100°Fsource temp, NOAA list (38°C)

Managed by: White River National Forest, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (USDA Forest Service)
Trail: 8.5 mi one way, about 2,500 ft of elevation change
Fee: Day use: none stated. Overnight permit (May 1 to Oct 31): $10 per person per night, children 16 and under free, plus $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit (Recreation.gov permit 4675333)
Hours: Open 24 hours; overnight use only with permit
Season: Best July through September; from early October to late June campsites and trail are snow covered and the trailhead is inaccessible (USFS). 2026 permit release dates: Feb 15 (Apr 1 to Jul 31), Jun 15 (Aug 1 to Nov 30), Oct 15 (Dec 1 2026 to Mar 31 2027), 8 a.m. Mountain Time.
Coordinates: 39.0121, -106.8910

The NOAA Thermal Springs List gives a source temperature of 100°F (38°C) for this spring. The land is managed by White River National Forest, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (USDA Forest Service). The usual route is 8.5 mi one way, about 2,500 ft of elevation change from Conundrum Creek Trailhead (Trail #1981). Fee: Day use: none stated. Overnight permit (May 1 to Oct 31): $10 per person per night, children 16 and under free, plus $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit (Recreation.gov permit 4675333).

Conundrum Hot Springs lies near the head of the Conundrum Creek valley in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, south of Aspen. The White River National Forest's Aspen-Sopris Ranger District manages the area. The springs sit on the far side of Conundrum Creek near the upper end of the Conundrum Creek Trail (#1981), and a log bridge spans the creek to reach them. Remnants of an old cabin stand on the trail at about mile 8, just before the springs.

The Forest Service lists the trail at 8.5 miles one way with about 2,500 feet of climbing from the Conundrum Creek Trailhead. From Aspen the route follows Castle Creek Road for about 5 miles, then Conundrum Road for 1.1 miles to a small lot; parking on Conundrum Road is prohibited. The trail crosses the creek three times, on log bridges at miles 2.5 and 6, and by wading at the third crossing. The agency names July through September as the main season; from early October to late June the trail and campsites are under snow and the trailhead is inaccessible.

Since April 2018, every overnight stay in the permit zone, from Silver Dollar Pond to Triangle Pass, requires an advance Recreation.gov permit, year-round. Camping is limited to 20 numbered sites holding 2 to 6 people each. From May 1 to October 31 the fee is $10 per person per night, free for ages 16 and under, plus a $6 reservation fee. Dogs and campfires are prohibited in the zone, and bear-resistant canisters are required for every overnight visitor. For 2026, permits opened on February 15, June 15 and October 15 for successive date blocks. The springs can also be reached over Triangle Pass on the Conundrum Trail (#981), about 9 miles from the Copper Creek Trailhead on the Gunnison side. In March 2019 an avalanche buried the Conundrum Creek trailhead under an estimated 15 to 30 feet of snow and debris.

Getting there and local rules

Road: Paved: from Aspen 0.5 mi west on Hwy 82 to the roundabout, about 5 mi up Castle Creek Road, then 1.1 mi on Conundrum Road to a small lot. Parking prohibited on Conundrum Road (county right-of-way over private land; vehicles towed). Trailhead inaccessible from early October to late June due to snow.
Trail: Three creek crossings: log bridges at 2.5 and 6 mi, the third requires wading (hazardous in spring runoff). Cabin remnants at about 8 mi; a log bridge crosses the creek to the springs. Alternate approach: Conundrum Trail #981 from Copper Creek Trailhead (GMUG NF), about 9 mi via Triangle Pass.
Camping: Camping in the Conundrum Hot Springs permit zone (Silver Dollar Pond to Triangle Pass) only at 20 numbered designated sites reserved in advance on Recreation.gov; each site has a 2 to 6 person limit; quota 20 groups per night; max 7 nights per permit, 2 permits per person per year
Advance overnight permit required year-round in the Conundrum Hot Springs zone (since April 18, 2018)
Dogs prohibited in the Conundrum Hot Springs zone; leashed elsewhere in the wilderness
Campfires prohibited at all designated sites and above 10,800 ft
IGBC-approved bear-resistant canisters required for all overnight visitors
Human waste: WAG bags recommended (free at trailhead) or cat holes 6-8 in deep, 200 ft from water, camp and trails
No overnight pack or saddle stock at designated campsites
No motorized or mechanized equipment, including bicycles and drones (wilderness)

History

The Forest Service began requiring overnight permits in the Conundrum Hot Springs zone on April 18, 2018, starting with 17 campsites and adding 3 more that summer for a total of 20.
Remnants of a cabin stand at about mile 8 of the trail, just before the springs (USFS).
In March 2019 an avalanche buried the Conundrum Creek trailhead and parking area under an estimated 15 to 30 ft of snow and debris, closing the trailhead temporarily (USFS press release, March 21, 2019).

Weather by month near Conundrum

The nearest NOAA climate station with 30-year normals is Crested Butte, about 11 miles away at 8,867 ft. Its average daily high peaks at 76.1°F in Jul, and the coldest nights average -6.5°F in Jan. Normal snowfall there adds up to about 203 inches a year. Conditions at the place itself can differ, especially with a large change in elevation.

Bars run from the average daily low to the average daily high (°F). Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USC00051959.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Precip. in	Snow in
Jan	25.8	-6.5	2.72	42.2
Feb	29.4	-2.1	2.54	35.2
Mar	37.9	7	2.09	29.1
Apr	46.9	19.1	2.01	19.4
May	58.3	28.5	1.52	6.7
Jun	70.2	33.7	0.93	0.3
Jul	76.1	39.5	1.96	0
Aug	73.5	38.4	1.98	0
Sep	65.9	31.2	1.95	1.2
Oct	54.3	22	1.71	8.5
Nov	39.4	9.3	2.04	25.3
Dec	26.8	-4.2	2.31	35.1

Other springs within 60 miles

From the NOAA list, by straight-line distance from Conundrum. Most of these are not developed sites and some are on private land.

Cement Creek Hot Spring13 mi south
77°F
Ranger Hot Spring14 mi south
81°F
Penny Hot Springs23 mi northwest
133°F
Cottonwood Hot Springs38 mi east
136°F
Lower Waunita Hot Springs40 mi southeast
167°F
Upper Waunita Hot Springs40 mi southeast
176°F
Hortense Hot Spring43 mi southeast
181°F
Glenwood Springs44 mi northwest
124°F

Conundrum Hot Springs (dark dot) and the other thermal springs of Colorado in the NOAA list.

Sources: NOAA NCEI, Thermal Springs List for the United States (source temperature, about 1980); fs.usda.gov; recreation.gov; fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; fs.usda.gov; trails.colorado.gov; NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Facts checked October 2026.

Source temperature from the NOAA Thermal Springs List (measured around 1980). Conditions, access and rules change; check with White River National Forest, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District before you go. This page is for trip planning only.