Entry No. 40 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: outdoor
Penny Hot Springs
Geothermal water seeps out of the canyon wall at roughly 133°F, trickles down the bank, and pools in a shallow stone basin about twenty feet across before spilling into the Crystal River. The spot sits directly below the granite cliff band called Hell's Gates, on the east shoulder of Highway 133 just north of Redstone, framed by the narrow canyon the Crystal River has been carving for millennia. Because the source is scalding, soakers rearrange the loose rocks at the pool's edge to open or close the cold-river channel — dialing in the temperature themselves. Capacity is roughly ten to twelve people; the water typically settles between 100°F and 106°F once mixed. Admission is free, there is no staff, and a single porta-potty is the only infrastructure.
The story
Pull off Highway 133 at mile marker 55, directly beneath the granite face of Hell's Gates, and you will find geothermal water seeping out of the canyon wall at a scalding 133°F. There is no front desk, no ticket window, and nobody trying to sell you a robe. The water simply trickles down the mud bank and settles into a shallow stone basin roughly twenty feet wide before dumping straight into the cold flow of the Crystal River.
What keeps you from boiling alive is basic hydraulic engineering performed by whoever soaked before you. The pool functions on a DIY thermal balance: soakers manually rearrange loose river cobbles along the wall to open channels for freezing river runoff or plug them up with silt to retain the heat. Once dialed in, the water usually hovers in a precise 100°F to 106°F sweet spot.
It is a raw, unmanaged slice of riverbed operating strictly on local honor system. Capacity tops out at about a dozen people crammed shoulder-to-shoulder, clothing is optional, and the only piece of municipal infrastructure sitting between you and the canyon air is a single roadside porta-potty.
What it's like
Expect a steep, slippery scramble down dirt and wet granite from the gravel shoulder, so ditch the flip-flops and wear shoes that can take a beating. The water emerging near the bank pipe will scorch skin, so check the pool temperature before sliding in. The twenty-car pullout fills up fast on sunny weekends; aim for a freezing winter midnight or a drizzly weekday morning if you prefer river noise over small talk.
The move: Drive the canyon at dusk, find a gap in the rocks, and lower yourselves into a pool you tuned by hand. The river rushes a few feet away, the cliff wall goes orange in the last light, and no one is collecting your information or selling you a robe.
📍 Before you go Free and open year-round, but spring snowmelt (roughly late April through early June) can flood or entirely submerge the pools — check Crystal River levels before driving out. The scramble down the bank is steep and slippery when wet or icy; wear shoes you can get wet. Parking fits about 20 cars roadside on the highway shoulder. No camping. Clothing optional. Source water reaches 133°F — do not enter directly at the outlet pipe. Weekends fill fast; a weekday morning or winter evening visit is markedly quieter.
- 📍 Carbondale
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: CO-133 at mile marker 55, east shoulder — approximately 3.2 miles north of 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
- Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs — Located two miles south in Redstone, this manicured site gives you structured, paid soaking pools if spring runoff buries Penny's riverbank.
- True Nature Healing Arts Peace Garden — Drive nine miles north to Carbondale after your river soak to dry off while walking a hand-cut sandstone labyrinth facing Mt. Sopris.
- South Canyon Hot Springs — If you want another primitive, off-grid soak nearby, hit this hillside pool outside Glenwood Springs where dump trucks rumble past.
Good to know
How much does it cost to enter Penny Hot Springs?
It is completely free, open year-round, and requires no reservations or fees.
Is the water safe to enter right near the wall?
No. The source water emerges at 133°F. Only enter the main pool area once cold river water has mixed it down into the 100°F–106°F range.
When is the hot spring unusable?
During peak spring snowmelt—typically late April through early June—high water levels on the Crystal River completely flood and submerge the stone pools.
What amenities are available at the site?
A single porta-potty on the highway shoulder is the only amenity. There are no changing rooms, trash cans, or showers, so you must pack out everything you bring.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · uncovercolorado.com · Official site · soakdestinations.com · carbondale.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-11