Welcome to ThinkVail – we hope you find this article about Colorado hot springs guidebooks helpful. 10 great guidebooks to get you inspired and prepared for an unforgettable adventure at one of the many thermal pools of the western United States.
Most of the time you can get all the information you need about hot springs from the internet but having a comprehensive guidebook on your shelf or Kindle, in your RV, the glove box of your car or to give as a gift, is a nice thing to have.
These books are also great sources of inspiration when you are looking to plan an escape. Freshen up on important details like whether a certain hot spring is clothing-optional or dog or kid-friendly or to remember the name of a favorite spot you haven’t visited in a while. Enjoy these popular, detailed books to get you soaking in the relaxing, natural, geothermal waters of the high country.
#1 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook – Colorado’s Hot Springs (The Pruett Series)
When you’re looking to explore the Hot Springs of Colorado, you need look no further than this definitive guide for local, geothermal soaking spots.
A fun-to-read, comprehensive guide to more than forty of the state’s hot springs and their histories
Updated guide that profiles forty-four hot springs, featuring descriptions, contact information, directions, maps, photographs, and historical notes.
Photographs that capture the unique character and beauty of each hot spring.
Read descriptions of each geothermal pool along with stories about the unique characters, events, and ancient use by Native Americans.
The author, Debbie Frazier is a fourth-generation Colorado native and was an investigative journalist for thirty-five years covering Colorado and the West, she knows what she’s talking about and will give you the inside scoops on these magical, mystical, relaxing places.
Visit her Facebook page at: ColoradosHotSpringsfor more information.
Available in Kindle edition and Paperback
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#2 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook – Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest
When you’re looking to take a road trip and explore hot pots from California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and beyond than this is the guide for you.
A guide for hot springs, flowing hot wells, natural mineral water resorts and spas, plus urban hot tubs of the Southwest.
Includes both natural and developed hot springs in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Baja, and Hawaii’i.
Features complete descriptions, reliable directions, GPS coordinates, photographs, maps, handicap accessibility, and clothing options make this a super handy guidebook full of useful information
One of the best hot springs reference book for the Southwest out there.
The authors, Marjorie Gersh-Young and Karin Burroughs are intrepid hot springs explorers and have been visiting and researching a variety of thermal pools for years.
An exhaustive, informative guide that is truly a “Soakers Bible”
Available in Kindle edition and Paperback.
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#3 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook –Touring Colorado Hot Springs
Touring Colorado Hot Springs is another highly recommended guidebook for exploring the hot springs of the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Detailed information on Strawberry Park Hot Springs, Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Hot Springs, Conundrum Hot Springs, Wiesbaden Hot Springs and many more.
Featuring detailed descriptions, easy-to-read maps, and firsthand information gathered by the author on 29 of the best hot springs destinations in the state.
Descriptions are spiced with historical information that give insight into the area’s past and makes it very entertaining and great to read.
This guide allows you to explore the best hot springs in Colorado ranging from world-class family resorts to the hidden back-country pools in the Rocky Mountains.
A well organized, comprehensive guidebook that lists the hot springs according to the region of Colorado where they are found.
Clear and easy to read maps.
Helpful topics like “Best Secluded Locations”, “Best Family Locations” and “Best Character Locations” make this book a clear gem!
The author, Susan Polk is a Colorado outdoor enthusiast who knows her stuff whether she’s hiking, climbing, snowshoeing or soaking.
Available in Kindle edition and Paperback
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#4 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook – Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest
Interested in exploring hot springs of the Northwest including Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, British Columbia, Alberta, and Alaska? We’ve got you covered.
The premier hot springs guidebook for natural hot springs & resorts in the Northwest has it all including where to go and where to stay.
Detailed descriptions, directions, and photos of hundreds of hot springs and resorts in Northwest United States and Canada.
The latest edition is from 2008 so some are saying it is becoming outdated and needs to be updated so some details may be inaccurate but will still be a helpful guide especially for commercial hot springs.
The author, Marjorie Gersh-Young and Karin Burroughs are the same authors for the above Hot Springs & Hot Pools of the Southwest
Available in Kindle edition and Paperback
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#5 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook – Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest
A popular guidebook that is described as the gold standard of hot spring books, detailing more than 162 undeveloped & commercial hot springs. It is a great resource that will steer you to some amazing thermal springs in the Northwest.
Descriptions of more than 100 scenic hikes to or starting at more than 160 hot springs in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.
Features general descriptions, accurate directions, and notes on temperature, contacts, difficulty of hike, and elevation gain.
