Get intimate with Mother Earth’s healing powers via the geothermal waters of The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. In between soaks, enjoy some delectable victuals at local eateries.
The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
The guest experience at The Springs Resort begins with gratitude for the geothermal Mother Spring. More than 1,000 feet deep, the spring averages 150 degrees. At the welcome desk, guests receive a glass container of warm, fragrant water. They write their gratitude on a slip of paper, drop it in, and shake. The note dissolves into the ether with a faint sulfur scent.
The Resort spoons around the Mother Spring, which feeds 25 soaking pools along the San Juan River. Unique among mineral waters worldwide, the spring’s depth and array of healing properties draw visitors year-round. Its location in a Colorado mountain town on the New Mexico border makes it an ideal road-trip destination.
Wellness Reimagined
Over the last five years, new ownership has aligned The Springs Resort more closely with the healing powers of its geothermal waters. Wellness programs like the Gratitude Ceremony reflect this holistic approach to recharging body and mind.
“The vision is to become the number one hot springs and wellness-based resort in the United States,” says Jesse Hensle, director of marketing and sales.
For millennia, Pagosa’s waters have attracted bathers seeking healing. In 2021, the Resort embraced Balneology—the scientific study of geothermal springs—by hiring Dr. Marcus Coplin, ND, as medical director. That same year, wellness expert Sharon Holtz joined as director of resort wellness operations. Together, they craft programs that use the hot springs as a foundation for overall well-being.
From Soak to Flow
Soaking in mineral springs usually requires little effort. Guests enjoy polite conversation and perhaps a cocktail from the on-site bar. The lively, low-impact atmosphere has earned the nickname “Beach on the Mountain.” After skiing or hiking, few things beat soaking with friends and a drink in hand.
In contrast, the 8:00 a.m. Aqua Yoga class in a 106-degree pool offers quiet transformation. Like traditional yoga, it focuses on breath, stillness of mind, and grounding the body. The instructor reminds participants that the heated water has traveled directly from the earth’s depths, untouched until it fills the pools.
Guides for Intentional Soaking
The Resort provides guides that teach guests to soak with intention. The Science-Based Soaking Guide, Detox Guide, and Restoration Guide combine the spring’s 13 active minerals at varying temperatures. Together, they create the “blanket effect,” a cocoon of buoyancy and healing properties that envelops the body.
The Warrior Plunge
One of the most cathartic offerings is contrast bathing, also called the Warrior Plunge. Guests move between warm pools and the icy San Juan River, remaining for two minutes in each. The water temperatures can differ by as much as 70 degrees.
The cycle becomes easier with repetition, though it demands active engagement. Entering the cold river, the body panics, pooling blood toward vital organs and causing bursts of heat in the toes and feet. Breath control proves essential. Eventually, the body calms and numbs, grudgingly adapting until it is time to return to the steaming pool. A helpful tip: keep your hands above the river water.
Sound, Stone, and Spa
The Gratitude Ceremony, Aqua Yoga, and Warrior Plunge are complimentary. Additional experiences include Balancing Sound Bathing, a meditation with Tibetan singing bowls that pulse sound waves through the water for deep relaxation.
The spa complements soaking with massages, facials, and treatments. The signature Pagosa Stone Massage, for example, uses heated river stones harvested from the San Juan. Therapists work them across the body with invigorating precision, melting stress and tension. Guests often leave blissfully dazed, grateful for the short walk back to their rooms.
Healing in the Ute Tradition
The word pagosa means “healing” in the southern Ute language. Over vitality tonics, guests from Texas, Kansas, New Jersey, and even Italy share why they came. Many cite relief from inflammation, pain, circulation issues, digestion, or emotional health.
Looking ahead, The Springs Resort plans to expand its pools, lodging, and in-depth wellness offerings.
Food Around The Springs Resort
Pagosa Baking Company
Just a short walk from the Resort, chef Kathy Keyes serves breads, cookies, pies, soups, and sandwiches. Her rhubarb pies—strawberry or raspberry—are local legends. Customers even bring in homegrown rhubarb in exchange for store credit. Tart, tangy, and medicinal in its own right, the pie pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee.
Alley House Grille
Texas transplants Martin and Joan Rose opened Alley House Grille to bring cosmopolitan dining to small-town Colorado. Located in a historic house with a modern addition, the restaurant balances fine dining with a relaxed après-ski feel.
Highlights include braised lamb shank with garlic chive whipped potatoes and sweet-and-sour Brussels sprouts. For something lighter, the Chilean sea bass comes with coconut jasmine rice, broccolini, and lemon caper beurre blanc. The Roses, avid wine collectors, curate a refined list, while cocktails flow freely at the lively bar.
Story by Gabe Gomez
Food Photography by Joe Coca
