Luxuriating in the mineral-rich hot springs at Dunton is a favorite pastime of our guests.

The Ute Indians must have been the first to take the waters here. In 1922 the springs were properly described by the Geologist E. Bastin when he visited the Emma Mine approximately 0.5 miles south of Dunton. He also reported on a warm spring (82°F) within the mine, some 3000 feet from inside the main portal.

In 1978 Barrett & Pearl speculated that our springs were controlled by tectonic activity associated with the Triassic Dolores Formation. It is estimated that this system may encompass an area of well over a square mile.  

In the winter it's easy to observe where the various warm “seeps” are, as they melt the snow earlier then the sun does.

Our springs are of the calcium bicarbonate type with a strong concentration of dissolved iron and manganese and a little dash of lithium. Springs with high mineral content are often recommended above others for various therapeutic uses.

In addition to the value of the trace minerals found in most hot springs, and the stimulating benefits of highly mineralized waters, bathing in bicarbonate water assists the opening of peripheral blood vessels and helps to improve the circulation to the body's extremities. The magnesium converts blood sugar to energy and promotes healthy skin.

Remember the Dunton motto: "Up to your neck in hot water! Not trouble." Billy Joe Moffat, Neighbor