Valley View Hot Springs - June 2007

On June 21-25, 2007, Ken and PJ, Harrol and Kitty, and Ben and Glenda met in Colorado at Valley View Hot Springs. What we found is probably the very best place to introduce someone to naturism. And it's a spectacular place to freehike.

The atmosphere at this resort is very unusual. It many ways it feels more like a leftover 60’s hippy colony than a naturist resort. While some people like us were naked most of the time, others took clothing-optional literally and were only naked in the pools. Naked and clothed people interacted comfortably together without a second thought. Many of the people we met treated the resort as their only naturist experience – though they visited often each year. We met a daughter who had invited her mother from the east coast each year for the past five years. The mom told everyone at home, including her husband that they visited and soaked in a hot springs during the visits, but never told anyone they did it naked. (PJ’s decided this ideal example for introducing our kids to naturism.) The atmosphere was totally relaxed – naked was just how one soaked.

The resort is part of the Orient Land Trust, a non-profit environmental entity dedicated to the preservation of natural resources, wildlife habitat, open space, and historic and geologic features of the northern San Luis Valley for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Features of the lands protected by Orient Land Trust include a large bat colony, hot springs, alternative energy use, high altitude dark skies for astronomy, exposed active geological fault, limestone caves, numerous trails into a wilderness area, historic buildings, town sites at an abandoned iron mine, and a working ranch. Visitors to Orient Land Trust experience these features in a naturist (clothing-optional) setting and may camp or stay in rustic lodging from the mining days. The number of visitors is limited based on space available and environmental impact. (See http://www.olt.org/ for more information)

The resort is located in a beautiful, expansive valley, very sparsely populated. Majestic mountains raise high above the valley and the resort. It is a wonderful setting for a naturist venue. (See photos of our visit at: http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/valleyview1 )

Ken, PJ, and Ben arrived Friday about lunch time, checked in, and met Harrol, Kitty, and Glenda at our cabin – the Willows – which had been a store when the Orient Mine operated in the early part of the 20th century. It had a living room with kitchen and four double bunk beds in the back room. We quickly stripped down and got comfortable, then unpacked and parked the car.

Soon we were all floating in the largest hot spring, a short five minute walk up the hill from the cabin. The water temperature was in the mid nineties - just right. It was deep enough for you to use a noodle to float, or you could sit comfortably on one of the large rocks rising from the bottom. This is the largest natural hot pool we’ve every experienced. Several other friendly people were already soaking, but there was lots of room, and we enjoyed meeting and visiting with these new friends.

After soaking for some time, we moved on to other pools. There are three main pools, and several more on an upper trail. The water temperature varies, but is comfortable in all, and all are in beautiful settings. (See photos)

Later that afternoon we met Jerry and Linda walking naked across the parking lot. They were visiting with a naturist group from the Denver area. They had discovered we were going to Valley View at the same time through the NudeUtah site, so we had arranged activities with them. Naturists are such wonderful people; we now have several good new friends from Colorado.

That evening most of us hiked to the bat cave (the remains of the collapsed Orient Mine). Only Ben stayed long enough to watch the bats, which were limited because the weather had been so cold. This meant there were more mosquitoes than normal in the evening.

After cooking and eating a nice dinner (you must bring in your own food), we played Atomic Uno until too late; this was a fun activity we did every night of our visit. Then we got ready for bed.

The bathroom facilities were just across the dirt road from our cabin. They were unique – unisex, rustic, but nice. The toilets were all contained in stalls, and the showers were private. There was one totally private bathroom and shower.

Saturday we took a morning freehike with several members of the Denver group. The scenery was spectacular. We walked past the tailing and ruins of the old mine/town. The wild flowers were blooming spectacularly. PJ had to stop early – she experienced a little elevation sickness the first two days of our visit (the elevation of the resort is over 8000 feet). Ben and Glenda hiked much further than the rest of the group.

Saturday afternoon we swam in the pool. It is very long, and its soothing, warm water flows from the natural hot springs. Chlorine is not used, and the bottom is a little mossy. Many children splashed and played in the pool – more than we’ve ever experienced at another resort. One family with the Denver group had five children (Aged approximately 13 (G), 11(B), 8(G), 5(B), 3(B)). I think they said this was their first family naturist experience, though you would never know it; they were naked together around the resort all weekend and all obviously loved the pool.

Ken, Ben, and Glenda took another freehike in the late afternoon, but the mosquitoes got the better of them, so they ended up in the top hot springs.

Saturday evening we ate pot luck dinner in the Pavilion above our cabin with the Denver group. Glenda went to the office to enjoy an astronomy lecture and view of the stars and planets. Ben and Ken freehiked to the Bat Cave; ten times more bats had arrived during the day. It was very interesting to watch the flights from the cave. When they returned we all enjoyed another game of cards, before crashing into bed and enjoying a great sleep.

For many of us Sunday was dedicated to soaking, visiting, sunning, and resting. We enjoyed the amazing sauna which contained a cool-temperature soaking pool. Ben, Kitty, and Glenda went for a freehike; Kitty and Glenda hiked slower, classifying and enjoying the wildflowers, while Ben climbed the rugged trail to above 12,000 feet – even he was exhausted when he returned. Still his constant comment was “too little time, too many trails”.

Sunday afternoon we said goodbye to our new friends from Denver. That evening we were invited to a sing-along in the group cabin across the road. (It had been a brothel in the mining days.) People played all kinds of instruments, and sang mostly sixties songs – it reminded us of a fun hippy gathering. Ken and Kitty felt bad they hadn’t brought their guitars along – next time for sure. In fact, we’ll take the karaoke machine next time as well. The day ended with dinner, Ben’s hike to the bat cave, and cards. It was a little overcast, so the astronomy lecture was cancelled.

Monday morning we arose early, packed, and got dressed – too bad – it had been wonderful to spend most of the weekend together unconsciously nude. We said goodbye to Harrol, Kitty, and Glenda, and drove north and west to Salt Lake City. We talked lots along the way, and after about 8 hours arrived home, tired, but grateful for our wonderful naturist friends, and our visit to the best place ever to introduce someone to naturism – Valley View Hot Springs.