Aspen, Colorado—Day Hiking Conundrum Creek, 6/7/2025
PAYSON
Backpacking permits weren’t top of mind this year. We moved, again. Work has been, a lot—for both of us. Sonya has been preparing to depart her current role and chase a masters degree. Season of change.
In a hail mary a month or two after permits came out, we snagged a night at Conundrum hot springs, a natural hot pool sitting just at treeline in the range dividing Crested Butte & Aspen—The Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness.
The Conundrum Creek Hot Springs are located deep in the Elk Mountains of central Colorado, southwest of Aspen, within the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness.
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Geographically:
Nearest Town: Aspen, CO (about 8.5 miles north as the crow flies)
Trailhead Elevation: ~8,800 feet
Hot Springs Elevation: ~11,200 feet
Access: 8.5-mile one-way hike (17 miles round-trip) along Conundrum Creek Trail
The springs sit in a remote alpine valley carved by Conundrum Creek, surrounded by dramatic glacial peaks including Cathedral Peak and Castle Peak, part of the greater Rocky Mountains.
Geologically:
The springs bubble up in a tectonically fractured zone near a contact point between Precambrian metamorphic rock and Tertiary intrusive igneous rock—typical of Colorado’s hot springs.
The water is geothermally heated by residual volcanic and tectonic activity deep in the Earth's crust.
The Elk Mountains, where the springs reside, are heavily faulted and uplifted, formed from ancient seabed sedimentary layers that were metamorphosed and intruded by magma during mountain-building episodes.
In sum:
Conundrum Hot Springs exist at the meeting point of high alpine wilderness and deep geologic time—a geothermal outpouring nestled in one of Colorado’s most pristine glacial valleys.
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We knew getting a permit this early in the season meant we were sure to confront at least some weather, some snow still on the ground, & likely a combination of both.
The week leading up had been wet, and the forecast didn’t look promising. We decided to head to the trailhead after work on Friday and skip backpacking to camp in the trailhead for a morning day hike.
We were so stoked to spend a day on the trail
When we woke up to frozen rain coating the van, we knew we had made the right decision. That would have been a cold night in a tent 3k’ higher in elevation.
We let the sun warm the van up a bit before making coffee and the arrangement of the things—you carry the bear spray, I’ll carry the extra water. Its my favorite part of the whole thing.
The trail starts in the cool shadow of the eastern peaks, tracing the path of Conundrum Creek as it winds north. But since you're heading upstream, the climb pulls you south—deeper into a glacial valley that slowly narrows around you.
Rain kept us from backpacking, but it jump-started spring. The forest floor was still patchy, yet every new shoot looked bright and alive.
After an unusually long winter, the first warm sun and the forest’s quiet comeback felt like a true breath of fresh air.
The whole hike to the hot springs is about 10 miles each way, 20 total. We made it 5 up, 10 total. I think we were both pleased with the outcome, got a hiking legs back with a big boi hike, and got to appreciate the magic that is spring growth after a long, dark winter.
Win, win, win.
