Desert Reef Hot Spring: The Complete Visitor Guide
Desert Reef Hot Spring is a clothing-optional soaking spot on 77.5 acres of high desert outside Florence, Colorado, with five geothermal pools and a wide-open view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The water rises from a well drilled more than 1,000 feet down, comes up scalding hot, and gets cooled to a soakable 96 to 108°F before it fills the pools. It sits at 1194 County Road 110, about 45 minutes southwest of Colorado Springs and roughly 90 minutes from Denver, on the dry plateau between the Arkansas River and the Wet Mountains.
This is not a resort waterpark like the developed springs farther north. There are no waterslides, no snack bar, and no walk-in crowds. Desert Reef runs on reservations, has a few rules that catch first-timers off guard (the clothing-optional policy and the single-male rule are the big ones), and rewards people who come for the quiet and the stars. This guide covers the pools and water temperatures, 2026 prices and hours, the clothing and age rules in plain terms, how to book, what to bring, and how Desert Reef compares to the other hot springs in Colorado.
What You'll Learn
- Quick stats at a glance
- Where it is and how to get there
- The pools and water temperatures
- The clothing-optional policy explained
- Age and single-male rules
- Prices and reservations
- Hours and the weekly cleaning day
- What to bring
- Best time to visit
- Desert Reef vs other Colorado hot springs
- Common visitor mistakes
- Frequently asked questions
Quick stats at a glance
- Location: 1194 County Road 110, Florence, CO 81226
- Setting: 77.5 acres of high desert, views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Pools: Five total. One large main pool (36 by 50 feet, about 40,400 gallons) plus four smaller pools
- Water: Natural geothermal mineral water from a well over 1,000 feet deep
- Temperature: Roughly 100 to 104°F in winter, 96 to 108°F across the pools in summer
- Clothing: Optional, except Fridays (suits required from open until 6:30 PM)
- Age: 18 and over for regular day soaking
- Reservations: Strongly recommended; weekends and holidays book out
- Weekday pass (2026): About $25
- Weekend pass (2026): About $35
- Soak length: Two and a half hours per reservation
- Closed: Tuesdays (weekly drain and cleaning day)
Where it is and how to get there
Desert Reef sits on County Road 110 northeast of Florence, in the open country between Cañon City and Pueblo. The drive in takes you off the highway and onto gravel for the last stretch, so don't expect a sign-lit entrance. Plug the address into your map app before you lose cell service, and watch your odometer on the final turn.
From Colorado Springs (45 minutes, 40 miles):
- US 115 south toward Penrose
- US 50 west briefly, then south on local roads toward Florence
- Follow signs and your map app to County Road 110
From Pueblo (40 minutes, 30 miles):
- US 50 west toward Cañon City
- South to Florence, then out County Road 110
From Denver (90 minutes to 2 hours, 115 miles):
- I-25 south to Colorado Springs
- US 115 south through Penrose, then toward Florence
From Cañon City (15 minutes, 10 miles):
- East on US 50, south to Florence, then out to the spring
If you're building a southern Colorado trip around the soak, the Royal Gorge and the Arkansas River canyon are right next door in Cañon City, and the Sangre de Cristo trailheads are an easy add-on. Our best hot springs in Colorado guide maps the rest of the state's soaks if you want to string a few together.
The pools and water temperatures
The geothermal water at Desert Reef has a backstory. The well was first drilled by Conoco in the 1940s during the Florence oil exploration, and instead of oil they hit hot water more than 1,000 feet down. The water surfaces somewhere around 125 to 135°F, far too hot to sit in, so the pools are fed and cooled to land in the comfortable range.
There are five pools. The centerpiece is the large main pool, 36 by 50 feet and holding about 40,400 gallons, deep enough to float and swim a few strokes. Around it sit four smaller pools at varying temperatures, so you can move from a hotter soak to a cooler one and back. The faint blue-green tint in the water comes from travertine, the same mineral that builds up around a lot of geothermal springs.
Temperatures shift with the season because the staff adjust the inflow. Plan on roughly 100 to 104°F in winter and a wider 96 to 108°F spread across the pools in summer. That makes Desert Reef a genuine hot soak, hotter on average than the big family pools up north, which is part of why it draws people who want to actually cook for a while rather than splash around.