A go-to guide for “off the beaten path” hot springs in the northwest United States and Canada.
Useful notes on whether the area requires a Trail Park Pass (Oregon and Washington) or a Recreation User Pass (Idaho).
This edition contains 18 new hot springs and new maps which are easier to read.
Written by Evie Litton and Sally Jackson
Available in Kindle edition and Paperback
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#6 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook – The Springs of Steamboat
Want to find out more about the multitude of legendary hot springs of Steamboat Springs, Colorado and the historic, renowned ski town that surrounds them?
Discover the Ute Indians and then the first white settlers who came to this valley.
Read about John Crawford, Steamboat’s founder, who envisioned a town where people traveled from around the world to take part in the healing properties of the waters.
Learn the various springs that were believed to cure everything from rheumatism, gout and dyspepsia to virulent blood disorders and skin diseases.
Find out the springs that have disappeared and the ones–including Old Town Hot Springs and Strawberry Park Hot Springs–still beckon visitors today.
Explore the dozen natural hot springs that are scattered throughout the Steamboat Springs area.
The author, Dagny McKinley is a member of the Steamboat Springs hot springs team.
Available in Kindle edition and Paperback
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#7 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook –Touring Hot Springs Montana and Wyoming
The most comprehensive guide to the hot springs of the northern Rockies, Touring Hot Springs Montana and Wyoming covers 60 of the region’s best thermal soaking spots.
Completely revised second edition
Features a half-dozen new hot springs, color photos, GPS coordinates, and the latest information on nearby lodging and other recreational opportunities.
Learn about the rustic thermal resorts and undeveloped soaking pools in northwest Montana, and the isolated hot water wells on the prairies of eastern Montana.
Discover the high-mountain hot springs of western Wyoming, and the historic warm springs along the Oregon Trail in southeast Wyoming.
Archival photos and in-depth stories of abandoned hot springs resorts are also included for history buffs.
Also, covers Yellowstone National Park–the the largest concentration of geysers and hot springs in the world. Over a half-dozen of Yellowstone’s best wild hot springs soaks are described.
The author, Jeff Birkby lives in Montana where he consults on geothermal energy projects and assists hot springs resort owners on design and marketing.
Available in Kindle edition and Paperback
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#8 Best Colorado Hot Springs Guidebook – The Hot Springs Trail: Official Guidebook
When you are looking for a true adventure check out this guidebook documenting the Hot Springs trail, a 2,000 mile backpacking route from California up through Canada connected by legendary hot springs and thermal pools. For the experience of a lifetime on the road less traveled!
Spanning 2,421.4-miles, the Hot Springs Trail begins at the Pacific Ocean and visits 100 hot spring areas before reaching Canada.
The Hot Springs trail embodies the concept of Thru-Soaking; a multi-sport adventure that takes you on a continuous journey connected by more than 100 soaking pools.
Describes, rejuvenating springs, pristine lakes, historic towns, high, remote summits, wildlife, stunning geology, and unique ecosystems.
The Hot Springs National Scenic Trail consists of 4 sections, each with its own complete guidebook.
Part 1 – The Coast Connect Trail
Part 2 – The High Sierra Hot Springs Trail
Part 3 – The Nevada Trail
Part 4 – The Idaho Soaktennial Trail
Features detailed and updated maps plus logistics for the entire trail, including safety concerns, advice & tips, hot springs & cold pools, detours and where to find supplies.
The author, Aria Zoner was one of the first to pioneer the Hot Springs Trail and has successfully thru-soaked this route.
Official completion certificates are available to adventurers who have successfully completed The Hot Springs Trail.
We hope you found this article about Colorado hot springs guidebooks helpful. What is your favorite hot springs to go to ? Do you like luxury commercial hot springs or quiet, back-country thermal pools? Are you a clothing optional soaker or do you prefer a suit? Have you been to any of the above hot springs and what did you like about them? or not like about them? We would love to hear your thoughts, comments and stories about Colorado hot springs. Thanks for reading.
My parents have recently retired and are moving to the Vail area, where they have just purchased a new home. I am buying them Colorado's Hot Springs (the Pruitt series) as a house warming present. They are looking for fun activities to do now that they are retired and this will be perfect inspiration for them. My mother, in particular loves spas and commercial hot springs, they will love this! Thank you for the perfect gift idea!
That is a fantastic idea, hot springs are a lot of fun and a great way to help people get outside, be active and stay healthy. I think they will love your housewarming gift! Thanks for reading our article About Colorado Hot Springs - Best Guidebooks.
