Colorado's Underrated Ski Town Features The World's Deepest Geothermal Hot Spring Aquifer

Colorado has no shortage of famous ski destinations from Aspen and Vail to Breckenridge, just to name a few. But here's an insider's secret: tons of other more affordable, smaller towns in the state are even better. One of these is the charming Pagosa Springs, and it's just a 25-minute drive from the Wolf Creek Ski Area.

Why is Pagosa Springs a better place to stay than, say, Aspen? First, it's an off-the-beaten-path hidden gem, which means lower costs and fewer crowds. But it's also home to incredible hot springs that are fed by the Mother Spring aquifer, the world's deepest geothermal hot spring. The combination makes it a perfect spot for a winter getaway in the U.S. The slopes around Aspen attract people from all over the world, but Wolf Creek is more off the radar and the area has the highest annual snowfall rate in Colorado, getting around 430 inches a year. So, to add a cherry on top of those hot springs, you aren't sacrificing when it comes to quality skiing, either.

Colorado has the best skiing in the country, which isn't exactly a secret. This makes Wolf Creek — small, family-run, with inches of fresh powder and hardly ever the need to make snow — even more special. Picture this: after a day carving up Wolf Creek's pristine 1,600 acres of skiable slopes, you make the quick journey down to the charming town of Pagosa Springs and head to one of the three main resorts for a dip in the healing waters. Luxuriate at the Springs Resort along the San Juan River, hole up in a rustic cabin at the Healing Waters Resort, or relax in rooftop pools at Outlook Hot Springs Spa.

All the hot springs in town are fed by the Mother Spring aquifer, which reaches depths of at least 1,000 feet. It has been beloved for its healing properties since it's discovery by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe hundreds of years ago, where the name "Pagosa" originates, literally translating to "healing waters." The mineral-rich water bubbling up from the Mother Spring contains therapeutic levels of magnesium, manganese, potassium, and iron, to name a few, which can promote stress resistance, lessen fatigue, reduce blood pressure, and a host of other physical (and mental!) benefits.

As the Wolf Creek Ski Area has such a long season — sometimes from October through April — you'd be forgiven for forgetting Pagosa Springs exists at any other time of year but winter. However, Pagosa Springs is more than just a place to warm up after a day of playing in the snow. It's an overlooked Colorado gem for a scenic summer getaway, too. The hot springs are open year-round, and a soak is always welcome after a long hike or an adrenaline-pumping white water rafting adventure — two of the most popular summer activities in Pagosa Springs. For a more private (and free) hot springs experience, there are several wild ones near the town, such as the 1.5-mile hike from the Sheep Creek Trailhead to the Piedra Hot Springs.

Pagosa Springs is a vibrant, historical community, with ancient Native American roots and a distinct Wild West flavor that hosts seasonal events year-round. Consider timing your visit with ColorFest, a hot-air balloon festival that occurs every September, or the Pints, Pools and Paddles Festival in May. It also shines in the autumn, when Colorado's famous aspen trees burn gold against the pine forests, or in the spring, when Rocky Mountain wildflowers pop up through the meadows, valleys, and forests.