Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens
- From $30
- 99–110°F
- 2 hr 53 min from Denver
A small family-run hot springs west of Buena Vista that opened to the public in 2024 after decades of planning by the Merrifield family. It has three outdoor pools set among botanical gardens and geothermally heated greenhouses. Current prices and booking rules were not posted online, so call ahead.
- Price
- From $30
- Water
- 99–110°F
- Nearest town
- Buena Vista
- From Denver
- 2 hr 53 min
- Reservations
- Check venue
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Hours |
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|---|---|
| Season |
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Tickets & booking
| Price | Adults $30-$35 per soak, per the official site |
|---|---|
| Booking |
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On site
| Pools | 3 |
|---|---|
| Lodging | No |
Not stated by the venue: access, swimwear, ages, dogs.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
Mineral profile
Total dissolved minerals
360 mg/L
Lightly mineralized · Sodium–sulfate (sodium sulfate water)
- pH
- 8.2
- Temp at source
- 127°F
- Lithium
- 0.15 mg/L
- Fluoride
- 13.5 mg/L
- Boron
- 0.09 mg/L
Lab analysis of the source water at “Jump Steady Hot Spring Dup1” (0.1 mi from Charlotte Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens), sampled 1975–1976 by the USGS and partners (data). Pool water may be cooled, mixed or treated, and spring chemistry is generally stable over decades. We report measurements only; we don't make health claims.
The pools
| Pool | Temp |
|---|---|
| Top PoolShallow, about 17 ft across. Same range winter and summer. | 107–110°F |
| Middle PoolShallow. Winter 104-108F, summer 102-106F. | 102–108°F |
| Bottom PoolShallow. Winter 102-105F, summer 99-104F. | 99–105°F |
As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.
Facilities
- Lockers: yes
- Towel rental: yes
| Accessibility |
|
|---|---|
| Good to know |
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What's here
- three outdoor mineral pools
- botanical gardens and geothermal greenhouse
- opened 2024
- sister property: Merrifield Homestead Cabins
Getting there
- From Denver2 hr 53 min126 mi
- From Salida45 min30 mi
- From Gunnison (GUC)2 hr 15 min92 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 8,647 ft |
|---|---|
| Road | At 19256 County Road 343, Buena Vista |
Things to do near Buena Vista
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
State-managed river corridor for rafting, fishing and camping.
Browns Canyon National Monument
Arkansas River canyon known for rafting and hiking; no entry fee.
Campgrounds
- Cottonwood Lake Campground4.2 mi
- Collegiate Peaks Campground5.3 mi
- Elephant Rock Campground6.4 mi
- Chalk Lake Camp6.7 mi
Trailheads
- Avalanche Trailhead3.1 mi
- Skatepark Trailhead5.9 mi
- River Park Trailhead6 mi
- Denny Creek Trailhead6 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa
A rustic inn west of Buena Vista with soaking tubs fed by artesian hot springs, a river cold plunge and a dry sauna. Day soaks are walk-in friendly and swimsuits are required. Lodge rooms and cabins include soaking access.
Antero Hot Springs Cabins
Three rental cabins on Chalk Creek, each paired with its own hand-built private soaking pool fed by an on-site hot spring. There are no day passes; soaking comes with an overnight stay. The cabins sit between Mount Antero and Mount Princeton, about 15 minutes from Buena Vista.
Deer Valley Hot Springs Ranch
A cabin and lodge ranch in Chalk Creek Canyon whose pool and hot tubs are filled with hot spring water and treated for cleanliness. The pools are for ranch guests and open 9 am to 9 pm year-round, closing early on Mondays for cleaning. Sport courts and trails are on the property.
Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa: 0 mi · Antero Hot Springs Cabins: 6 mi · Deer Valley Hot Springs Ranch: 6 mi
Sources (7)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.
- Official site: home
- cohotspringsloop.com: Charlotte hot springs
- denvergazette.com: New colorado hot springs a family dream generations in the making e2cd186e a228 5ac8 8485 8c4695b09816
- Official site: Hot springs
- visitbuenavista.org
- cpw.state.co.us: Arkansas headwaters recreation area
- fs.usda.gov: Browns canyon