Valley View Hot Springs

My previous visit was 3 years ago when I tent camped with my dog. This time I enjoyed early and late day soaks that allowed me alone time in the pools.

Great views from camp of the stars, a warm fire, a cup of tea and I was relaxed to take a journey further.

I never tried to use my cell so I don't know.

Valley View has incredible Alamosa Valley views for sure! It's a natural hot springs place that also has a couple man made hot spring pools. There are a set of maybe 8-10 pools scattered across the property. There is a large warm/hot swimming pool and a large warm spring pool that is just up the hill. At night there are fireflys on the walk to the warm pool. There is a nice creek that has four or five hot shallow ponds scattered in it. It a bit of an uphill slippery hike to get to some of these ponds but the views are amazing. There are a couple of other natural soaks on the property near the tent camping areas.

The RV parking is on dirt and some of the sites are not very level. For a large RV there is a large flat area that has three sites. These are sites T, S and R. They have 20 amp electric but be warned that you need to conserve as the place makes it's own electricity with a small hydro-plant and in late summer when the water is not as plentiful they have had trouble keeping up with electric demand. Running an air-conditioner a lot is probably not going to work.

You have to drive around a kinda of a 4x4ish loop road to get to the RV campsites. I've done it in a rear wheel van with no problems but if you had a big RV it could be a bit stressful to get settled into a spot. I would check it out first before you drive in there with a bigger RV. Also, mud could be a problem in winter driving that loop. (We don't go there in winter.) There is a long, slightly bumpy dirt road to access the property.

Valley View is run by the Orient Land Trust. There is a board and a core group of employees. They are generally nice. Some freak out if you make too much noise ... so keep noise to a minimum. The name comes from the Orient Mine (now closed) that you can hike to and watch the bats come out of at night. That is pretty cool to see.

Valley View is hardcore clothing optional. Usually there are one or two old guys wondering about with maybe a shirt on and nothing else. Once seen it can not be unseen!

Valley View has a spectacular sauna. What makes it great is that there are stairs at the bottom of the sauna that step you down into a small cool pool that is just wonderful too cool you off. It's very relaxing in there. There are bathrooms, showers and a dishes washing area.

Valley View has recently added two hot pools that take the natural waters and heat them up even more with a electric heat system. These pulls are made of cement and rock and are designed to look kinda of natural. They can get crowded so if sitting next to a bunch of naked folks bothers you ... you might not enjoy valley view! But the people are pretty nice and friendly.

It was $75 a night, that included the RV camping($15) and two people soaking(30/per). You can soak all night if you camp there. They also have cabins and tent areas.

It's very popular in the summer months and it helps to have a membership to get in but you can sometimes get in without a membership.