow on the trees and rocks is beautiful, and the chilly air provides the perfect contrast to the steamy pools. During our visit the air temperature was around 33° F (1° C), but just two days before we had soaked in the hot tub at our condo while it was 13° F outside (-10° C) and that was nice too, so I really don’t think we would have enjoyed the experience any less if it had been colder.

You might feel cold in your bathing suit before getting into the warm water, but as soon as you’re in the water, the air temperature feels refreshing. After you’ve been soaking for a while, getting out truly doesn’t feel much different from stepping out of a hot shower into a room temperature bathroom or out of a swimming pool on a mild summer day.

After our long soak in the steamy pools, with a few quick dips in the cold pool in between, we left feeling refreshed and totally relaxed.

Experiencing the cold pool

Our shuttle driver told us that the best way to experience the full health benefits of the hot springs was to spend time in the cold pools as well as the hot pools. He recommended that we go into the cold pools at least three times, for at least 20 seconds each time, and then back to the hot pool. (Note from Josiah – Ashley heard what she wanted to hear. I heard him say we should get in the cold water for at least 1 but ideally 2 minutes and we should do it ideally 5 times :D).

Having tried a cold plunge a few times in the past, I’m not a fan, and for reference, I’m also the kind of person that refuses to swim in a swimming pool any colder than 70 degrees, but our driver promised that we would feel great if we would follow his method, and that each dip in the cold pool would get easier, so I decided to give it a try (in the 55 degree pool–I had no intention of going in the icy pool).

My first dip into the cold pool only lasted about 2 seconds. As soon as my shoulders went under, I was quickly scrambling for the stairs and almost injured myself trying to climb out and get back into the hot pool as fast as possible.

On my second attempt, I took it a lot slower, standing with my legs in the cold water for a minute or so before going in up to my neck. That time I experienced the interesting phenomenon of my body acclimating to the cold water. It took about 20 seconds, but then my skin started to feel numb and the cold water became almost tolerable. I stayed in for over a minute before returning to the hot pool.

My third time in the cold pool I didn’t acclimate as quickly as I did the second time, so I only stayed in for about 30 seconds and then decided I was done. Josiah spent 2-3 minutes in the cold pool each time, and many others swam around in it for several minutes.

The contrast between the hot and cold pools was invigorating, and I recommend it for anyone who’s up for the challenge. It also made the visit more interesting.

Where is Strawberry Park Hot Springs?

Strawberry Park Hot Springs is located just outside the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, just ten miles from the ski resort. It takes 20-25 minutes to drive there from the resort, but in winter the steep mountain road is covered with ice and snow and can be treacherous, so taking a shuttle is recommended if you don’t have a vehicle equipped for the weather.

How to get to Strawberry Park Hot Springs

If you are visiting in warm weather or have a 4-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires (which is required by law from November 1 to May 1), the drive to the hot springs is fairly easy: take Amethyst Drive (which turns into Routt County Road 36) north out of town about 7 miles until it ends at the hot springs park. Just to be safe, I would recommend making sure you’ve downloaded a map of the area because there is no cellular service once you get outside of town.

The other option for getting the the hot springs is to take a shuttle, which is what we did. We went with The Hot Springs Shuttle; there is another shuttle service called Sweet Pea Tours. Both offer great service and have good reviews.

Your admission fee is included with the price of the shuttle service, so bringing cash is not necessary if you take the shuttle as long as you remember to bring a bottle of water to drink. Tipping the driver / guide at the end of the trip is suggested. Our driver offered the option to tip with Venmo for those who didn’t bring cash.

How bad is the road to Strawberry Hot Springs?

You may be wondering how bad the road is, and whether your vehicle can make it. When we went on January 2, the road, which winds up a mountain, was totally covered with ice and snow. Here’s a picture I took to give you an idea of what to expect:

How long does the whole trip take?

The whole trip to the hot springs and back, including time on the shuttle, takes around 3 hours. We were picked up at our AirBnb near Steamboat Resort at 1:15 p.m. and dropped off at 4:09 p.m. We were the first to be picked up and the last to be dropped off, and our shuttle made two other stops. The trip may be slightly shorter or longer depending on who else needs to be picked up and where. If I correctly recall, the shuttle had seats for 16 passengers.

How far in advance do I need to book?

I would recommend making a reservation to visit the hot springs 2-3 weeks in advance to make sure you can get the date and time you want, especially if you are visiting on a holiday or weekend. However, you may still be able to get a reservation even just a day or two before your visit. At the time I’m writing this, on Friday evening, Jan. 3, there are still plenty of times available for tomorrow (Saturday).

You do not need to pay at the time of booking if you are driving there yourself; in that case you will pay the admission fee in cash upon arrival. If you book a shuttle, you do have to pay up front, and your admission fee is included.

How crowded are the pools?

One thing I wondered before our visit was how close we would be to other guests. The pools were actually pretty crowded, and at all times we were in close proximity to other people, but there was still plenty of space to relax and I never felt like the pools were too crowded or that the number of people was a problem.

What are the facilities like?

I was surprised to find that the bathroom was very nice and the stalls spacious. Even though the women’s restroom had only 3 stalls, there was no line when I changed before and after getting into the pools. There was also a hand dryer which was useful when my jeans accidentally got dropped into a puddle.

There is a “changing cabin” right next to the pools, but I didn’t go inside because it appeared to be very crowded. I wore my swimsuit under my clothes to the hot spring and changed in the bathroom afterward.

