Seven unique western spas

Soak in hot springs has been scientifically proven be good for health: Not only are the minerals in the water good for the skin, but hot water relieves stress and muscle pain and promotes better sleep. With COVID finally on the decline in the US, a visit to a hot spring recourse this summer could be a perfect way to relieve pandemic stress and start returning to the post-pandemic world.

The hot springs are concentrated in the American WestSo there are hundreds of possibilities, ranging from unfinished pools in the woods to the ultimate in spa luxury. Read on to discover seven unique spas in the western states, from the heart of the wine country to the high desert. So plan your own geothermal inspired trip!

Northern California: Wilbur Hot Springs

If you’re zoomed out (and who isn’t these days?), A solar powered off-grid weekend Wilbur Hot Springs in Colusa County in Northern California might be just what you need to recharge and rest your watery eyes. Promoting itself as an opportunity to “slow down, calm the mind and relax in the embrace of nature,” Wilbur offers several ways to enjoy his therapeutic mineral waters. Choose your preferred temperature among the three rectangular pools of the Japanese onsen-style “Fluminarium”; you can opt for a “silent contemplation” or a “conversation” channel, depending on your level of sociability at the time. Enjoy a dry sauna or swim in the spring-fed swimming pool (chlorinated and cool in summer, non-chlorinated and geothermal heated in winter). Clothing is optional in all swimming areas. Once you’re done soaking, you can get a massage or go hiking or biking in the resort’s 1,560-acre nature reserve. And thanks to Wilbur’s remote location, at night you’ll have stunning views of the stars.

Northern California: Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection

For those with more epicurean inclinations, Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection takes advantage of its Napa Valley location and the area’s bubbling natural hot springs to deliver an immersive and luxurious wellness experience. Get a massage or one of the spa’s signature Mudslide treatments: a full-body mineral mud mask enriched with essential oils, followed by a soak in a private hot tub at mineral springs (you can make the part) mistress of your visit with the spa “pour mud on me”). Guests can swim in five different pools, including two jetted pools and a large relaxation pool. The spa restaurant, the Solbar, offers cocktails artisanal and local vintages, as well as a range of fresh, seasonal and local dishes. (A new, more casual poolside restaurant, Picobar, will be opening soon.) And, of course, the location in the middle wine country makes it easy to slip away for a few tastings – or just to drink in the beauty of the verdant vineyard landscape on one of the area’s many hiking and biking trails.

Montana: Quinn’s Spa

Located in the boulder-strewn Clark Fork River Valley with the Rockies above, Quinn’s Spa has seven developed hot spring pools. Five of them are filled with water from natural hot mineral springs, ranging in temperature from 100 to 106 ° (and a cold pool at 55 °). Two others are treated with salt and kept at a temperature of 90-100 ° for swimming.

The resort offers 83 accommodations including two lodges and cabins with river, canyon and mountain views, with rooms ranging from $ 199 to $ 349. (Note: Quinn’s is popular, so book early!) Eat at the resort’s award-winning Harwood House restaurant if you prefer fine dining – or, for something more casual, grab a burger and beer at Quinn’s Tavern. Children are welcome, and while some accommodation is adults-only, some cabins are suitable for families.

Idaho: Burgdorf hot springs

Despite online conspiracy theories claiming that Idaho does not exist, it’s actually a state that has a wide variety of (real) natural landscapes, from barren craters on the Moon to deep, cool lakes and mountain forests – not to mention plenty of natural hot springs, thanks to its location on the Geothermally active Yellowstone plate. Rest assured that this mysterious state exists with a journey into rustic beauty Burgdorf hot springs, nestled in the mountains of the Payette National Forest, 32 miles from the resort town of McCall. It’s well worth the trip to Burgdorf’s thermal pools, which are gorgeous – a pool-sized main pool, two smaller, warmer pools, and a shallow walled-in pool for the little ones. However, be prepared – you can rent unique historic cabins, but they don’t have running water or electricity; so you will need your own bedding, lights, and cooking utensils.

Colorado: Hot springs of the happy journey

While all spas are implicitly focused on wellness, the Joyful Journey Hot Spring Spa take it to the next level, taking care of all dimensions of the individual: physical, mental, spiritual, community and creative. Maybe it has to do with geography; The website claims the Joyful Journey location in Colorado’s beautiful San Luis Valley is one of America’s holiest and most energetically active places. In addition to weekly yoga and art classes, Joyful Journey offers frequent retreats on topics related to wellness. (The week-long “Joyful Retreat” in June for caregivers and healthcare workers is titled “The Art of Wellness.” The water is loaded with healing minerals and each pool offers views of the magnificent Sangre de Cristo mountains. You can also treat yourself to a massage, facial and detoxifying herbal wraps. Joyful Journey offers a variety of unique accommodation options, including a more traditional lodge, a small family ‘casita’, yurts, tipis, and camping and RV parking areas, and aims to be inclusive, pet friendly and LGBTQ friendly.

Washington: Doe Bay Resort & Retreat

For a truly wild experience, take the ferry to the Doe Bay Resort & Retreat, located on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, north of Seattle. 84 of the 175 named islands are national wildlife refuges and favorite island activities focus on wildlife: depending on the time of year you can take a whale watching excursion, hire a sea kayak (where you can spot porpoises, otters, seals and sea lions), or look for sea and land birds on one of the many island trails. Orcas, the (other) “Emerald Isle”, is the largest and most populous of the San Juan Islands, which means arts, culture and shopping; but with pristine lakes and 38 miles of hiking trails, it’s still very peaceful. For a good workout, go up to the lookout of Mt. Constitution, the culmination of the San Juans. Then return for a swim at the Doe Bay Spa, which features a sauna and three large indoor hot tubs in a serene woodland setting with views of the bay. (Okay, technically the hot water in Doe Bay is heated with electricity rather than geothermal … but few could disagree with the de-stressing effects of its remote natural location and focus on the good. -be.) The resort currently offers take-out and limited patio table service from its Doe Bay ‘seed-to-table’ cafe, where most produce comes from Doe Bay’s own organic garden. Expect a very seasonal menu, with an emphasis on freshly made pasta, locally caught fish, and seasonal greens. Note: Covid protocols still apply strictly in Doe Bay and throughout San Juans, so be sure to read the Procedures page when booking your stay.

New Mexico: Spa with ten thousand waves

Inspired by traditional Japanese hot springs onsen, Ten thousand waves has the most relaxing options of the seven resorts listed here. From the Grand Bath’s giant tiled outdoor hot pool with cold plunges, showers and saunas to seven other unique pools (one has a waterfall, another an underwater recliner built for two!), Ten thousand waves is a hot spring lover’s dream. Due to Covid restrictions, each of the seven hot tubs must be booked privately and all have their own sauna, private locker room, and showers. Located ten minutes from downtown Santa Fe but on twenty acres of pine and juniper forest, Ten Thousand Waves also offers Japanese-themed accommodation; you can stay in a zen room if you prefer “basic and beautiful” things or choose from increasingly luxurious options. The spa restaurant, Izanami, serves upscale small plates made with organic and local ingredients – if you’re not a vegetarian, you’d better try the wagyu – claimed by the site as “maybe the most delicious meat you have ever seen eaten. ” (But don’t worry – there are usually around 20 vegetarian menu options.)