Unwind at the Joyful Journey Hot Springs

Joyful Journey hot springs offers the full hotel and spa treatment, but in a valley where most people live off the grid, we chose the more rugged experience.

The yurts gather together like penguins huddling not far from the springs. The wooden slates offer welcome relief from the frigid valley weather. The dogs snuggled into the yurt, and we bundled off to the hot springs.

The three pools range from 98 to 110 degrees. We walked quickly out into the sub-zero air and hopped into the warm waters. The full moon hung high in the sky, turning the San de Cristo Mountains silver in the night.

The hot water washes away the stress of life. We reluctantly dragged our bodies out of the water into the cold, before bundling up and returning to the Yurts.

This hot springs stands as a well established but isolated soak in a magnificent alpine valley. It is a nice addition or home base for adventures from skiing to the Great Sand Dunes.