weekend getaway: crestone, colorado

I’ve been in Colorado for an entire year and somehow I had never been to any of Colorado’s many hot springs… CRAZY, right?! I had a mission to hit one up to celebrate my birthday Colorado style (because I guess being on a Greek Island wasn’t enough?!). With so many to choose from, I narrowed down my hot springs search to somewhere I haven’t been before and within four hours since I just had a long weekend planned. 

Where did I decide on for my weekend getaway? Crestone and Valley View Hot Springs in the San Luis Valley. 

Before I found Valley View Hot Springs, I didn’t really know too much about Crestone and the San Luis Valley besides it is home to some tough 14ers in the Sangre de Monte Cristo Range. When I started to research, I found out it was home to many spiritual centers of various world religions. But when I got to Crestone (population just 125 – though it peaked at 2,000 in 1900 during the gold rush!), I realized just how beautiful and majestic the place was! It was said that the Ute Tribe never lived in Crestone, however, they protected it from settlers as it was considered a sacred place.

day one – hot springs, baby

If it wasn’t obvious above, the entire trip was planned around going to hot springs. Something that was super important to me was that the hot springs be somewhat ~natural~ aka I didn’t want to feel like I was just at a swimming pool. If you’re wanting that same thing, Valley View is the PERFECT spot. I’m already planning on when I can go back tbh!

Valley View Hot Springs is owned and operated by Orient Land Trust. OLT is a non-profit founded in 2001 dedicated to preserving 2,200 acres of land. It was created around the hot springs, however, it also includes Everson Ranch and Orient Mine. The Nature Conservancy and the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife also have conservation easements on the land in order to help protect the land.

While there is one actual swimming pool (which is still fresh spring water) the rest of the hot springs are natural rock soaking ponds where the temperatures range from about 93°F to 107°F. Each pond is nestled in nature and feels secluded from the rest. While none are super huge or deep, you never really feel like you’re impeding on anyone else. 

With all the different ponds, honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite one! I first headed to the “Top Ponds” (located up a steep ¼ mile climb – well steep in flip flops) dipping between the three ponds. I wanted to try all the ponds, but it was so peaceful and the view up there was UNREAL. I hopped around the different hot spring ponds for hours and saved the “Apple Tree Pools” aka the hottest ponds at Valley View for my last stop. At this point, it was pitch black and with only a day or two away from the full moon, stargazing was out of this world (get it?!). While there are cottages and possible to stay at Valley View, I had an AirBnB booked in Crestone, so I had to resist the urge to stay in the hot springs alllllll night.

A few things to keep in mind:

• The entire facility is clothing optional. I can only vouch for my day there, but about 95% opted for their birthday suits
• There are no artificial lights, so bring your headlamps if you’re doing to be there after the sun goes down!
• No food and/or drinks are really sold, so bring your own snacks and drinks! (No glass though)
• Most important: reserve before ya go! More info at the bottom of the post

---

day two – explore crestone

Sooo I knew my Airbnb was going to cute based on the photos. But I got there in the dark. So when I woke up in the morning and headed to the deck with my coffee to check out the view of the valley, insaneeee. I’m not only talking about the view, but it was sooo freaking quiet. I can’t even describe it. Occasionally there was a bird chirp here or there, but since I was there outside of prime season (end of October), there was not even the sound of a car driving down a gravel road in the distance. 

enjoy the view and silence

So in all honesty, the plan for the day was to head to Sand Dunes National Park, butttt that didn’t quite happen. Instead, I finished my cup of coffee in silence, cooked up some chilaquiles for a late breakfast, and enjoyed the deck till noontime. And I don’t regret that one bit!

If you’re visiting on a weekend (and maybe other days as well??) as you head into town you’ll pass some stands, carts, and maybe a wood fire stove. Speaking with the locals, this is kind of their farmers’ market slash yard sale spot. Regardless of what’s there for the day, stop and see if anything catches your eye. There is also a little kiosk with postings for things going around in the town, as well as alllllll da warnings about bears. I asked one of the guys there if Crestone really was full of bears… yuppp. Take those warnings to heart because this guy had a bear knocking over his fridge and a broken car window after accidentally leaving a pumpkin in it within just the past few days.

explore the town

Continue your drive into Crestone and a spot to park. From there, you can explore the entire town on foot. If you’re in need of some snacks or coffee, head to the Cloud Station. If you’re into the history of the mining of the area, maybe pop into the Crestone Historical Museum. Forgot something for your trip? Maybe stop at the town’s free box. I had a great time just strolling through the town taking in all the sights – such as the (now abandoned) Crestone Hardware Store. If you’re a fan of beer, don’t leave without stopping at Crestone Brewing! 

visit some spiritual centers

Perhaps what Crestone is best known for – it’s large number of spiritual centers. While Crestone started out as a mining town, since 1977, thanks to Maurice Strong (a Canadian businessman and US diplomat), it is now home to almost 25 spiritual centers. The Strongs founded the Manitou Foundation which preserves not only the spiritually of the area, but also the ecology. The centers represent many different religions and traditions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, New Age, and Native American spiritual traditions. 

