# Dunton Hot Springs: Restored Mining Town in Colorado

> Dunton Hot Springs is a restored 19th-century mining town in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, now a small, all-inclusive resort built around natural hot springs. It's best for couples, families and small groups who want soaking, mountain activities and long communal dinners, and it's open year-round.

Source: https://www.retreatvacations.net/dunton-hot-springs/
Last checked: 2026-10-20
Location: Dolores River valley, near Rico, Colorado, United States
Type: spa, wellness, yoga
Official website: https://www.duntondestinations.com/hot-springs/
Best for: Couples, families and private group buy-outs
Setting: A mountain valley on the West Fork of the Dolores River
Lodging: 14 restored log cabins, up to 52 guests
Wellness: Hot springs from 85°F to 106°F, spa treatments, private yoga sessions
Nearest airports: Cortez and Telluride (about 1 hour), Durango and Montrose (2 to 3 hours)

## What it's like

Dunton is an 1880s mining town in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado that's been carefully restored into a small resort. Hand-hewn log cabins, some built by the original miners, ring an old saloon and dance hall. The restored 19th-century bathhouse sits nearby, and at the far end of town there's an open-air chapel beside a waterfall. It's just across the mountains from Telluride, but it feels much further away.

The town has 14 cabins and takes a maximum of 52 guests, so it feels more like a village than a hotel. Each cabin is different. Some are cozy one-bedroom spaces with wood stoves, while larger ones like Potter House or Vertical Log have several bedrooms for families or friends. The Well House has its own private hot spring tub and cold plunge. All have en suite bathrooms.

The whole town can also be booked exclusively for weddings, reunions and small retreats. The resort is now part of the Dunton Destinations group, so its pages live on the [Dunton Hot Springs website](https://www.duntondestinations.com/hot-springs/).

## The programs

Dunton isn't a structured retreat program. It's a place to soak, eat well and spend time outdoors, with wellness built into the day.

**Hot springs:** The springs are rich in bicarbonate, iron and a little lithium. You can soak in 5 places, from 85°F to 106°F: inside the old bathhouse, at the source under the stars, in the pool outside the bathhouse, in a pool behind the Dunton Store cabin and in the Well House. Two time slots each day can be reserved for private bathhouse use.

**Spa and yoga:** The spa offers 75-minute massages, including deep tissue, CBD and hot stone, plus scrubs and facials using Susanne Kaufmann products. Private and couples yoga sessions cover postures and pranayama (breathwork).

**Outdoors:** In summer there's horseback riding, fly fishing on a private stretch of the West Fork of the Dolores, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, rafting and guided climbs of nearby 14,000-foot peaks. In winter, guests snowshoe, cross-country ski and ride a snowcat up to 10,000 feet.

**Food:** Dining is fully inclusive. There's no fixed menu; the kitchen cooks seasonally around guests' preferences, gathered before arrival. You can eat at the communal table in the saloon, at the chef's counter or at your own table in the dance hall.

## Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It's a natural fit for couples, families with kids (several cabins have multiple bedrooms) and groups who want to take over a whole town. Anyone who loves hot springs and mountains will be happy here in any season.

It's not a yoga retreat in the classic sense. If you want group classes several times a day or a guided program, look elsewhere. It's also remote by design, which is the point for most guests.

## Getting there

From Highway 145, turn onto County Road 38 and follow it 21 miles. The last 8 miles are unpaved. The nearest airports are Cortez and Telluride, about an hour's drive (longer from Telluride in winter), with Durango and Montrose 2 to 3 hours away. The resort can arrange private transfers.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dunton open in winter?
Yes. It's open year-round, and soaking is available every season.

### Are meals included?
Yes. Meals and most drinks are included in the nightly rate, apart from the reserve wine list.

### Is it good for kids?
Yes. The resort calls itself very family friendly, and several cabins have multiple bedrooms.

### When are the fall colors best?
The resort says late September is often peak aspen season, though it varies a little each year.