Are there lockers? Where can I put my stuff while soaking in the hot springs?

You will have to bring all your stuff with you down to the hot springs; there is no locker or storage area.

There are quite a few wooden chairs around the pools, so we put our stuff on one of them, even though it was wet.

I would recommend bringing a bag that is waterproof instead of one made from mesh or fabric, but you could also put your bag on top of your towel. I do not believe theft is a high concern, but would not bring anything of value just to be safe.

Is it better to go during the day or at night?

Strawberry Hot Springs is “clothing optional” at night, and only adults are allowed. For some people, that might be reason enough to go at night, while for others that might be the number one reason to go during the day, when the park is family-friendly. (Note from Josiah – Our Uber driver one day gave us a light warning about going after dark that we might have to be on the lookout for “feral” locals… I probably should have known better than to ask “how feral”, haha, but I thought that was a funny way to put it.)

Alcohol, smoking, vaping, and marijuana use are not allowed during the day or at night, but I’m sure that doesn’t stop some people from sneaking it in or using it just before their visit.

We chose to go during the day because I wanted to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the natural setting in the snowy woods.

If I were to visit in summer, I think I might prefer to go at night to enjoy the stars, and because the hot springs might be too warm during the day.

One thing to note: at night there is no lighting around the hot springs, so if you do decide to go at night, it’s recommended to bring a flashlight so you don’t slip and fall on the rocks.

How much of a hike is it to the hot springs?

You don’t have to hike far to access the hot springs–the restrooms and hot springs are both visible from the parking lot–but there is some walking involved.

However, you may have to walk across snow and ice to get to the hot springs, so footwear with some type of tread is recommended, especially if you’re visiting at night. You’ll also want to be able to easily slip on shoes after stepping out of the hot springs to avoid having to walk barefoot on snow back up the hill (like Josiah did).

I chose to wear slip-on snow boots down to the hot springs and flip-flops near the pools. Hiking sandals would be ideal, as long as you have a pair of warm socks to put on before and after.

How accessible is Strawberry Park Hot Springs?

Unfortunately, accessing the hot springs requires going up and down several flights of steps and crossing a footbridge that had some ice and snow on it. I did not see a wheelchair ramp or any type of handicap friendly entrance. If you are vision impaired or have difficulty with walking, I would recommend taking it very slow and if possible bring someone to escort you down the stairs and across the slippery bridge.

Spa services at Strawberry Park Hot Springs

In addition to the hot springs, there is also a massage hut at Strawberry Park where you can enjoy a massage or watsu aquatic therapy during your visit. However, you need to book these services in advance, and you must bring cash to pay for the service as well as any tip.

If I’d thought of it sooner, I probably would have booked a massage for us, especially since the prices were pretty reasonable as far as massages go, but for our first visit I’m glad I didn’t because it would have limited the time we got to spend soaking in the pools.

Lodging at Strawberry Park Hot Springs

There are a few primitive cabins available for rental for a truly unique experience. They have no electricity and only public restrooms, but I imagine it would be fun to stay overnight in spring or fall. Reservations must be made months in advance. More information can be found on the Strawberry Park Hot Springs website.

Are the hot springs kid-friendly?

All ages are allowed to visit the hot springs during the day, though visitors under the age of 18 must be supervised. While we were there, we saw many families with elementary-aged and teenaged children, but I didn’t see any kids younger than about 8 or 9 years old. The pools are all around 3 feet deep, so younger kids who can’t swim might need some type of wearable flotation device.

Should I bring my baby or toddler?

The Strawberry Park Hot Springs website says all ages are allowed but that kids under age 3 are required to wear a swim diaper. So technically babies are allowed, but soaking in hot water is not considered to be safe for babies, and the only other option besides being in the water is to sit outside. Therefore, I would not recommend bringing a baby to the hot springs during winter.

Can I bring my dog to Strawberry Park Hot Springs?

Pets are not allowed at Strawberry Park Hot Springs.

What food and drinks are available? Is alcohol allowed?

“Snacks, glass, alcohol and smoking” are strictly prohibited at the hot springs. Our shuttle driver told us our bags may be searched and asked us to leave any food we may have brought on the shuttle. No one searched our bags while we were there.

Bringing water to drink in a non-glass container is highly encouraged, since soaking in the hot springs can dehydrate you. There is a drinking water fountain, but it is turned off in winter.

As far as I understand, other beverages are allowed as well as long as they are not alcoholic and not in a glass container.

Sprite, water, and Gatorade were available for sale at the entrance.

What to bring to Strawberry Hot Springs

Here’s what I recommend bringing on your visit to Strawberry Park Hot Springs:

• Cash to pay for admission if you are driving yourself. Not necesssary if you take a shuttle.
• Drinking water in a non-glass container
• Bathing suit (wear under your clothes for easy changing)
• Hair tie or swim cap if you have long hair (some people wore stocking caps while in the water)
• Shoes you can walk on packed snow in
• Shoes you can put on after getting out of the hot springs
• Towel and/or spa robe for drying off and wearing to the restroom or changing area
• Clothes to wear after soaking
• Bag to put your wet swimsuit in after soaking
• Flashlight or headlamp if you’re visiting at night

Is it Worth it?

We really enjoyed our visit to Strawberry Park Hot Springs, and for me it was one of the highlights of our trip and a wonderful way to spend my birthday. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Steamboat Springs.