Hot Springs and Aspens: An Idyllic Autumn Road Trip

Welcome to September, by the time you finish reading this you will understand why it is many people’s favorite time of year: crisp air, slow living, pumpkin spice. It’s a great time to reflect on the last 9 months and look at completing any goals before the new year! Treat yourself by taking a few road trips around the state to enjoy the beauty of the aspens we are blessed to have here in Colorado. The hidden bonus of taking road trips in the fall is the weather is perfect for hot springs! We are rewarded with having almost an unlimited amount of locations to enjoy the benefits of these healing mineral waters, so relax and unwind!

Strawberry Hot Springs. Photo by Melissa Emmons

First, you must visit  Steamboat Springs and the amazing Strawberry Hot Springs! The leaves change first in the northern part of the state, because the sun is turning more towards the southern hemisphere. If you’re starting this journey from Summit County Rabbit Ears Pass is an ideal route to take you to Steamboat Springs. The road is lined with aspens and has plenty of pull offs to stop for pictures. The road to the hot springs is also a bit out of the way and slow going. A four wheel drive vehicle is preferable. My opinion of the perfect time to soak at Strawberry Hot Springs is at dusk. This allows time to enjoy the sunset and then head back into town to get dinner. This location is dreamy, you feel as if you are in a fairytale and an elf or fairy might just come sit next to you. 

Guanella Pass. Photo by Melissa Emmons

After visiting Steamboat Springs,  you will want to head over to Guanella Pass. This drive is an oasis of fall foliage and well worth the short drive to Georgetown. This quaint little town explodes with leaf peepers. Many people come here from the Front Range wanting to see the colors, so be patient. Exploring this 22 mile stretch of road that twists up to 11,700 feet is jaw dropping with every turn and absolutely worth the wait! 

In the same area is the drive up the Mt. Evans scenic byway.  A hike up Echo Lake is right off the byway and duly warranted. Following your hike, head back down into Idaho Springs and enjoy the evening at Indian Hot Springs. There is lodging available at the resort, but day guests are welcome to enjoy the healing waters too. The Geothermal Cave Baths are huge, sunken, walk-in hot tubs driven into the solid rock mountainside with mineral water ranging in temperature from 104 to 112 degrees. The Mineral Water Swimming Pool is a favorite with swimmers, adults, and children.  Set in a tropical setting with palm and banana trees under a translucent dome, the pool has an overall temperature of 90 degrees.

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs. Photo by Melissa Emmons

Spend the next weekend exploring the western part of the state, starting in Glenwood Springs, where the newest hot spring is Iron Mountain. It’s a resort style spring with all the amenities to truly pamper yourself. If you’d like to explore more primitive style springs, I recommend looking at Penny Hot Springs outside of Carbondale on your way to Marble. 

View from Kebler Pass. Photo by Adam Schallau

The most well known journey for leaf peeping in Colorado is through the largest aspen grove in the state: Kebler Pass. Leaving Penny Hot Springs and going over McClure Pass you will take Hwy 133 to County Road 12. This route is where you want to  take your time, with 107 acres of Aspens you’ll feel like reality is nowhere near, so fill your gas tank and your picnic basket, as you’ll encounter many people there for the same reason. 

San Juan Mountains. Photo by Tami Roberts

Lastly, the last leg of the tour I have for you takes you to the southwest part of the state, and home to the amazing Sangre De Cristo and San Juan Mountain Range. The peaks in this area are a bit more jagged creating a different type of mountainscape for you to enjoy. The leaf peeping journey that is the best here takes you over the Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray. While stories of the name are debated, there is also Last Dollar Road in the area, where designer Ralph Lauren has a ranch. 

The Million Dollar Highway is a 25 mile part of the San Juan Scenic Byway, which begins and ends in Durango and takes approximately 7 hours to drive. Loose track of time in this western paradise and stop by Pagosa Hot Springs once you’re ready to get out of the car. These waters were discovered hundreds of years ago by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and are the deepest geothermal hot springs in the world, being known for their healing powers!

View of Lake Dillon with the first leaves turning. Photo by Melissa Emmons

If you do every stop on this tour you’ll have seen many different parts of Colorado. From the North down to the very South, Pagosa Springs is less than 50 miles to New Mexico! While you may have been to some of these locations before somehow it just seems different when everything is covered in gold. Some other great Hot Springs worth mentioning that didn’t make the list are Cottonwood and Mt Princeton, both in Buena Vista! Keep in mind to follow good etiquette while you’re deep in aspen country as everyone around is also there to enjoy the beauty just like you. So be kind, leave no trace and most of all, have fun, there’s a lot to see!