Sunday, October 13, 2024

Mt. Princton Hot Springs Resort Fun For Our 50th Anniversary !



My husband and I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary in early October--click here--to see that post. To continue our happy celebration, we decided to spend a few days enjoying the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado.  We enjoyed this resort four years ago for a day--click here--to read that post, but we did not stay there on that visit, as we also traveled to see other Colorado sights.

Mount Princeton is a part of Colorado's Collegiate Peaks and the Sawatch Range in central Colorado. The mountain stands at 14,197 feet, and one can hike a challenging 13.25-mile out-and-back hike that ascends to a grueling 5,400 vertical feet. Nearby is the 14,269-foot Mt. Antero, which has a 16-mile round-trip hike, with 5,200 vertical feet climb. 



The resort has views of both mountains, as well as the Chalk Cliffs.  The cliffs are actually made of kaolinite. This soft white clay is deposited by hot mineral waters that bubble up through cracks in the granite. Chalk Creek flows through Chalk Creek Canyon bringing their hot springs water to the Mt Princeton Resort.

 




The Princeton Hot Springs Resort includes on-site many different accommodation options, from a lodge to cabins and creekside suites, and there is a restaurant, and spa treatments available, as well as fitness and yoga classes for guests/



On our arrival at the resort, we spent the day soaking in the Creekside Hot Springs. The geothermal hot spring water bubbles out of the ground at 140 degrees Fahrenheit and mixes with the cold water in Chalk Creek. 

Open to all guests, each pool is approximately one foot in depth with a comfortable sandy bottom, if the water gets too hot one has to simply remove a few stones to allow cooler water to rush into the rock pools. Each pool offers different temperature ranges and a unique view of the surrounding mountains above.


On the second and third days that we stayed at the resort, we enjoyed the Spa Pool. The Relaxation Pool is maintained at a soothing temperature of 90 – 99°F.


We also enjoyed the Cascading Hot Springs which are three Japanese-style cascading pools located in a more private setting next to the rushing waters of Chalk Creek. Constructed entirely from rock and fed by the hot springs, these pools are nestled right into the ground. Each pool offers a different temperature varying from 107 degrees to 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

All of the hot springs are open from 9AM to 9PM.  If you'd like to view a short video explaining how the Hot Springs were formed at Mt Princeton click on this Youtube link.
 

The unusually warm fall temperatures we had this year in Colorado meant that the resort's flowers were still in beautiful bloom!


We had a delicious and filling breakfast each day at the resort, but in the evening we drove to the nearby towns. The first day we visited charming town of Buena Vista. Buena Vista is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Numerous rafting companies are based around Buena Vista, offering guests thrilling whitewater rafting trips on the Arkansas River. Anglers also share the river, which was awarded Gold Medal Trout Water by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.


We ate at a casual restaurant called Simple Eatery, where I enjoyed the freshly caught trout and mixed vegetables, while my husband had an Elk Burger that was on a handmade pretzel loaf bun. Both meals were delicious!



On our way back to the resort we saw a beautiful bright sunset! It was a wonderful ending to a perfect day. 

In my next posts, I'll show our drive to the summit of a mountain via Cottonwood Pass and our visit to another charming nearby town south of the resort--Salida. 


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