Entry No. 47 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: hot springs
Waunita Hot Springs Ranch
Tucked 27 miles east of Gunnison at 8,946 feet, just below the Continental Divide, Waunita Hot Springs Ranch has been run by the Pringle family for over 50 years. The centerpiece is a 35-by-90-foot outdoor pool fed entirely by natural geothermal water — one of the largest private spring-fed pools in Colorado — maintained at 95–102°F depending on season. An adjacent hot tub holds 100–104°F year-round. The surrounding ranchland has the feel of a working old-west spread: weathered timber lodges, open meadows, no cell service. Since 2016 the ranch shifted toward large-group and corporate retreats, but day-use soaking remains available when no private event is booked.
The move: Drive the high corridor east of Gunnison, soak in a genuinely enormous spring-fed pool at nearly 9,000 feet, and have the place to yourselves on a quiet weekday. The silence, the heat, and the absence of cell service make it feel genuinely off-grid.
📍 Before you go Day use is only available when no private group has the ranch reserved — check the online calendar at waunita.com and call ahead: (970) 641-1266. Fees apply; overnight guests get unlimited pool access. The ranch is year-round but winter road conditions vary. No cell coverage on property. Showering before entering the pool is required. Corporate and reunion bookings can close the ranch with little public notice, so confirm the same week you plan to visit.
- 📍 Gunnison
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 8007 County Road 887, Gunnison, CO 81230 (turn at mile marker 176 on US-50 — do not use GPS, which routes drivers to the wrong road via CR-888)
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-11