We sure picked perfect days to stay at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort located between Salida and Buena Vista, Colorado. Descriptions of the Resort and what fuels the Hot Springs can be found on their website. The resort was beautiful and the food was great. And thank goodness, swim suits were required attire.
I had an unexpected experience at a hot springs where we stumbled upon their clothing optional policy. What a surprise to discover that! (Maybe I’ll share that story in a future article.)
At the hot springs the highest temperature was only 10 degrees! (Outside temps, not the water!) And in order to make it into the deliciously hot springs pools, we had to take off our towels and make a mad dash for the water.
Holy goosebumps Batman! My body had never been exposed to anything so shocking. Unless we’re talkin’ childbirth. I could see my arms turning blue starting at my fingertips and moving up towards my shoulders. Kind of like commercials where characters gradually turned to salt.
The large pools were positioned close together close to the bath house. You could choose from two large pools the size of a normal swimming pool. After we crossed over a bridge above Chalk Creek’s rushing waters, it led us up to three secluded Japanese cascading pools. Temperatures ranged from 107 degrees to 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
The hot water felt marvelous! Compared to the cold air above our shoulders it felt like a heated blanket wrapped around us from neck to toes.
On the way up to the pools ahead was a Juice Bar where they offered smoothies, beer, wine and light lunch or snack options.
Inside was a gas fireplace. You’d better believe I huddled up close to that flickering conveyor of comfort. Doug had to pry me away.
Our discussion sounded like this…
“Do we really have to go back out there?” I had wrapped my arms around a log pillar inside the Juice Bar.
“Don’t you want to get into a nice warm pool?”
“Can’t we stay here longer?” My nails were now digging trenches into the wood pole.
“Honey, you know you’ll feel great once you get into the water.”
But I was overcome with the sensuous feel of warm toes and dry towels. It was getting dark (and colder). And the idea of walking out onto frigid concrete with a wet head and frosty legs was a show-stopper. Eventually though I let go of the log pole and we ventured outdoors. Doug said he was proud of me. I vowed to put my cold feet on his back later that night in bed. Yes, he’s the one who kicks the blankets off in the middle of the night. He’s been known to put his icicle feet on me before sleep disables his wicked ways.
After the first afternoon of dipping, we went to a local store and bought me a fuzzy bathrobe. (Something I highly recommend. The fuzzier the better.) Doug didn’t buy one for himself because, well, he’s a manly man and could brave the cold like a champ. So now my ensemble consisted of the polyester designer robe and towels wrapped around my wet waist to shelter my legs. I made quite a dishy picture.
Are you getting the impression that all I can do is complain about the cold? Was I oblivious to the beautiful mountains, the features of this luxurious resort, the delicious food and the decadent warm waters? Well, I’m not ignoring the benefits of having a get-away and time alone with my frigid footed husband. We treasure those adventures. Between work, writing and family commitments, time for fun away from home are infrequent.
I hope you make time to visit a Colorado hot springs. Just not in the winter!
