Ouray's hot springs pool and Box Canyon are run by the city

Two of the best-known stops in the town of Ouray are not state parks or federal sites. The Ouray Hot Springs Pool and Box Canyon Falls Park are both owned and run by the City of Ouray. That single fact explains a lot about how you visit them.

Because they are city facilities, they have set hours, entrance fees, and posted rules, and parts of them close seasonally. The hot springs pool grew out of the town’s long history with geothermal water; local residents organized to build a community pool in the 1920s, fed by hot water piped down from nearby springs. Box Canyon Falls Park protects a narrow gorge where a creek drops through a slot in the rock, with a visitor center and short interpretive trails.

Knowing the owner matters for planning. These are municipal amenities, so a state parks pass or a national-forest pass does not cover them, and a county fishing or camping rule is a separate thing. Hours, prices, and seasonal closures are set by the city and can change year to year.

Before you go, check current hours and fees on the City of Ouray’s official pages rather than assuming. The city is the operator, so its information is the one that counts.