Penny Hot Springs
- Source temp
- 133°F
- Soakable
- Yes
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
The source runs about 133°F at Penny Hot Springs, a primitive hot spring in Pitkin County, Colorado, managed by Pitkin County (Penny Hot Springs management plan).
Closures and warnings
Access is down steep rocks on the riverbank and can be slippery. Source water is hot enough to burn near the inlet; mix with Crystal River water before soaking. High runoff can flood or erase rock pools. As of September 28, 2026.
Soaking
| Development | Primitive |
|---|---|
| Source temperature | 133°F |
| Soakable | Yes Free public roadside rock pools on the Crystal River; largest pool about 20 ft across and 2 ft deep (Carbondale tourism board). |
| Water type | Spring |
|---|---|
| Typical depth | 2-2 ft |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Current | Mild |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Highway 133 shoulder pullout; busy two-lane highway. |
| Parking | Unsigned pullout on the east side of CO-133 a few hundred feet north of mile marker 55; about 20 car spaces. Stay within marked shoulder. |
| When it fills | Limited roadside parking fills quickly; Carbondale tourism board notes capacity about 20 cars. |
| Fee | Free public roadside soak (no posted agency fee). |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Seasonal closure | Rock pools can flood or be erased during spring snowmelt on the Crystal River; summer, fall, and winter are safer seasons per Pitkin County visitor guidance. |
| Managed by | Pitkin County (Penny Hot Springs management plan) |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Penny Hot Springs open?
Access is down steep rocks on the riverbank and can be slippery. Source water is hot enough to burn near the inlet; mix with Crystal River water before soaking. High runoff can flood or erase rock pools. As of September 28, 2026. Seasonal closure: Rock pools can flood or be erased during spring snowmelt on the Crystal River; summer, fall, and winter are safer seasons per Pitkin County visitor guidance.
How hot is Penny Hot Springs?
The spring's source runs about 133°F.
Can you soak at Penny Hot Springs?
A mild current is reported here.
How do you get to Penny Hot Springs?
The road in is paved. Highway 133 shoulder pullout; busy two-lane highway. Parking: Unsigned pullout on the east side of CO-133 a few hundred feet north of mile marker 55; about 20 car spaces. Stay within marked shoulder. Limited roadside parking fills quickly; Carbondale tourism board notes capacity about 20 cars.
Do you need a reservation for Penny Hot Springs?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is Penny Hot Springs free?
Yes. Free public roadside soak (no posted agency fee).
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Just outside: White River National Forest (0.1 mi) , Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness (0.9 mi) .
Sources
2
- https://www.carbondale.com/destination/penny-hot-springs/ (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.parking / waterbodyName, access.parkingPattern, hazardNote, hotSpring.soakable, access.fee, access.roadSurface, manager, access.seasonalClosure, hotSpring.soakableReason)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Hot_Springs (accessed September 28, 2026; backs hotSpring.sourceTempF, hotSpring.development, swimmerNotes.typicalDepthFt)
More: Colorado hot springs