Entry No. 29 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: soak
Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs
Tucked along the Crystal River about two miles south of Redstone's Victorian coal-camp streetscape, Avalanche Ranch operates three tiered soaking pools fed by a 100-percent natural, chemical-free geothermal spring. The upper two pools run 103–105°F; the largest, anchored by a three-foot waterfall that curtains a rock grotto, hovers between 88–94°F. Fourteen dissolved minerals give the water a silky, subtly salty weight. The pools sit on half a mile of private Crystal River frontage, with Redstone Castle visible from the canyon road a short distance north. Cabins dating to the 1890s–1950s dot the property; day visitors get a four-hour morning or afternoon window in a small-group setting that keeps the pools genuinely quiet.
The story
Most roadside mineral springs in Colorado suffer from one of two fates: they get entombed under concrete like a municipal swimming pool, or they get overrun by crowds and smell like sulfur. Two miles south of Redstone along Highway 133, Avalanche Ranch evades both. Here, a 100-percent natural, chemical-free geothermal spring empties directly into three tiered stone pools set into a hill overlooking half a mile of private Crystal River frontage, surrounded by historic ranch cabins built between the 1890s and 1950s.
There are no filtration chemicals or chlorine dumped into the flow. Instead, fourteen dissolved minerals give the water a heavy, silky, subtly salty weight that coats your skin without leaving you reeking of chemicals when you dry off. The heat cascades down the slope: two upper pools stay parked between 103–105°F, feeding down into a wide lower pool that settles around 88–94°F. That bottom pool features a three-foot waterfall curtaining a stacked-rock grotto where you can sit out of the direct sun while canyon walls frame the river below.
What it's like
Expect strict gatekeeping, which is precisely why the place stays quiet. Unless you are renting one of the vintage cabins overnight, day soaking is restricted to small-group, four-hour windows in either the morning or afternoon. Show up without a pre-booked reservation and you will be turned straight back onto Highway 133. Day-use runs roughly $15–25 per person, but you need to reserve weeks out for summer weekends or peak autumn foliage season. Pack a water bottle, bring your own towel, and remember that Wednesdays are strict drain-and-scrub days—the pools are shut down all day for public access.
The move: Book the morning day-use slot, soak across all three pools while the canyon walls are still in shadow, then drive the two miles up to Redstone for lunch and a walk past the coke-oven ruins and the turreted castle before heading back over McClure Pass.
📍 Before you go Day-use admission runs roughly $15–25 per person; reservations required and slots fill weeks ahead in summer and fall foliage season. Pools are closed all day Wednesday for cleaning (lodge guests regain access Wednesday after 5 pm). Morning and afternoon four-hour windows are the only public options — overnight cabin guests have unlimited access. Highway 133 over McClure Pass can close briefly in winter storms; check CDOT before leaving Grand Junction. Drive time from Grand Junction is about 1 hr 45 min via I-70 and CO-133.
- 📍 Redstone
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 12863 Colorado Highway 133, Redstone, CO 81623
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Redstone Coke Oven Historic District — Drive four miles north on Highway 133 right after your soak to walk among the 1899 beehive ovens built for John Osgood's coal empire.
- Redstone Castle (Cleveholm Manor) — Pair a quiet morning soak with a look at the 42-room Gilded Age mansion tucked into the canyon cliffs just five miles up the road.
- Marble Mill Site Park — Continue south past McClure Pass to wander the massive marble foundation blocks left behind from the quarry that built the Lincoln Memorial.
- True Nature Healing Arts Peace Garden — Stop in Carbondale on your way back to Grand Junction for a silent walk through the hand-cut sandstone labyrinth facing Mt. Sopris.
Good to know
Do I need a reservation for day soaking?
Yes. Day access is restricted to four-hour morning or afternoon slots with capped entry, and reservations sell out weeks in advance during summer and fall foliage months.
How hot are the different pools?
The top two tiered pools run hot at 103–105°F. The largest lower pool stays milder at 88–94°F and features a three-foot waterfall emptying into a rock grotto.
Can I visit on a Wednesday?
Not as a day visitor. The pools close every Wednesday for deep cleaning, though overnight cabin guests gain access back after 5:00 PM.
How far is the drive from Grand Junction?
It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes via I-70 East and Colorado Highway 133 South. In winter, check CDOT for closures over McClure Pass before heading out.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · uncovercolorado.com · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-11