For many Coloradans, no trip to the mountains is complete without a rejuvenating visit to one of the state’s mineral hot springs.

As natural attractions, these gurgling pools may rank second only to the Rocky Mountain peaks themselves.

Dozens of these sources of liquid refreshment are scattered along both sides of the Continental Divide, but only about 20 have been commercially developed — with permanently built pools, changing rooms, overnight accommodations and spa services.

Several such family-friendly recreation centers lie within an easy two- or three-hour drive of metro Denver. That means almost any weekend excursion — be it a rafting trip, a high-country hike or a day of mountain biking — can be topped off with a hot-water soak.

Most pools are open year-round, with daily admission prices in the $10 to $20 range for adults and usually less for school-age kids. Most also have suits and towels for rent, and many offer massages for an added charge.

Go inside

1. Glenwood Hot Springs

Want to know what a million gallons looks like? Just get an eyeful of the king-sized puddle at this landmark resort and spa just off Interstate 70 in Glenwood Springs. The 90-degree, 400-feet-long main pool is so large that it doesn’t feel crowded even when it is. And the adjacent 104-degree therapy pool, at 100 feet long, is as big as most conventional swimming pools. The Yampah Vapor Caves next door are an extra option.

This is also the only Colorado hot springs you can reach via passenger train. The California Zephyr stops at the depot just across the Colorado River twice each day, arriving from Denver about two hours before hotel check-in time and returning just after check-out — making this one of the most inviting weekend getaways in the state.

Best deal: Pool admission prices drop by $2 after 6 p.m., and are further reduced after 9 p.m. Or, if you stay in one of the 100-plus rooms in the nearby Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, many of which are newly renovated, you swim for free. 401 N. River St., Glenwood Springs; 970-947-2955 (pool), 970-945-6571 (lodge) or Hotspringspool.com

2. Steamboat Old Town Hot Springs

Fed by a heart-shaped spring behind the main building, this recently remodeled pool complex has been a part of community life in Steamboat Springs since the town’s founder built the first bathhouse in 1875 — a year before Colorado became a state. It now boasts a handful of hot pools plus an eight-lane lap pool that is kept at a comfortable 80 degrees, along with two water slides, a kiddie pool, a fitness center and on-site child care. Run by the nonprofit Steamboat Health and Recreation Association, this is an attractive water playground with a health-club feel.

Best deal: If you are a member, you can work off your dues by volunteering to help with pool maintenance, clean-up or child care. 136 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs; 970-879-1828 or Steamboathotsprings.org

3. Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Perhaps the most charming in the state, this idyllic gem sits in forested seclusion at the end of an unpaved road about 8 miles north of Steamboat Springs. Its stone-walled pools, from 102 to 104 degrees, flow in terraces from one to another, creating restful havens that become clothing-optional after dark. The springs are open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and with minimal lighting, the stargazing is great. Adult admission is only $10, but there are no in-and-out privileges, and credit cards are not accepted. Basic overnight lodging is available in rustic cabins, covered wagons and walk-in campsites.

Best deal: The railroad caboose, which goes for $110 a night for two people, includes solar lighting, a gas fireplace, kitchenette and pool admission. Reserve it well in advance. 44200 County Road 36, Steamboat Springs; 970-879-0342 or Strawberryhotsprings.com

4. Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa

Once owned by William Byers, founder of Denver’s first newspaper, this historic destination on the Colorado River is known for its unusual selection of outdoor pools of varying size, shape, color and temperature (from a relatively tepid 95 degrees to a sizzling 112). Renovated in the 1990s, it also features a solarium pool, therapy pool and private baths, plus a 17-room lodge with lots of areas for massages, body wraps and other spa services. Overnight guests have the run of the 80-acre site, which sits at the foot of a hillside bordered by national forest. Off-season discount coupons available for Sept. 15-May 15.

