Today 5 Mar. Parking is available in a small lot at the trailhead. You will have to snowshoe or snowmobile into the trailhead because the road is not plowed during the winter and there is virtually no parking nearby during this season. Use this Overnight Permit Zone Map to understand which zones in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness require a permit. As the numbers go up, you will be a bit farther from the actual hot springs themselves. Bear canisters are required for all backpackers in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The hike crosses Conundrum Creek three times, so finding a place to refill water bottles is not difficult. ) or https:// means you've safely There is one main hot springs pool that fits about 15 people and is about 102 degrees. Conundrum Hot Springs: The Conundrum Creek Trail generally parallels Conundrum Creek weaving its way up the valley through the woods and meadows to three river crossings before the hot springs. The ascent is about 2500 ft in elevation. The trail follows Conundrum Creek from the trail head to the hot springs. Throughout the entire hike, snowshoers will need to be able to recognize signs of recent avalanche activity and signs of conditions that may put them at risk. View all hotels near Conundrum Hot Springs on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Conundrum Hot Springs on Tripadvisor, The John Denver Sanctuary: Tickets & Tours, Town 2 Mountain Express: Tickets & Tours, Montmartre and Sacre Coeur Walking Tour in Paris, Unlimited WiFi Router Hotspot Naha (Okinawa) Airport 4G LTE plus Free Power Bank, Kandy to Ella train ride on (Train No: 1015 "Udarata Menike"), MJ Live at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, Capri Private Boat Tour from Positano or Praiano or Amalfi. Visitors from local areas, around the state and the world adore this gem of a wilderness area. Map updates are paused. After storms, it becomes a "valley of death" in which avalanches regularly sweep . 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Chance of precipitation is 60%. However, all of those are relatively minor points; the major one being that the Condundrum Creek valley is one of the most heavily avalanched areas in Colorado, with the summer trail crossing at least half a dozen major slide paths on its traverse above the creek. and follow the rules. During the fall, crowds are generally less, streams are easier to cross, and colors often blaze. I have hiked to this springs for 55 years. connected to the .gov website. In October, the leaves will be just changing to their auburn colors and are gorgeous. Mt. The views were incredible, with snow-capped mountains on either side of much of the trail and several lakes along the way. The perfect way to help your feet, 2022 The Dyrt, Inc | All rights reserved, The Most Famous Hot Springs in Colorado Arent Easy to Reach, Yosemite Camping Reservations: Set Up Cancellation Text Notifications, 6 Private Campgrounds to Book When Your Favorite National Parks are Full. There were wildflowers and the aspens even started to change. Air Quality Excellent. There are a limited number of parking spaces available so you may need to reserve a bus ticket. And finally, be sure to pack out any trash that you have because there are no receptacles anywhere on Conundrum Creek Trail. I would highly recommend budgeting an entire day to tackle this hike if you are not going to spend the night. Be sure that you reserve enough camping sites for your whole group as the maximum allowable number of people per site varies from 2 to 6 so you may need to reserve a couple of sites. However, during the middle of the summer this is a heavily trafficked trail and will certainly be busy with people looking to enjoy the hot springs. If you drive 1/2 mile west of Aspen down Highway 82 you'll reach a roundabout where you'll turn right on to Castle Creek Road. A permit is required for overnight stays within theConundrum Hot Springs Zone. Keep all of this in mind when planning your trip. Avalanche hazards exist in the mountains. This Wilderness is located inColorado within the Elk Mountains and spans the White River and Gunnison National Forests. If you (and your group) plan to camp in a permitted zone, you will need to reserve a spot in each zone for each night that you camp. Conundrum Hot Springs Zone reserveable campsites, When planning your trip, please keep the following in mind:, A few more items to agree to and consider when planning include:, Aspen-Sopris Ranger Station (970) 963-2266. There is parking at Conundrum Creek Trailhead. The ascent is about 2500 ft in . The Elk Mountains tower over bathers at . My older son admired their confidence. Many experienced backpackers like to connect the trails and pick up a ride down the other side from into Crested Butte. Thanks so much for any insight! Crater Lake Zone Designated Campsites I do hikenormally with gear! Remember, youll need to bring a bear canister or Ursack. If you plan on camping back here to get to Conundrum Hot Springs, then you'll need to get a permit online before you go. The final hour or so of this hike involves many small creek crossings and your feet are likely to get wet. What hotels are near Conundrum Hot Springs? If you plan on camping back here to get to Conundrum Hot Springs, then you'll need to get a permit online before you go. After sunset, clothing is often optional. Be prepared for this if you are making a day trip. Solid human waste must be packed out. Total Gain 4,850 feet if you start at the main trailhead. Be wary of thin ice and soft snow near water sources. If you do not bring these bear resistant containers, you may be asked to leave the premises because of unsafe conditions related to black bears coming into the area. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. A huge number for a wilderness area without trash cans or bathrooms. The last 1.5 miles of the trail is strenuous, with quite a bit of elevation gain. The appeal of Conundrum Hot Springs is undeniable. Permit holders may cancel their permit up to 2 days before their trip and recieve a full refund (minus the $6 reservation fee). In the summer, there are millions of wildflowers of every color. . Is the weather too cold to hike and stay overnight at the conundrum hot springs in mid-November? The springs are an 8.5 mile hike from the Conundrum Creek trailhead. It was sunny and clear and the high temperature reached 60 degrees. The camping permit system, and the regulations, are in place to help protect this unique Wilderness treasure. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Forest Service implemented a strict permit system for overnight visitors to dramatically decrease the impact to the wilderness area. We were on a such a time crunch and should have prepared better. If you want to hike to Conundrum Hot Spring and are a less experienced hiker I would recommend the route that leaves from closer to Aspen at Conundrum Creek Trailhead. Parking is quite limited and can be made even more limited when winter weather is present. The hike involves a gain of 2,500 in elevation to 11,200 feet. temperature of ~100 degrees F (each pool varies). Breezy, with a south southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. The hike back down to the parking lot took about 3.5 hours. Campfires also sterilize the soil and scar the beautiful landscape. Leslie joined OutThere Colorado in November 2020. The view was spectacular. Mt. Conundrum Hot Springs is the most famous alpine hot spring in Colorado, which is part of the reason why it's also a hot spot (pun intended) of conservation controversy. For more information on camping in this wilderness area, watch the following video, which is mandatory viewing for overnight visitors. As it stood, I had a short discussion with my sons, and we soon decided before we entered the pool that we too would soak naked. Dogs are also not allowed in the valley so make sure to leave your lovable pets back at home. The best way to plan for your trip and to be ready to reserve a permit is to understand where you plan to camp each night of your trip. Conundrum Hot Springs - 17.0 Miles Round-Trip The Conundrum Hot Springs are located 8.5 miles from Conundrum Creek Trailhead off Castle Creek Road in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. I and my sons, 16 and 14, made a day trip along the Conundrum Creek Trail outside of Aspen. [6] Thank god it didn't see her, she noticed it and turned around quietly. It was my younger son's first hike of this length. Cameron Bailey is a writer and musician currently living in Evanston, IL. Backpackers are more susceptible to altitude sickness up there, and need to be aware of the symptoms of more serious complications. Exposure is common through water or food. There is one large pool and a few smaller ones, but with up to 30 people camping there every night, expect to have some company. We hiked from the trail head to the Conundrum Hot Springs and back to the trail head. Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Take the right onto Conundrum Road and follow it until you reach the trailhead for Conundrum Creek. Id recommend going sometime in June when it will still be slightly colder at those higher elevations but the hot spring will be a welcome way to ward off the cold. As a visitor to the area, its up to you to help protect this amazing place, and we know that you will! We provide tools and tips to discover Make a reservation beforehand to ensure that you can get one of the available campsites. The best time of year to visit Conundrum Creek Trail and Conundrum Hot Springs is from May to early October. Our spontaneous naked soak with strangers-turned-new friends wound up being a bonding experience and a highlight of the hike for my sons. Wind SSW 6 mph. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If youre as passionate about outdoor adventure as we are, then we have you covered. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. The hot springs are surrounded by the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness in the White River National Forest. Intense snowshoe hike travels to hot spring hidden in Colorado mountains, 'Greatest space show on Earth' returns to Colorado Springs bigger than ever, Colorado couple accidentally falls into glamping business, Evacuations ordered as "wind-driven" wildfire burns in Colorado, Why do hikers keep losing their shoes? South southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. If permit holder or alternate are not present, permit is not valid, Group size may be changed up to the maximum allowable until the permit has been printed, Once permit has been printed, you cannot make changes to the permit, Permit can be printed up to 14 days prior to trip. From early October to late June campsites, trails, and mountain passes are snow covered and the trailheads may be inaccessible. Make sure to bring a bear bag or bear resistant container to hang or store all of your food and toiletries overnight so as not to attract bears to the campsites. I would consider this a must-do Colorado activity. All day and all night, the hot springs are there for your relaxation. I would also recommend bringing bear spray to protect yourself in case you have an unfortunate encounter that somehow cannot be avoided. I believe it was 8 or 9 miles in and it is a trek with all your gear. The Conundrum Creek Trail, in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, generally parallels Conundrum Creek weaving 8.5 miles and 2,500 vertical feet up the valley and through the woods and meadows to the popular Conundrum Hot Springs. A side note: The students in the pool fed by the main hot spring were all completely naked. Many varieties are harmless, but some strains can cause abdominal issues and, in extreme cases, life-threatening kidney failure, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Thispermit must be acquired in advance at recreation.gov. 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