Entry No. 23 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: witchy
SunWater Spa — Cedar Tubs & Full-Moon Soak
A dozen outdoor cedar soaking tubs filled with mineral water from Manitou's 7 Minute Spring, all facing the mountains southwest — and once a month, a Full-Moon Celebration of yoga, soaking, live piano, and howling at the moon led by the spa's co-founder.
The story
Manitou Springs built its reputation on historic mineral fountains scattered along its streets, but SunWater Spa takes that subterranean water and pipes it straight from 7 Minute Spring into a terraced deck of outdoor cedar tubs. The cedar soaking tubs sit stacked across open-air levels named after nearby peaks, angled for a southwest view directly toward the mountain skyline.
While you can book a standard 90-minute session in water kept between 99° and 104°F, the real local anomaly happens once a month. The spa's co-founder leads a Full-Moon Celebration that rolls yoga, soaking, and live piano music into a single moonlit evening—culminating in an unselfconscious group howling at the moon from inside the tubs.
What it's like
You'll find the spa at 514 El Paso Boulevard, just off Manitou Avenue. Parking right at the building is notoriously tight, so park near the downtown core and take the short walk over. Expect open-air decks, heavy cedar scents, and rising steam against cold mountain air if you visit in winter. Time your 90-minute tub session for dusk to watch the light change over the peaks, and lock in your reservation well ahead of time—especially for the full-moon gatherings, which fill up fast.
The move: Reserve a private outdoor cedar tub of 102° Manitou mineral water and soak facing the peaks at dusk — time it for the monthly Full-Moon Celebration if you want yoga and howling thrown in.
📍 Before you go SunWater sits on El Paso Blvd just off Manitou Avenue, a short walk from downtown — easiest to find by parking near the core and strolling over, since street parking right at the spa is tight. The cedar tubs stack across open-air levels named for nearby peaks, so you're soaking with a southwest view of the mountains; time a session for dusk to catch the light, and winter rewards you with steam against cold air. Reservations are required and the monthly Full-Moon Celebration books out fast, so plan well ahead (hours shift seasonally — check the calendar). Pair it with Manitou's historic public mineral-water fountains and the shops and cafes along the avenue.
- 📍 Manitou Springs
- 💸 $$$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 514 El Paso Blvd, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Hours: Outdoor cedar tubs reservable in 90-min sessions (99–104°F). Full-Moon Celebration runs once monthly — check sunwaterspa.com calendar and book ahead.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Hart & Horn — Follow up your mineral soak with a short walk down Manitou Avenue to visit an authentic witch shop run by a local practitioner.
- Manitou Thursday Drum Circle — If soaking on a seasonal Thursday, stroll over to Memorial Park after drying off to trade full-moon howling for communal park drumming.
- Colorado Salt Cave Wellness Center — Pair your outdoor mineral soaking deck with an indoor Himalayan salt cave sound bath in northwest Colorado Springs.
Good to know
Where does the soaking water come from?
The outdoor cedar tubs are filled with mineral water piped directly from Manitou's historic 7 Minute Spring.
How warm are the soaking tubs?
The outdoor cedar tubs are kept at temperatures ranging from 99°F to 104°F.
What happens during the Full-Moon Celebration?
Led by the spa's co-founder, the monthly event combines yoga, mineral soaking, live piano music, and a moon-howling ritual.
How long are the soaking sessions and do I need to book ahead?
Tubs are reserved in 90-minute blocks, and advance reservations are required for both standard soaks and special events.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · uncovercolorado.com · pikespeakbulletin.org
last checked: 2026-06-04