Best deal: The 1840 cabin, which rents for $225 a night for two, complete with fireplace, champagne and unlimited use of the outdoor pools. 5609 County Road 20, Hot Sulphur Springs; 970-725-3306 or Hotsulphursprings.com

5. Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa

Situated at the foot of Cottonwood Pass about 5 miles west of downtown Buena Vista, this rustic retreat is all about healing, relaxation and getting in tune with nature. Its four gravity-fed soaking pools are complemented by three custom-made private hot tubs, a bevy of on-site massage therapists, a 13-room motel and dorm, and a handful of creekside cabins, each with its own small pool. The serene atmosphere is enforced by a strict no-alcohol policy, the absence of TVs and phones in the guest rooms, and an admonition that while children are welcome, they must keep their voices down.

Best deal: The 1 p.m. check-out time. 18999 County Road 306, Buena Vista; 719-395-6434 or Cottonwoodhotsprings.com

6. Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort

This historic hotel and pool complex near the Chalk Cliffs southwest of Buena Vista has gone upscale over the past few years. Under new ownership, it has an updated soaking pool and lap pool, plus a white-tablecloth restaurant, event pavilion, renovated lodge rooms and a slew of modern cabins. A large guests-only pool has been constructed across Chalk Creek from the newly restored riverrock bathhouse, and a fancy two-story fitness center and spa, “including decadent couples suites with outdoor access,” is due to open by this fall.

Best deal: Seniors 62 and up get in for the same price as children 12 and under: $7 Sunday through Thursday, $10 Friday and Saturday. 15870 County Road 162, Nathrop; 719-395-2447 or Mtprinceton.com

7. Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center

This is a big, bright, indoor pool with one major advantage over most such community amenities: Its water is heated naturally. A pipeline, upgraded last year, brings it in from sources 8 miles upstream near Poncha Springs. Originally built as a Works Progress Administration project in 1937, the city-owned facility has undergone several renovations, including an update to the changing rooms in 2009. Its 25-meter, six-lane main pool, maintained at 84 to 86 degrees, is separated by a dividing wall from the smaller, zero-entry therapy pool, at 95 to 100 degrees.

Best deal: Family Swim Night, from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday, when admission prices are reduced. Also, discount coupons are available online, and moms swim free on Mother’s Day. 410 Rainbow Blvd. (U.S. 50), Salida; 719-539-6738 or Salidapool.com

8. Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa

Fed by artesian water that comes out of the ground at 140 degrees, this landscaped oasis at the north end of the San Luis Valley is a soaker’s paradise. Its three open-air pools, shielded from the wind by transparent panels that afford spectacular views of the Sangre de Cristos, run from 98 degrees to 110 degrees. The spa treatments range from Swedish massages to hot stones and aromatherapy. Motel-style rooms and a conference space are available, along with “eco-lodging” in six yurts and three tepees on the site.

Best deal: A free pool pass on your birthday. One mile off U.S. 285 on Colorado 17 (about 30 miles south of Salida), Moffat; 719-256-4328 or Joyfuljourneyhotsprings.com

9. Indian Hot Springs

The closest to Denver, this vintage resort on the south edge of Idaho Springs is funky, fun and full of options, from the palm-adorned main pool at 90 degrees, to the 11 indoor private baths at 106 degrees or the stifling geothermal cave baths (one side for men, one for women — swimsuits optional), which get up to 112 degrees. There’s also “Club Mud,” offering do-it-yourself mud baths, and the outdoor Jacuzzis, which are a bit pricey (more than $20 per person per hour) considering that at 108 degrees, they are so hot you can hardly spend half the time actually in the water.

Best deal: An overnight stay at the inn for $89 for two on weeknights ($15 more on weekends) includes use of the swimming pool, geothermal or private baths, discounts on spa services and a $25 dinner coupon good at any of four restaurants in town. 302 Soda Creek Road, Idaho Springs; 303-989-6666 or Indianhotsprings.com