The clothing-optional policy explained
Here's the part that surprises first-timers: Desert Reef is clothing-optional. On a normal day you'll see a mix of people in swimsuits, topless, and fully nude, and all of that is fine and normal here. Nobody is required to undress, and nobody is going to pressure you. If you've never been to a clothing-optional spring, the vibe is relaxed and matter-of-fact rather than a scene.
The one exception is Friday. Every Friday, swimsuits are required from the time the doors open until 6:30 PM. If you want to test the waters (so to speak) before committing to the clothing-optional experience, a Friday daytime visit lets you see the place suited-up. After 6:30 PM on Fridays it reverts to clothing-optional like the rest of the week.
Photography is the other thing to know. Recording devices and cameras are not allowed in the pool areas, and that rule is taken seriously to protect everyone's privacy. Leave the phone in your bag once you're at the water.
Age and single-male rules
Two policies trip people up, so book with them in mind.
First, age. Regular day soaking is 18 and over only. This is an adult soaking spring, not a family pool. The exception is private facility rentals, where guests of all ages are welcome, so a family group that books the place privately can bring kids. If you want a family-friendly hot springs day with a waterslide and a shallow kids' pool, the developed springs up north are the better call.
Second, the single-male rule. Single men, or groups of men, must be accompanied by a partner or a female to visit during regular hours. This is a long-standing policy at a number of clothing-optional springs, meant to keep the atmosphere comfortable for everyone. Solo men who want regular access typically need to join as members. If you're a couple or a mixed group, none of this affects you.
Prices and reservations
Desert Reef runs on reservations, and you should treat that as a hard rule even though limited walk-in space sometimes opens up. The place fills, especially on weekends, holidays, and warm evenings, and showing up without a booking is a gamble.
As of 2026, a soaking pass runs about $25 on weekdays and $35 on weekends, and a reservation buys you a two-and-a-half-hour soak. There's also a Splash Pass (around $135) that bundles multiple soaks if you plan to come back. Book through the official site, desertreefhotspring.com, as far ahead as you can for weekend slots.
A few booking notes:
- Soaking cancellations need to be made at least two hours ahead
- Overnight cancellations have a stricter window (you can be charged a night's stay if you cancel inside 72 hours)
- Limited overnight spots exist for vans, teardrops, truck campers, and Class B rigs only. No tent or car camping
Alcohol is BYOB and capped at two drinks per person, cans or sealed plastic only, with no glass anywhere near the water. Pack accordingly.
Hours and the weekly cleaning day
Desert Reef is generally open 10 AM to 9:30 PM most days. The schedule has two quirks worth flagging:
- Tuesday is closed to day guests. This is the weekly drain-and-clean day, when all the pools are emptied and scrubbed. It's the reason the water stays clean without heavy chemical treatment, but it means no Tuesday soaking.
- Wednesday has limited daytime access (members and certain passes) before opening up later, so confirm Wednesday hours before you drive out.
Hours and policies do shift seasonally, and a small operation like this can change its schedule, so always check desertreefhotspring.com or call ahead the day before you go.
What to bring
There's no gear shop on-site and the nearest stores are back in Florence or Cañon City, so come prepared. A few things make the soak better:
- A good towel or two. A fast-drying microfiber towel packs small and dries quickly, which matters on a dusty drive home.
- Flip-flops or sandals. The ground between pools is gravel and stone. A pair of waterproof pool sandals saves your feet.
- A wide-brim hat and sunglasses. There's almost no shade out on the plateau, and the high-desert sun is strong at this elevation. Pack a packable sun hat.
- Mineral sunscreen. You'll be exposed for two and a half hours. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and reapply.
- A refillable water bottle. Soaking at altitude in dry air dehydrates you fast. An insulated water bottle keeps water cold through a long soak.
- A swimsuit. Required on Friday daytime even though the rest of the week is optional, and handy if you'd rather stay suited.
If you're stopping after a day on the trail, our Colorado hiking beginner's guide covers the basics for getting out in this part of the state first.
Best time to visit
The two best windows are winter days and clear-sky evenings, for different reasons.
