{openx:9}As soon as you arrive at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado you can feel something special in the air. Majestic mountain backdrops, steam rising from a babbling creek, and the feeling of both a sacred retreat and the luxury of a resort all greet the visitor to this natural mountain sanctuary. With luxury accommodations, soul soothing hot spring water in both a natural setting and in two large pools, spa services, a restaurant, and even a little general store, Mt. Princeton Hot Springs is the perfect retreat for lovers of both nature and the pampered life.

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs sits at almost 7,000 feet, but you still feel the towering presence of the 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks that surround the area. As you enter the gravel road entrance of the resort, the first thing you see is the quaint general store, where you can find necessities for your visit in case you left home in a hurry. Bathing suits, towels and souvenirs, as well as the standard snacks, drinks and sundries are all available at the Mt. Princeton General Store.

The resort has just received a complete facelift, and accommodations now include luxury cabins as well as rooms that have a comfortable lodge feeling. One thing at the resort does remain rustic and unaltered—the bathhouse. Visitors make their way into the bathhouse and ultimately to the hot springs via a steep dirt trail. Once inside the bathhouse you can feel the warmth of the springs from the hot water source right amidst the check in area. At the bath house check in you can line up spa services, pay for your soak in the hot spring pools, or rent towels and lockers. The rustic open changing rooms in the bathhouse offer cubbies or lockers for your belongings, a small bathroom and showering area. You can also take your belongings with you and set up camp in the comfy wooden loungers around the two large pools. One, a soaking pool that is about 100 degrees, and the other, a lap pool that remains around 90 degrees. Adjacent to the soaking pool is a steam room and beyond the pools is a path down to the creek where you can soak in natural hot spring pools. Find yourself right in the elements as you soak in one of over several dozen pools, with the ice cold creek flowing just a few feet away. A truly invigorating experience that is sure to inject a feeling of bliss into all who indulge.

The main lodge of the resort features a restaurant, the Princeton Club dining room, for those who have found themselves famished by their soak in the springs and pools. The cozy bar area offers comfy lounge chairs where you can relax, enjoy a beverage, and soak in even more of the Mt. Princeton experience. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and has a recently revamped menu offering meals with an elegant flare. A deck surrounding the restaurant is open during the summer months and offers impressive views of the surrounding Collegiate Peaks and Chalk Creek Canyon.

Some may never want to leave once they get a taste of all Mt. Princeton has to offer, but for those who want to venture beyond the resort, there’s a myriad of activities close by. Horseback riding, hiking trails, river rafting, campgrounds, and even, a good old-fashioned ghost town, Tin Cup, are all minutes from the resort. The town of Buena Vista is just a short drive from Mt. Princeton.

While Mt. Princeton Hot Springs is only about three hours from Denver, and two hours from Colorado Springs, it feels worlds away and is a wonderful destination for those wanting to experience the unique beauty of Colorado. After a visit to this magical mountain getaway, be prepared to feel both invigorated and inspired by nature.

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort
15870 County Road 162
Nathrop, CO 81236
719-395-2447

Fees for pool and hot springs:

Weekdays
$10 for adults
$7 for children and seniors

Weekends
$15 for adults
$10 for children and seniors
Towels available for $2