Penny Hot Springs
Redstone, Colorado, United States
Penny Hot Springs is a natural, undeveloped hot spring on the bank of the Crystal River in the Colorado Rockies, nestled in a canyon between Carbondale…
What it's like here
Penny Hot Springs is a natural, undeveloped hot spring on the bank of the Crystal River in the Colorado Rockies, nestled in a canyon between Carbondale and Redstone. There are no buildings, no facilities, and no charge — it's a genuine backcountry soak where visitors create and adjust the pools themselves by stacking rocks to mix hot spring water with the cold river running just feet away.
What makes it distinctive is the raw, unpretentious nature of the place. The pools sit right at water's edge below Highway 133, with canyon walls rising on both sides. You change beside your car, there is no shelter or infrastructure, and the experience depends almost entirely on what previous visitors have built. In winter, steam rises off the surface against snow on the surrounding slopes, turning a simple soak into something visually arresting. The temperature isn't fixed — it shifts with river levels and how you arrange the rocks between the hot and cold sources, so part of the appeal is problem-solving your own comfort.
This is for people comfortable with uncertainty and willing to do the work. The scramble down from the road is short but steep and slippery. The parking is a small pull-off on Highway 133 that fills quickly, and roadside parking is restricted. There are no toilets, no changing rooms, no drinking water, and no staff. The site has had problems with litter and broken glass in the past — it's watched by local authorities, so everything you bring must leave with you. Water quality and temperature vary with the season; spring runoff can make the pools unusable or wash them out entirely.
But for solo travellers, couples, or small groups looking for something unusual and free, it works. The setting in the Crystal River valley is genuinely scenic, and the fact that you're soaking in a natural hot spring in a wilderness canyon, adjusting the temperature yourself, is an odd kind of memorable. The drive itself on Highway 133 is worth the trip.
Go with realistic expectations. This isn't a spa or a maintained attraction. It's a place where the land offers hot water, visitors have improvised a way to use it, and you either find that appealing or you don't.
Highlights
- Entirely free natural hot spring pools built and adjusted by visitors with rocks
- Located right on the Crystal River with canyon walls on both sides
- Raw, undeveloped experience with no facilities or infrastructure
- Dramatic winter soaking with snow on surrounding slopes
- Temperature adjusted by moving stones between hot spring and cold river water
Good to know
Parking is a small pull-off on Highway 133 that fills quickly; roadside parking is restricted. There are no changing rooms, toilets, or drinking water. Water temperature varies with river level, and spring runoff can make the pools unusable or wash them out. The scramble down to the pools is short but steep and slippery. The site is monitored by authorities due to past litter and broken glass issues — pack out everything you bring. Free to use; no booking required.
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Questions people ask
Is there a charge?
No, it's entirely free and undeveloped.
How hot is the water?
It varies. The pools mix hot spring water with cold river water, and the balance changes with river levels and how the rocks are arranged.
Are there changing rooms or facilities?
No. There is nothing there beyond the pools themselves — no shelter, toilets, or water.
Attributes & facilities
Features
Time
Last verified: August 31, 2026