Clearly, you won’t have time for them all. At the suggestion of my Airbnb host, I visited the Tashi Gomang Stupa and Yeshe Rangsal Stupa. Both were very beautiful and tranquil. 

---

day three – road trip home

Take some time to enjoy Crestone before you head out. You know that farmers market slash yard sale spot on the edge of town? Yeah, stop there for the best bagel of your lifeeeee. I don’t want to exaggerate, but it will be. After the first bite, I never wanted it to end. And tbh, still kinda mad I didn’t buy any to go (though the sourdough I brought home was also amazing).

pit stop 

Assuming you’re heading back to Denver, there are some mountain towns that make great places to stop along the way. Two of my favorites – Salida and Buena Vista. If you’re in a hurry to get back home and love Thai food, Thai Mini Cafe is right off the road.

---

when to visit crestone

Prime season for Crestone is the summer when the hiking is at its prime. However, if you’re not trying to summit any 14ers (which is best in July/August), Crestone can be enjoyed year-round. In fact, it’s probably best in the spring or late fall. If you want to include Valley View Hot Springs as part of your trip, it is closed from December 1st to December 28th. I visited in late October and I think it was the perfect time for a weekend in Crestone – very end of fall colors and the town (plus the 125 residents) to yourself.

how to get to crestone

If you’re coming from Denver, it’s a relatively quick (about three and a half hours), pretty drive along US-285 before jumping off on CO-17. Keep in mind, US-285 does go over some mountain passes, so there is potential for snow or weather almost any time of year – I’ve seen snow in June and October.

If stopping first at Valley View Hot Springs, the drive there is only three hours from Denver – located just 30 miles north of Crestone.

where to stay in crestone

If you’re looking for a nice lil weekend getaway, I suggest an AirBnb. While I am kinda obsessed with the cottage I stayed at, I definitely saw several cute options while searching if you’re looking for something different. Not really too many hotel options in such a small town, but you can always search in nearby towns. Of course, if you’re there during summer, camping is always an option! Head over to my Moab post for ideas on how to search for camping spots.

where to eat in crestone

I brought groceries with me because I read lots of restaurants were closed on random days or they closed early… and I wasn’t quite sure what I was planning to do each day. 

So MOST IMPORTANT food choice you can make – bagels at the “farmers market.” Highly recommend the jalap bagel toasted with the whipped cream cheese. Also, highly recommend the sourdough!

few other spots:

Elephant Cloud Market/The Cloud Station

So really, you don’t need to do a grocery shopping trip before ya arrive unless you need some obscure item. The market carries mostly organic and tons of local items. Right next door, the Cloud Station serves coffee, treats, breakfast, and lunch.

Crestone Brewing Co

Not only serving as the town’s brewery, but the town bar. The beer list is at this nanobrewery is constantly changing, but when I was there, I had a great porter and juicy IPA. And while the brewery is not open till 2am, this may be the only spot to get food past 8pm (you have till 9:30!).

opted to make most meals at my campsite, but I can recommend the following.

Mandala Pizza

After exploring the area, I was really craving pizza (I mean, when am I not?!) and decided to stop into Mandala. Luckily, I didn’t really have to completely ruin my dinner because they offer pizza by the slice (cheese, veggie, and meat). They also offer vegan and gluten-free options.

Our Food is Art

I didn’t get a chance to eat here, but my Airbnb host highly recommended it. If you want to check it out, they are only open Wednesday to Saturday.

hours & fees

Valley View Hot Springs is open year-round, besides December 1st to 28th. As I mentioned above, you must call to reserve your spot in advance! This is because, in order to preserve the area, there is a maximum number of people they allow every day. If you aren’t a member, you are only able to reserve both day passes and accommodations 24 hours in advance. On a day pass, you can use the pools and facilities from 9am to 10pm and it costs $13 to $15 depending on the time of year. Rates for accommodations and availability can be found on their website.

---