Poncha Hot Springs

Beginner 30-60 MIN     5 Miles

Rating: Beginner-intermediate.
Distance: Five miles.
Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Elevation: Starting at 7,445 feet, climbing to approximately 7,880 feet at the highest point.
Trail: Paved highway with wide shoulder and graded dirt road.
Access: Begin this ride at Poncha Springs’ Chipeta Park. It is one block south of U.S. 50 in Poncha Springs, on La Plata street. Look for a small sign on the highway.

Ride west on Sabeta. Go to the second stop sign which will be the intersection of Sabeta and U.S. 285. Turn left (south) onto Main street in Poncha Springs (also U.S. 285 south). Just after crossing the bridge going over the South Arkansas River, turn left on Hot Springs Road, CR 115.

A few yards after crossing another bridge (Poncha Creek), the road forks. Continue straight up CR 115. If you turn left here, you enter private property and will have to turn back.

As you begin your climb up to the hot springs, you will catch some great views to the north including peaks of the Sawatch Range, the Chalk Cliffs and Buffalo Peaks, to name a few.

After a fairly steep and unrelenting climb of about one mile, you come to several outbuildings. Some are the remaining historical buildings dating back to when Poncha Springs was a booming mining town and everyone came up to soak in the odor-free hot springs.

The site is now a Boy Scout camp during summer months, so stay on the road. The top is approximately 1.6 miles from the Chipeta Park. From here, continue down the other side another mile to U.S. 285. At the highway, turn right (north) and return back to the town of Poncha Springs, or you can turn around here, bike back up to the top and return the way you came, making it a spur rather than a loop.