Entry No. 158 — the Denver file — filed under: geothermal caves
Indian Hot Springs Geothermal Caves
Rock caves bored into the mountainside in the early 1900s form pitch-dark, steam-filled grottos where you soak in 108-120F geothermal mineral pools with near-100% humidity dripping off the stone walls — separate caves for men and women, open year-round. The facility is a fully operating historic resort 30 minutes west of Denver with hotel rooms, private baths, an indoor tropical pool, and a BBQ restaurant on-site.
The move: Arrive on a weekday morning when the caves are least crowded ($35/person), split up for an hour in the men's and women's geothermal caves, then reunite for a soak in one of the outdoor private mineral tubs before grabbing lunch at the on-site Big Kahuna BBQ — the whole visit runs 2-3 hours and doubles well with a stroll through historic downtown Idaho Springs afterward.
📍 Before you go The resort sits just off I-70 at exit 240 in Idaho Springs, roughly 30 miles (about half an hour) west of Denver; follow Soda Creek Road past downtown to the marked entrance and lot. The caves are adults-only and gender-segregated, so a couple splits up to soak — plan to reunite afterward in a private mineral tub, which you reserve ahead in one-hour slots. Swimsuits are required in the public pool, but the same-sex caves are clothing-optional on weekdays. Weekday mornings are calmest; weekends and holidays fill up, so book ahead. It's open year-round, and winter steam in the cold air is part of the appeal. Pair it with a walk through historic downtown Idaho Springs.
- 📍 Idaho Springs
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 302 Soda Creek Rd, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-07