GETTING HERE

Raspberry Hot Springs is located on a private, off-grid ranch at 9,000 feet. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about accessing the Spring - from which route to take, to what sort of vehicle you’ll need to get up here, and even updated weather and traffic info. Be sure to check out our Frequently Asked Questions page as well! And please be aware that reservations are required in advance - we do not take any bookings on site. Our scheduling page can be found here.

ACCESS & ROAD CONDITIONS

Despite lots of rain this year, the roads are in pretty good shape. The minimum requirements apply (AWD/4WD and 7.5+ inches clearance). Water from thunderstorms drains quickly down the steep grade, and generally does not produce mud up here - the mountain soil is very sandy and doesn’t hold water.

  • Chinook Road Access is OPEN - This is the easiest and most direct route to the Springs. Detailed directions below.

  • Dakota Ridge Road Access is OPEN but only advisable for those with a proper 4WD vehicle and experience off-roading. Not you? Use I-70 > Exit 238 > Chinook Access! Dakota Ridge Road is just a shortcut from Central City/Blackhawk via Virginia Canyon Road.

Chinook Road in the summertime

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS

  • 4WD/AWD with 7.5+ inches (8”+ for Winter) of Ground Clearance is absolutely required! If you don’t have a vehicle that meets these requirements, DO NOT attempt to access the ranch. We do not offer refunds to guests who attempt this and are unable to make it to their soak. See our Cancelation Policy.

  • Clearance can be determined by plugging the year, make, and model of your personal or rental vehicle into Google along with the words “ground clearance”. Measuring the clearance yourself may not yield accurate results.

  • Preferred access routes vary with weather and the seasons. The box above is where you’ll find our current recommendations.

  • Turn traction control to “off“ when climbing dirt roads - doing so will prevent your vehicle from shutting off power to a slipping wheel. You are not truly in 4WD until traction control is off.

  • Generally, if your reservation is between the months of September and May (Fall, Winter, and Spring), keep an eye out for messages the night before and/or the morning of your soak - these messages may contain pertinent information regarding road conditions, access directions, or notifications of closure due to weather-related hazards. Make sure your contact information is correct!

  • The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our number one priority! If the area you’re coming from is under travel advisory or restriction, please let us know. We would be happy to assist you in rescheduling your soak. We can also issue a soak credit for a future date if you don’t live in the area. We usually close and issue full refunds or assist with rescheduling on days with active snowfall over 1 inch, and when overnight snow accumulation leave the roads impassible. We plow when we can (these are not county-maintained roads) but sometimes it is just too dangerous. Read more about snow closures on our Cancelation Policy page.

Heading back down Chinook at sunset

ROUTES

There are three main routes to access the ranch:

  • Chinook Road Access (Standard Route)

    • Take I-70 to Exit 238 to Fall River Road/St. Marys/Alice

    • Turn on Fall River Road

    • Take the first right on York Gulch Road

    • Take the first right on Chinook Road

    • Continue on Chinook for about a half mile (stay right at the T), and you’ll see the wooden sign for Raspberry Hot Springs on the right (899 Chinook)

  • Red Tail Ridge Access (Alternative Snow Route) - This route is only recommended during snowy/icy conditions and adds about 1.5 miles of dirt road to your trip.

  • Dakota Ridge Road Access (Spring/Summer/Fall 4X4 ONLY) - More information on this access below.

Regardless of which route you take, 4WD or AWD with 7.5+ inches of ground clearance is REQUIRED to access Raspberry Hot Springs. The final mile of each route is composed of steep, unpaved dirt roads.

This requirement applies to guests year-round and is for the safety and protection of our guests, as well as the residents of our mountain community who would be blocked by stuck vehicles.

If your car is not capable of off-road driving, do not take Dakota Ridge Road Access. It is a shortcut if you are coming from Central City, Black Hawk, Boulder, Nederland, or Rollinsville, HOWEVER, it is an extremely difficult road that presents a number of dangers to people unaccustomed to or unprepared for 4x4 trail driving. If you have any doubt about your vehicle’s ability to take this route, PLEASE USE Chinook Road Access (above).

Dakota Ridge Road is not accessible during the winter months.

DELAYS

It’s summer in the Colorado Mountains, and that means I-70 traffic! If your soak is on a Friday or Saturday, please plan on delays beyond typical construction holds. Lots of folks head up into the mountains to recreate for the weekend, and the peak of the metro area migration takes place from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Accidents can push travel times back even further. If you are coming out on a holiday weekend, we recommend staying in the area the night before to avoid getting stuck in what could be hours of traffic. There are plenty of places to stay in Idaho Springs and some lovely Airbnbs in our neck of the woods.

Blasting for the Floyd Hill Project on I-70 continues to cause 20-45 minute delays, 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Thursday, and 9 AM to noon on Fridays.

Holds may extend delays to 4 PM Monday through Thursday, and to 1 PM on Fridays. You can text floydhill (one word, lowercase) to 21000 for updates.

Please plan on these delays so that you don’t miss your reservation. There’s plenty to do in Idaho Springs if you arrive early, or you can come up to the ranch and do a short hike to stretch your legs before soaking. If you would like to hike during the winter, please bring good winter boots or snow shoes.

WEATHER

Autumn Equinox is quickly approaching, and the aspens seem to know it! Highs have been around 60 to 70 degrees, with lows in the 40s. We're starting to get cooler showers, and thunderstorms are still popping up in the forecast. Keep an eye out for moose as you drive up, as they tend to return to our area around this time of year. Temperatures here are at least 15 degrees cooler than in Denver, so remember to bring layers. Please check weather reports and road conditions prior to driving up here, and keep an eye on your phone and email for notices and relevant instructions.

Feel free to text us for current mountain road conditions:
(303) 718-7971 (please note, this is not an automated line, this is our business line!)

Our nearest weather station is Central City, Colorado. You can also check the weather for Idaho Springs.

And follow this link to view CDOT’s interactive Road Conditions Map, where you can find weather-related information about I-70 and see road cam footage: cotrip.org