Pitkin County is inviting the public to comment on a draft plan to guide the management of Penny Hot Springs, a popular destination in the Crystal River Valley.
The county’s Open Space and Trails Board reviewed the draft plan Nov. 7 and voted to release it for a public comment period that will continue through Jan. 17. The draft plan, and an online link for public comment, can be found at www.pitkinOSTprojects.com (click on the Penny Hot Springs page).
Penny Hot Springs is located on a parcel that is partially a Pitkin County open space property and partially within the Colorado Department of Transportation right-of-way along Hwy. 133, about 3 miles north of Redstone. The hot springs have a long history of public use; the draft management plan proposes strategies to address the increasing use of the site.
The plan was drafted with input from an initial public survey last summer, and from a Steering Committee appointed by the Open Space and Trails Board. Following input from the public, changes to the draft plan will be reviewed by the Steering Committee. Adoption of a final plan by the Open Space and Trails Board is anticipated in March.
The draft plan proposes near-term improvements at the hot springs. Many of the proposals depend on arranging a recreational lease agreement between the county and CDOT as a first step. Proposed improvements include designating and improving a single trail between the highway and the riverbank, and restoring other areas of the eroded embankment between the parking area and the river. Also proposed are improved signage to guide use of the springs and parking area, and highway-safety measures at the pullout serving the springs.
Contact: Lindsey Utter, Planning and Outreach Manager, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, at lindsey.utter@pitkincounty.com or 970-920-5224.