Healing Waters Resort & Spa — Hotel in Pagosa Springs

I really liked this place.

They're across the street from the big fancy joint but this is a family place. People bring their kids, I met some seniors on vacation, there were a few locals, a very chill environment. No alcohol but do you really want to drink and soak in hot water? I don't. It's quiet and I don't have to worry about people being crazy because they're drunk at high elevation, one beer hits you like three if you live at sea level. Alcohol and hot water don't mix well, elevation kicks you in the taint.

They're really cool here, I came to soak more than an hour before check in and it wasn't a problem. It's pretty quiet in the main pool area, the lowest temp setting. It's a large L shaped pool that goes to five feet deep and down to three feet or so, I didn't see any generic pool tiles with the depth beside the pool. Since I wasn't planning on diving from the edge of the pool it wasn't a big deal or anything.

I walked into the lobby and said, "Hey, I'm thekfp and I'm here to soak before I check in!" And they were like, "It's Elvis! Let this man soak!"... That's a lie, I told them my name and it was totally chill, just an okay from the desk clerk and he offered a towel which I accepted. Since I was an early soaker I got a blue towel rather than white with blue stripes that I got after checking in. They have a cool system for the towel situation, you won't be mad.

I've found three soaking places, there could be more but I'm a newbie here. The main pool where I spent my first hour or so is pretty mild. I tried the Men's Bath House but wow, it was way too much for me, the single pool was well over 105°F, it may be your thing but it was not my cup of me. The sauna was behind a curtain and it was too much for me again, it's probably an awesome sauna if that's your thing but I had to escape pretty quick. My favorite was the hot tub behind the dressing rooms, not too hot or cold, just deep breath aaaaahhh good.

There could be more hidden places but after asking general questions at the front desk and a little exploration I wasn't...

My wife & I are Seniors who live in Arizona; she was born in France so we've enjoyed European hot mineral bath/spa experiences (thanks to those ancient Romans!) for years. Last month we made the 8-hour drive from AZ to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for 2 weeks to try an American hot springs & to escape the AZ heat (Pagosa is at 7,200 ft. / 1,950 m.). ||Not sure what to expect, after checking into a vacation rental, we took our towels & swim suits to the Healing Waters Resort & Spa. Although quite different from Europe, this small very Old-West-style establishment is clean, friendly, not-at-all crowded, and very reasonably priced at under $20 for an "all-day soak" for Seniors. It features a large outdoor swimming pool filled at about 99 degrees Fahrenheit with naturally-hot mineral water (with a vague sulfur smell but not offensive or over-powering) mostly in the sun; plus a small outdoor hot-tub (8 adults max) on a raised platform half surrounded by shade trees at about 105 F degrees H2O. There are also 2 indoor pools (6 adults max) that are "clothing optional" & divided: men vs. women only, at 110+ F H2O, which was too hot for us! There's also 2 small steam-rooms (hammam) again men vs. women only but not too inviting. ||Basic changing rooms with free showers & cheap lockers ($1 in quarters, I think) plus several white-resin loungers in sunny & shady locations complete the fenced in bathing area. Water in plastic bottles is OK but no food or drinks. Parking is on-street; no charge, but we hear that in 2025 the town will install meters (!)... Overall, the experience was refreshing & enjoyable; on our mid-week, mid-day 2 to 3 hour visits (all you need to get a good soak!) we never saw more than a dozen people; perhaps more go on weekends/holidays. Pagosa seems more a Skiing in winter, Golfing in summer place but we enjoyed Healing Waters and hope to...

Wife and I were very pleased. At first glance, never even having been to pagosa before after driving 4.5hrs, the place looked quite dated and we had some concerns about what we had booked. The gal at the desk let us take a tour and see our room, King deluxe. The room was very nice. In fact, the whole place was comfortable and nice. The pool, hot tub, and bath house were quiet, clean, and accessible. It’s located within walking distance of nearly everything. Across the street is a huge resort that seems quite commercialized and appeared crowded all the time with private property signs all along the river, which by the way, healing water is a short walk across the street to the river if your looking for some tubing and soaking hot pools. We were originally going to book across the street but they were full so we stayed at Healing Waters, and we’re glad we did. The staff and accommodations were great. The pools, tub, and bath house were all spring fed and comfortable. From 8-11am they were open only to guests and it was nice having the entire place nearly to ourselves. Even when they opened to everybody it wasn’t overly crowded or uncomfortable. We already looked for more dates to visit but they seem booked through August right now. If a modern commercialized crowded resort is what you’re looking for stay across the street. If a quiet, relaxing place to soak in the hot springs is what you’re looking for you can’t go wrong here, and it’s completely affordable. Did I mention the king bed was amazingly comfortable after an evening of soaking? The only thing that could have made it better is if I could’ve taken my little girl pup Bichon (we’re always together otherwise). We’re definitely going back. Thanks for the experience...