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Hot Sulphur Springs

by Debra Goldyn

When you’re looking for a weekend adventure, any location with the word “springs” in the name is generally a safe bet. Hot Sulphur Springs is no exception.

Located off of Highway 40, Hot Sulphur Springs is a small town. The type of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, everybody-knows-everybody-else type of burg that’s perfect for a few days of relaxation. It’s the sort of Gilmore Girls-type locale that actually holds town meetings, although as one resident wryly noted, they ought to move the meetings to an earlier time if they don’t want half the attendees to show up drunk.

The main attraction? The springs, of course. There’s nothing better than soaking in a hot tub to melt away your stress; the pruney fingers and lingering sulphur smell are just a bonus. We went in March, when the weather is fickle and cool enough to make boiling yourself like a lobster seem appealing. As we sat in one of the covered pools, we had a view of deer picking their way along the ridge. They were unafraid, and seemed to relish the irony of mingling with a grouping of metallic sculptures of deer, which were scattered along the hill.

Lodging options are limited in Hot Sulphur Springs. The best choices are the Canyon Motel, the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa, and the Riverside Hotel. The Canyon Motel is a charming, rustic operation where the owners will deliver pizza to your room. The Riverside Hotel is a historic building just a stone’s throw from the springs. It changed hands in 2007, and the new owners have lightened the decor, updated the menu, and revived the bar, which was largely dormant in years past. Light sleepers take note, though: If you’re staying at the Resort or the Riverside, you may benefit from ear plugs. While both hotels are conveniently close to the springs, they’re also in close proximity to the railroad tracks.

Half the fun of going to Hot Sulphur Springs is the drive. The scenery is gorgeous, and we usually stop off in Empire for a bite at the Hard Rock Cafe. Not the glitzy rock-and-roll version, but the original, established in the 1930s. The bacon burger there ranks among the best burgers we’ve ever had. Along with Empire, take some side trips to visit nearby Kremmling, Winter Park, or Grand Lake.