In winter, the air sits in the 30s and 40s while the water holds 100 to 104°F, and the steam against the brown desert and the snow-dusted Sangre de Cristos is the scene people remember. Crowds thin out, too.
On any clear night, the appeal is the sky. Florence sits far enough from city glow that the stars come out hard, and a late soak under them is the thing regulars rave about. Aim for a weekday evening if you want it quiet, since weekends and holidays book up and fill the pools.
Summer middays are the time to skip if you can. The desert sun is relentless with no shade, and the pools run their warmest, which is a lot of heat stacked on heat. If summer is your only option, go for an evening slot.
Desert Reef vs other Colorado hot springs
Colorado has a deep bench of hot springs, and Desert Reef plays a specific role on it. It's the adults-only, clothing-optional, quiet-soak option in the southern part of the state, where the draw is the desert setting and the lack of a crowd rather than amenities.
If you want family-friendly with slides and shallow pools, the developed springs are a better fit. Our Ouray Hot Springs Pool guide and Glenwood Hot Springs Pool guide both cover big mountain-town pools with sections for kids. For a small, atmospheric soak closer to the Denver side, our Indian Hot Springs guide in Idaho Springs is the classic. Desert Reef is the one you pick when you specifically want clothing-optional, no kids, and a wide-open desert sky.
Common visitor mistakes
A handful of avoidable missteps come up again and again:
Showing up without a reservation. Walk-in space is limited and weekends fill. Book ahead.
Bringing kids on a regular day. Day soaking is 18 and over. Only private rentals allow all ages.
Single men booking solo for a regular visit. The policy requires men to be accompanied by a partner or a female, or to join as members. Read it before you book so you're not turned away at the gate.
Planning a Tuesday soak. Tuesday is the closed cleaning day. Pick another day.
Bringing glass or a cooler full of beer. Two drinks per person, cans or sealed plastic, no glass. And no dogs except documented service animals.
Pulling out a phone at the pools. Cameras and recording devices are banned in the pool areas. Keep it packed away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Desert Reef Hot Spring clothing-optional?
Yes. Desert Reef is clothing-optional, so you'll see a mix of suited, topless, and nude soakers, and any of those is fine. The one exception is Friday, when swimsuits are required from opening until 6:30 PM. After that it reverts to clothing-optional like the rest of the week.
How much does Desert Reef Hot Spring cost?
As of 2026, a soaking pass is about $25 on weekdays and $35 on weekends, which buys a two-and-a-half-hour soak. A multi-soak Splash Pass runs around $135. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekends. Confirm current rates at desertreefhotspring.com before you go.
Can kids go to Desert Reef Hot Spring?
Not for regular day soaking, which is 18 and over only. The exception is private facility rentals, where guests of all ages are welcome. If you want a hot springs day with the kids, the developed family pools elsewhere in Colorado are a better choice.
Do you need a reservation for Desert Reef?
Yes, in practice. Reservations are strongly recommended and the spring fills up on weekends, holidays, and warm evenings. Limited walk-in space sometimes opens, but counting on it is risky. Book through the official site as early as you can.
How hot is the water at Desert Reef?
The pools run roughly 100 to 104°F in winter and 96 to 108°F across the different pools in summer. The source water surfaces much hotter, around 125 to 135°F from a well over 1,000 feet deep, and gets cooled to soaking temperature before it reaches the pools.
Why is Desert Reef closed on Tuesdays?
Tuesday is the weekly drain-and-clean day. All five pools are emptied and scrubbed, which is how the water stays clean without heavy chemical treatment. Plan your visit for any other day of the week.
Final thoughts
Desert Reef Hot Spring is the soak you choose for quiet, heat, and a wide desert sky rather than for slides and amenities. The water is genuinely hot, the 77.5-acre setting is open and uncrowded, and the clothing-optional, adults-only format makes it a different experience from the big mountain-town pools.
Come on a clear weekday evening with a reservation, a good towel, and plenty of water. Read the clothing, age, and single-male policies before you book so nothing catches you at the gate, skip Tuesday, and plan to stay through sunset for the stars. If you're piecing together a longer trip, our best hot springs in Colorado guide lays out the rest of the state's soaks worth the drive.
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