Ouray is a quintessential Rocky Mountain town. There’s no ski slope here, but the Colorado vibe is strong. Tucked between soaring mountains of the San Juans, it has everything a person needs to make them happy, including a distillery.
It had been several years since we’d been in town and one huge change had taken place while we were away. The Ouray Hot Springs Pool, originally built in 1927, has undergone a multi-million-dollar remodel. The remodel has been completed since 2017 and the results are stunning.
The pool was great before and the remodel is only enhanced the venue. My absolute favorite aspect of the remodel is The Overlook. There are two pools and a waterfall in this area and it’s for adults-only.
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Let’s face it, kids love pools and they splash and scream when they are playing, and rightly so. I was a fish as a child and you couldn’t get me out of the water. However, sometimes, as an adult, you want to escape pool mayhem and The Overlook allows this to happen.
The Overlook is also on the opposite end of the property from the water slides where kids (and adults) can slide to their heart’s content. There’s also an activity pool that will keep the older kids busy for hours. It includes a climbing wall and inflatable obstacle course.
Of course, there is also a lap pool for those who want some exercise. In addition, there is a shallow pool and hot pool. These latter pools, along with The Overlook area have been created to organically fit into the landscape.
We spent several hours lounging at The Overlook where we ran into fellow lodgers at our bed and breakfast, the China Clipper. We also watched climbers traverse the rock face across Hwy 550 from the pool. I’ve never been soaking here without seeing climbers on this rock. It makes sense because Ouray is well known for the Ouray Ice Park, an internationally renowned climbing destination in the winter.
RELATED: Ice Climbing in Ouray, Not Just for the Pros
Visit Ouray Hot Springs Pool online to see rates and hours.
Box Cañon: The Source
During our July trip, for the first time, we went to the Box Cañon Falls Park. This is where visitors can see the source of the warm water at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. It is a wonderful park where the waterfall, which was roaring during our visit, is just part of the draw.
Box Cañon is an important place for the research of Black Swifts, which arrive from Brazil at the falls in early June and stay through September. While birders have their eyes focused on the air and canyon walls in search of Black Swifts, I was delighted by the curious chipmunks around the visitors center.
There is a small fee to visit Box Cañon Falls Park and I encourage you to get their early to beat the crowds.
Thank you to Ouray, Colorado for hosting this visit.
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These are lively, interesting stories on Heiditown.