The world feels stale and cold to me, a common problem in January, exacerbated by daytime temperatures below freezing. I’d like to be somewhere warm, but we just went to South Padre Island less than 2 months ago. In this mood, I turn to our brief trip to Valley View Hot Springs, in the San Luis Valley near Salida, Colorado.

Valley View used to require membership to visit its clothing-optional pools. Now it’s open to the public, and we were lucky enough to know someone who scored a free week there. So bravely in December we set out, stopping by Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

The name may give the false hope that fossils will be lying around for all to see. In reality, most of the fossils remain in the ground, where they are protected, and the rest can be viewed in the visitors center. Todd and I took a short hike to see the petrified stumps of redwood trees that grew in Colorado millions of years ago. Beth Partin's photosWe arrived late in the afternoon and had a nice hike, nothing special. But then things turned bad for me. I got into a mood and couldn’t shake it until we reached Sunset House at 7 pm, which has views that are magnificent even in the cloud of winter. Beth Partin's photos, Valley View Hot SpringsGotta love those glacier-scrubbed valleys. Tired from more than 8 hours on the road, we didn’t wait long to slide into the closest pool, appropriately named the Hot Tub. It was originally a kiddie pool.Beth Partin's photosMost of the pools at Valley View are cooler, about body temperature, which is fine during the day, especially if you just hiked up a steep trail. We stayed in the Top Pool for an hour one morning and didn’t even get that cold when we got out to get dressed. Here’s the road leading to that trail. The pool is up the side of that hill to the right, enclosed in trees, and visited by juncos and chickadees.Beth Partin's photos, Valley View Hot SpringsFriday afternoon, after we returned from Salida, I trekked up to the Party Pool to take pictures of the stream and its bright green plants. It was getting dark. Beth Partin's photos, Valley View Hot SpringsLooks mysterious, doesn’t it? But I wasn’t there to soak. I lay down on the ground and tried to get one of those cool shots of water bokeh (blur). Here’s the best I could manage. Beth Partin's photos, water shotsClearly, I need more practice. Perhaps fill flash would have sharpened up the plants; I’ll have to try that next time. Or just bring a tripod. And maybe if I ever visit Valley View again when temps are in the single digits at night, I’ll have the fortitude to soak in the Party Pool at night, as Todd suggested. It just sounded so coooooooooooold to me.

Leave A Comment

  1. Missy January 12, 2011 at 12:12 pm - Reply

    Great photos! Would love to visit out there sometime.

  2. Beth Partin January 12, 2011 at 1:22 pm - Reply

    I think the cabins fill up in the summer, but it pretty easy to find camping spots.

  3. Todd Bradley January 12, 2011 at 9:41 pm - Reply

    I noticed none of the photos show any people. I especially like the water picture.

  4. Beth Partin January 13, 2011 at 9:59 am - Reply

    True, I didn’t take any pictures of people on that trip.

  5. Kimberly January 15, 2011 at 11:53 am - Reply

    Mysterious indeed:) It looks like a creepy thing is about to come out of the pool:) Nice shots, I think a flash will do.

  6. Bali Villa Rental August 5, 2011 at 6:31 am - Reply

    Wow.. lovely pictures.

  7. Franklin Nevins August 22, 2012 at 9:52 am - Reply

    I discovered your blog on google and check out a few of your early posts. Stay with the very good posts. Ill likely be by again to read more, thanks for the post!.