I love unique hotel stays. And while I’ll gladly stay at a chain when the occasion calls for it, I always look for a chance to discover something unique, new, or exceptional. Like Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, CO.
I discovered this cozy resort at the recommendation of my travel buddy/old college roommate, Sarah. She’d stayed there about a year ago and loved it so much she felt it was worth a return trip. Knowing that our first day would include 5:30 am flights and over 3 hours of driving, plus stops for exploration, we felt that a hot springs resort was a well-deserved way to start our trip.
Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Princeton has the ideal setting for a hot springs getaway. You’re treated to 360-degree mountain views while you soak in geothermal springs, and it’s absolutely delightful!
Now, the closest I’d come to a hot springs getaway before this was our tranquil stay at Montana de Fuego Hotel in Costa Rica, which was epic. But Mt. Princeton was less focused on nature and more on relaxation with multiple pools and hot springs, a waterslide, an infinity pool, and more!
It was the perfect way to kick off our jam-packed Colorado adventure. And you better believe I will be looking for more hot springs getaways in the future because of it.
FAQs About Mt. Princeton
- What does my stay include? Each overnight stay includes 2 days of access to the hot springs, 10% off spa treatments, complimentary fitness classes, and bike, snowshoe, and cross-country ski rentals. Overnight guests also get early and exclusive access to certain areas, like the infinity pool and Relaxation Pool.
- What kind of accommodations do they have? Mt. Princeton has several fantastic lodging options to suit your group size and desired location. You can choose from creekside suites, cabin rentals, suites at the Lodge, cliffside or hillside hotel rooms, or an estate rental.
- How much does a room cost? The price of a room or suite varies widely depending on what kind of lodging you want to book. The hotel rooms are by far the least expensive option, with prices as low as $230 a night for a 2-queen room. In contrast, renting out a large cabin that sleeps ten and has a kitchen will cost $600 or more.
- Can I visit the hot springs without staying overnight? Yes! If you’d rather do a day trip to Mt. Princeton, you can purchase a hot springs day pass starting at $40. It does come with some time and access restrictions, but you’ll be able to enjoy the historic bath house, creekside hot springs, upper pools, and infinity pool.
Things to do at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort
Whether you want to soak in geothermal pools all day or get out in nature, Mt. Princeton has plenty to do! In fact, you’d have a pretty hard time getting bored in this exciting location.
Water Activities at Mt. Princeton
As you may expect from the name, the hot springs are the prime attraction at Mt. Princeton. And they have several different ways you can enjoy them.
- Relaxation Pool–Head over to the Relaxation Pool at the Club to enjoy daily fitness classes and yoga, or swim in the toasty 90-99 degree waters. (For overnight guests 16+ and spa patrons only)
- Cascading Hot Springs–My personal favorite, these Japanese-style hot spring pools offer temps between 100 and 107 degrees. (For overnight guests 16+ and spa patrons only)
- Soaking Pool–The original hot springs experience! The historic bath house has a large hot spring pool that stays around 105 degrees, making it one of the warmest hot springs in Colorado!
- Creekside Hot Springs–Customize your hot springs temperature at one of the rocky pools built into Chalk Creek. Hot springs feed into the side of the creek, and you can add or remove rocks to adjust how much cold water comes into your little geothermal pool!
- Infinity Pool–While all the pools have great views, the Infinity Pool has the best panorama (in my opinion). This large pool stays around 104 degrees and has plenty of seating to enjoy the sunshine. It connects to a shallower and cooler upper pool (82 degrees) and a 400-foot water slide! (Watch my Youtube video for footage of going down the slide!)
Spa Treatments
If you’re in the mood for personal pampering, the Spa has plenty of options! Choose from massages, facials, steam rooms, a sauna, or body treatments.
Outdoor Fun
If you want to take some time away from the water, you can explore the mountains with complimentary gear or with one of their guided activities. Some popular options include:
- Mountain biking or fat tire biking
- Snowshoeing
- Snowboarding
- Cross country skiing
- Horseback riding
- Hiking
- Whitewater rafting
They can also connect you with exciting local tours, often with special rates.
Food at Mt. Princeton
Mt. Princeton has several dining options throughout the resort, ranging from a food truck to the Mary Murphy Steak House in the main lodge.
The Princeton Market is the best choice for quick snacks and drinks. Alternatively, the Juice Bar at the Club offers a healthy selection of snacks, smoothies, and juices you can enjoy at the hot springs. We got a couple of different smoothies here and enjoyed how refreshing they were after the hot water and sun.
The premiere dining location is the Mary Murphy Steakhouse. We ate lunch here before we headed out, and it was absolutely delicious! It’s a rustic chic atmosphere with indoor and outdoor dining options and a fabulous menu. I heartily recommend the Asian Chicken Salad, Black Pepper & Bourbon Steak Tips, and the Cheese Curds.
Quick Review of Our Cliffside Hotel Room
I wanted to take full advantage of our gorgeous location, so we booked one of the cliffside hotel rooms. I was generally impressed with the size, comfort, and view of the rooms. However, the decor and style were not particularly anything special.
Our front door opened directly into a small tiled room fitted with a large wardrobe, mirror, vanity, and a small kitchenette setup. I greatly appreciated the coffee station, complete with Nespresso pods and creamer! The kitchenette also had a small fridge and microwave.
The main bedroom was super-spacious, with plenty of room to spread out if we wanted to. It had two comfy queen beds, a bench, a big TV, and a large chair next to a large table. I loved how cozy the bed was, and I slept very hard. It could’ve been the long day, but I’ll credit the comfy mattress.
The bathroom was standard and clean, with a shower/tub combo, pedestal sink, mirror, and toilet. It wasn’t a great spot for doing makeup, but the large vanity in the outer room met that need perfectly–even for two girls doing their makeup at once.
Our back patio, complete with a table and red Adirondack chairs, overlooked the resort. We arrived after dark, so, unfortunately, we missed the sunset. But the sunrise the following morning was stunning. My only complaint here is that the patio wasn’t private. Each room had a small patio area outside its sliding doors, but they were all on one continuous concrete slab. Having a low privacy fence or some greenery would have been nice to make the space feel more private.
Overall, it was a fantastic room, and I would definitely book it again to enjoy the resort’s amenities!
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Closing Thoughts on Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort
If you can’t tell, we had an absolutely fantastic stay at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs resort!
One thing I really appreciated was how easy they made it for us to enjoy that second day of hot springs access to the fullest. We had to check out of our room by 10, which could have made things difficult. But we were free to wander around as long as we liked, and they also kept us supplied with fresh towels.
Before we left, we could wash off in the locker room, which had about six private showers stocked with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. They also had a swimsuit dryer and other amenities like razors available if we needed them. I was so thankful that we didn’t have to drive to Estes Park in soaking wet clothes or change in the public restroom.
On top of that, the service was just fantastic. Everyone we interacted with was kind and helpful, and it made it easy for us to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
If you feel like you need a hot springs getaway, too, be sure to save this post for inspiration! Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family you want to bring along. And if you want to share any comments or questions before you go, feel free to drop them below!
For more information on Colorado adventures, check out these posts and start planning a whole trip!
- Get Lost at Meow Wolf Convergence Station in Denver!
- 8 Reasons to Book a Stay at the Catbird Hotel Right Now
- How to Maximize Your Trip To The Bear Lake Corridor
- Quick Guide to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog before you go for more travel inspiration, and stay tuned for more adventures in Colorado coming soon!
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Until next time, happy travels.
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