Great selection of books about Colorado hot springs. I have many of these title on my bookshelf at home and I have referred to them again and again. I have been visiting hot springs for years. My favorite places are smaller primitive thermal pools, that you have to hike to. It makes sense to know before hand exactly where you are going, as it can be easy to get turned around and lost trying to get to the smaller, remote outdoor pools. These books are great to throw into your bag for reference when you are on the trail.
Thank you Evagreene for reading the article about the best Colorado hot springs guidebooks. Yes, I love having the actual books in my hand too. I like to make notes on the pages so I can remember certain details the next time I go back to a hot spring. I also like knowing that I always have the info at my fingertips, even if my WIFI doesn't work.
Hey, I enjoy a lot while reading your guide on Colorado Hot Springs books. These books are great sources of inspiration when you are looking to plan an escape. Now I am planning to buy Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest & Touring Colorado Hot Springs. The author, Susan Polk is a Colorado outdoor enthusiast who knows her stuff whether she’s hiking, climbing, snowshoeing or soaking. Thanks for sharing such useful guide for everyone.
I am already thinking of where to go for my yearly leave and already this is proving to be very interesting. I have never been to Colorado before and seeing that it does even have a lot of books and guides on it is making me anxious and delighted to read about it and possibly plan my next vacation to it.the Colorado hot spring guides would be well read and digested. Thanks for writing and suggesting
Hi Rodarrick, thank you for the kind comments for the post about the best guidebooks to Colorado hot springs. Yes, if you love visiting hot springs ( and who doesn't) these books will help give you the lay of the land for many western hot springs. Don't forget to go online and check for more information for each individual hot spring.
Yes, I know that having a comprehensive guidebook in the van when I'm away o vacation with my family can make a huge difference. We were planning a visit to Colorado on early June. But with all this pandemic going around my children were a bit hopeless. But I think a good way to cheer them up is to buy one of these guidebooks so they can begin to explore. I think I'll purchase the Pruett Series. Thanks!
Hi Abel, thanks for reading about Colorado hot springs - the best guidebooks and for your comments. Yes, this is a very scary time for all, and it is definitely a shame that we cannot travel as many of us had expected during this time but that is a great idea to buy a book and read about being there. The Pruett series is a great resource that offers a wealth of information on Colorado thermal pools and hot springs.
I have a very old (like from 2000) edition of the Colorado's Hot Springs (The Pruett Series). It is very worn, dog-eared and much loved. It has come in handy many times for me and to the friends I have lent it to, it has seen a lot of mileage. I was excited to see a new edition of this book. I plan to replace mine and pick up another to give as a gift. It's a fun-to-read, informative guide to more than forty hot springs and history of the state. It features profiles, descriptions, contact info, directions, maps, photographs and historical notes.
Hi Shanta, we are so happy you enjoyed the article About Colorado Hot Springs- The Best Guidebooks and that you have gotten so much use out of the older version of Colorado's Hot Springs (The Pruett Series). Hopefully it will be a useful to you as its predecessor. Don't forget to check out the article about the best swimsuits for hot springs to findthe perfect bathing suit for your adventures!
Great article about the best guidebooks about Colorado hot springs. I have spent a lot of time hot potting in Colorado and lately I have decided to branch out, so I am interested in the guide book about hot spring of the Pacific Northwest. I think I will purchase it and start planning my next adventure. Cheers!
So happy you found a new book to help you on a new adventure. I have only really enjoyed hot springs in Colorado and Wyoming, I think trying thermal pools in the Northwest would be amazing. Have fun on your journey and I am so happy this article was helpful to you.
Thank you so much for sharing this great post about Colorado Hot Springs. My wife and I are from Florida and have an RV and we spend summers traveling around the western US looking for fun adventures, this totally fits the bill. We have been to a few hot springs like the one in Glenwood Springs and one up near Ouray but we would love to visit more. Needless to say we do not get great internet in our RV so books are most reliable and convenient. Thanks so much for sharing these titles, this is exactly what we need.
Thank you for your kind words and comments regarding the list of Colorado hot spring guidebooks. I am so happy you found this article informative and helpful and I hope you have a wonderful time on your adventures. As an aside you may want to also check out the articles: RV Parks Near Vail, and The Best RV Accessories for Adventure.Have fun!
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My parents have recently retired and are moving to the Vail area, where they have just purchased a new home. I am buying them Colorado's Hot Springs (the Pruitt series) as a house warming present. They are looking for fun activities to do now that they are retired and this will be perfect inspiration for them. My mother, in particular loves spas and commercial hot springs, they will love this! Thank you for the perfect gift idea!
