Mineral Hot Springs is a thermal spring located in Saguache County, Colorado in the northern

San Luis Valley The San Luis Valley is a region in south-central Colorado with a small portion overlapping into New Mexico. The valley is approximately long and wide, extending from the Continental Divide on the northwest rim into New Mexico on the south. It co ...

History

Before the 1860s, the springs were used by the local Capote (Kapota) and Mohuache (Muache) bands of

Ute Ute or UTE may refer to: * Ute (band), an Australian jazz group * Ute (given name) * ''Ute'' (sponge), a sponge genus * Ute (vehicle), an Australian and New Zealand term for certain utility vehicles * Ute, Iowa, a city in Monona County along ...

indigenous people who lived in the valley and valued the hot water and mud for the healing of wounds.

Water profile

The springs emerge from low formations deposited by the mineral water at 140°F (60°C). If not tapped, and hydrostatic pressure is sufficient.

Location

Mineral Hot Springs is located on

Highway 17 Route 17, or Highway 17 can refer to the following roads: For the roads named "A17", see list of A17 roads. International * European route E17 * European route E017 Australia * Brisbane Valley Highway, Queensland * D'Aguilar Highway, Queenslan ...

about a mile south of its junction with U.S. 285 about 6 miles south of

Villa Grove, Colorado Villa Grove is an unincorporated community and a U.S. Post Office in Saguache County, Colorado, United States. The Villa Grove Post Office has the ZIP Code 81155. History The town of Garibaldi was established by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad ...

. Mineral Hot Springs had a post office from 1911 to 1946. Mineral Hot Springs is a platted subdivision but many lots are now privately owned.Records on file with the Saguache County Clerk and Recorder In the post-colonal years, there have been some facilities built at Mineral Hot Springs. In its recent history a covered

swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

, a motel, a cafe, a hotel, a

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...

and a

gas station A filling station, also known as a gas station () or petrol station (), is a facility that sells fuel and engine lubricants for motor vehicles. The most common fuels sold in the 2010s were gasoline (or petrol) and diesel fuel. Gasoline ...

have been built nearby.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Google map showing mounds and vegetation patterns at the natural springs
Bodies of water of Saguache County, Colorado Hot springs of Colorado