There’s a magical place tucked into the San Juan Mountain Range in far southwest Colorado.
A place of hot springs and old trees and history.
A place of tranquility and technology.
Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa, which sits between the city of Durango and Purgatory Ski Resort, is in the final stages of a major expansion and redesign of the historic Trimble Hot Springs.
Water, Water, Everywhere
What used to be a mostly local attraction with a pool and two geothermal tubs now boasts more than 40 water features, including 32 hot springs mineral pools (19 family-friendly and 13 adult-only), two cold plunges, a 25-meter resort-style swimming pool, five private Japanese-inspired cedar “Ofuro” soaking tubs, 10 ADA-accessible soaking pools with zero-entry ramps, a reflexology walking path and a mineral water rain tower.
“We are on track to have the most in Colorado,” says Operations Manager Mason Quick. “We are one of the largest outdoor hot springs in all of Colorado.”
Natural Hot Springs + Technology
Durango’s hot springs bubble up from 120 feet below ground, bringing with them 32 minerals and a delightfully conspicuous absence of sulphuric odor. The pressure that propels the water upward also provides an exceptionally high flow rate that naturally exchanges fresh water in each mineral pool every two hours instead of the typical 24 hours.
But the owners decided to take these waters giant step further, using quantum fusion and another new technology called AquaGen.
Let’s start with the quantum fusion. Although it sounds like something from the 1980s movie “Back to the Future,” it’s actually a magnetic process that breaks minerals up into smaller particles. That allows them to stay suspended in the water longer, promoting better absorption into the body.
And AquaGen? Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa was the first natural hot springs to use this technology to infuse one trillion nano bubbles of medical grade oxygen into each liter of water. Water pressure then infuses this oxygen into the body through the skin and bloodstream, similar to a hyperbaric chamber, Quick says.
Oxygen also serves as a natural disinfectant, oxidizing potential impurities for cleaner water without chemicals such as chlorine and bromine.
“We’re really trying to bring health and wellness to the forefront of the hot springs industry,” Quick says.
Beyond the Water
While water is the main attraction here, there are plenty of other amenities, as well:
Massage, Facials, and Skincare: The resort offers massage therapies ranging from the traditional Swedish and deep tissue to specialties like “Like Vitality” and “Stone Cold Fire,” designed to aid athletes’ muscle recovery. Various facials and skin care are available, as well. Spa services include 2.5 hours of soaking.
Food + Beverages: Bear’s Watershed serves beer, wine, frozen drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, sandwiches and snacks. The Elevated Eats food truck serves lunch and dinner items.
Reflexology Walking Path: This path is designed to stimulate acupressure points on the bottom of the feet.
Botanic Gardens and Wildlife Habitat: The historic property is a certified Wildlife Habitat recognized by the Nation Wildlife Federation with more than 250 different plant species providing food, water and cover for wildlife including butterflies, hummingbirds, red wing blackbirds, and western tanagers.
Adventure + Future Plans
Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa is situated in southwest Colorado's so-called “Four Corners” region. The area is known for adventure—biking, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, river rafting, horseback riding, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and more.
The land where the resort sits today was purchased for $8000 in the late 1800s and has changed hands several times over the years. The property was acquired by the current owners in 2019. The first phase of renovation focused on the hot springs and other day-use amenities. Those improvements have boosted visits from about 16,000 annually to roughly 16,000 monthly.
“It was a really big ‘You build it and they will come,’” Quick says.
Lodging is in the works. In the meantime, the resort provides a list of nearby lodging partners. A Zen garden is under construction behind the spa and set to open next summer. That will include infrared saunas, quiet reading areas and event spaces. In the future, the resort hopes to offer on-site or nearby biking, hiking, horseback riding and other opportunities to guests.
Stay tuned...
Website: https://durangohotspringsresortandspa.com/
Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop: https://www.cohotspringsloop.com/
Facebook: @DurangoHotSpringsResortAndSpa
Instagram: @DurangoHotSprings
Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa was recently added to the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop, a stunning 800-mile driving route through western Colorado. This is the ultimate road trip, showcasing 23 soaking experiences in eight premier geothermal destinations: Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Ouray, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Saguache County and Chaffee County.