That is a fantastic idea, hot springs are a lot of fun and a great way to help people get outside, be active and stay healthy. I think they will love your housewarming gift! Thanks for reading our article About Colorado Hot Springs - Best Guidebooks.
Great selection of books about Colorado hot springs. I have many of these title on my bookshelf at home and I have referred to them again and again. I have been visiting hot springs for years. My favorite places are smaller primitive thermal pools, that you have to hike to. It makes sense to know before hand exactly where you are going, as it can be easy to get turned around and lost trying to get to the smaller, remote outdoor pools. These books are great to throw into your bag for reference when you are on the trail.
Thank you Evagreene for reading the article about the best Colorado hot springs guidebooks. Yes, I love having the actual books in my hand too. I like to make notes on the pages so I can remember certain details the next time I go back to a hot spring. I also like knowing that I always have the info at my fingertips, even if my WIFI doesn't work.
Hey, I enjoy a lot while reading your guide on Colorado Hot Springs books. These books are great sources of inspiration when you are looking to plan an escape. Now I am planning to buy Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest & Touring Colorado Hot Springs. The author, Susan Polk is a Colorado outdoor enthusiast who knows her stuff whether she’s hiking, climbing, snowshoeing or soaking. Thanks for sharing such useful guide for everyone.
I am already thinking of where to go for my yearly leave and already this is proving to be very interesting. I have never been to Colorado before and seeing that it does even have a lot of books and guides on it is making me anxious and delighted to read about it and possibly plan my next vacation to it.the Colorado hot spring guides would be well read and digested. Thanks for writing and suggesting
Hi Rodarrick, thank you for the kind comments for the post about the best guidebooks to Colorado hot springs. Yes, if you love visiting hot springs ( and who doesn't) these books will help give you the lay of the land for many western hot springs. Don't forget to go online and check for more information for each individual hot spring.
Yes, I know that having a comprehensive guidebook in the van when I'm away o vacation with my family can make a huge difference. We were planning a visit to Colorado on early June. But with all this pandemic going around my children were a bit hopeless. But I think a good way to cheer them up is to buy one of these guidebooks so they can begin to explore. I think I'll purchase the Pruett Series. Thanks!
Hi Abel, thanks for reading about Colorado hot springs - the best guidebooks and for your comments. Yes, this is a very scary time for all, and it is definitely a shame that we cannot travel as many of us had expected during this time but that is a great idea to buy a book and read about being there. The Pruett series is a great resource that offers a wealth of information on Colorado thermal pools and hot springs.
I have a very old (like from 2000) edition of the Colorado's Hot Springs (The Pruett Series). It is very worn, dog-eared and much loved. It has come in handy many times for me and to the friends I have lent it to, it has seen a lot of mileage. I was excited to see a new edition of this book. I plan to replace mine and pick up another to give as a gift. It's a fun-to-read, informative guide to more than forty hot springs and history of the state. It features profiles, descriptions, contact info, directions, maps, photographs and historical notes.
Hi Shanta, we are so happy you enjoyed the article About Colorado Hot Springs- The Best Guidebooks and that you have gotten so much use out of the older version of Colorado's Hot Springs (The Pruett Series). Hopefully it will be a useful to you as its predecessor. Don't forget to check out the article about the best swimsuits for hot springs to findthe perfect bathing suit for your adventures!
Great article about the best guidebooks about Colorado hot springs. I have spent a lot of time hot potting in Colorado and lately I have decided to branch out, so I am interested in the guide book about hot spring of the Pacific Northwest. I think I will purchase it and start planning my next adventure. Cheers!
So happy you found a new book to help you on a new adventure. I have only really enjoyed hot springs in Colorado and Wyoming, I think trying thermal pools in the Northwest would be amazing. Have fun on your journey and I am so happy this article was helpful to you.
Thank you so much for sharing this great post about Colorado Hot Springs. My wife and I are from Florida and have an RV and we spend summers traveling around the western US looking for fun adventures, this totally fits the bill. We have been to a few hot springs like the one in Glenwood Springs and one up near Ouray but we would love to visit more. Needless to say we do not get great internet in our RV so books are most reliable and convenient. Thanks so much for sharing these titles, this is exactly what we need.
Thank you for your kind words and comments regarding the list of Colorado hot spring guidebooks. I am so happy you found this article informative and helpful and I hope you have a wonderful time on your adventures. As an aside you may want to also check out the articles: RV Parks Near Vail, and The Best RV Accessories for Adventure. Have fun!