CHECK-IN INSTRUCTIONS

Checking in is very simple once you arrive. Raspberry Hot Springs is located about 15 minutes from Idaho Springs up a series of mountain roads. Apple navigation seems to have some issues getting folks here. We recommend using Google Maps. Our address is:

899 Chinook Rd, Idaho Springs CO, 80452

WHAT TO BRING

• Be sure you are coming up in a vehicle that has AWD or 4WD and at least 7 inches of ground clearance. Check out Getting Here for more information on access, vehicle requirements, road conditions, potential travel delays and weather.

• Note that temperatures at our altitude (9000 feet) will generally be 15-20 degrees colder than Denver and at least 5 degrees colder than downtown Idaho Springs, so packing extra layers is advised. In winter, be aware of brief but strong wind gusts, and the possibility of branches or other objects being tossed around by mother nature.

• Don’t forget your swimsuit and towels! You are not required to wear a swimsuit - if you would rather enjoy the spa nude, you are welcome to do so. Please see “Spa Rules and Privacy” below.

• We do rent towels if you’d rather not deal with wet towels after your soak. They are $5 apiece.

• A robe or kimono can be nice for the short journey from the Spring to the sauna or the private bathroom.

• Bring appropriate footwear for walking to the spring. This should be something you’re comfortable wearing while walking on dirt paths and flagstone steps, potentially in the dark if you’ve booked a late soak. Paths may be muddy, dusty, or have remnants of snow or ice (during winter). We do shovel the paths and salt when needed, but… well, this is nature! We suggest a basic pair of hiking/tennis shoes or, in the summer, Chacos/Tevas or other outdoor sandals.

• You might also want to bring a pair of flip-flops for walking around in the terraced area surrounding the Spring - you may encounter rough edges, rocks, plant debris, bugs (summer/fall) and other such outdoor features underfoot. In the wintertime, slippers are a favorite choice! The terraced area can be very cold on bare feet when temperatures drop below freezing!

• If you intend to hike, you will need hiking boots, and possibly snow shoes in the winter, to explore the area. The terrain around here is steep and rocky, so foot protection is a must.

• If you booked a late-night soak, we recommend bringing a headlamp or battery-powered lantern. While there are lights on the path and around/within the structures, it’s nice to have a light for rounding up your personal effects as you leave the Spring area. While most cell phones have lights, consider that the combination of phones, darkness, and deep, hot water often doesn’t work out so well for the phone.

• Feel free to bring food and drinks, but be aware that the walk to the spring is down a dirt trail through the forest, about 100 feet from the parking area. No glass whatsoever in the Spring area. Also, refrain from eating near the water.

• It’s important to stay hydrated when soaking in hot water for extended periods of time. We suggest bringing thermally insulated water bottles so you can keep cool drinking water nearby at the Spring.

• If your soak is during the day, consider bringing sunblock for your face. Solar radiation is intense at 9,000 feet, especially during the summer months when the Spring pool gets more sunlight. Alyssa recommends Z-Block, which is a reef safe, waterproof, mineral sunscreen that won’t sting your eyes. This was developed for scuba diving, so it actually works!

PRIVACY & SPA RULES

• There is a bathroom in the forested spa area, as well as a heated Cedar-Barrel Sauna (dry heat only, for now) that serves as a private base camp and changing area for your group. Both of these amenities are only available during your reservation time. Please stop and use the bathroom on your way here if it is urgent - out of respect for the privacy of our guests, we do not allow guests who arrive early to enter the private spring area to use the bathroom before their soak time has started.

• The amenities are located down the stone-lined path directly in front of the parking area; however, if you arrive early, DO NOT impose on the guests whose reservation precedes yours. The entire spa area is private, and access to the amenities therein is limited to your reservation time.

• Privacy, low volume peaceful decompression, and mellow relaxation is the vibe - for many folks, this may be their only chance to unwind from their busy lives, so keep it low-key in the parking area and be mindful of the private space. However, guests are welcome to bring a speaker or an instrument and play music during their soak time.

• If you arrive early, please turn off your engine to avoid disturbing the previous guests, and when hiking, please avoid coming into the line of sight of soaking guests. If you arrive at night, dim or turn off your headlights - there is very little light pollution up here, and we like to maintain that so that guests can enjoy stargazing from the Spring.

• Perhaps the most important rule: DO NOT LINGER IN THE SPA AREA PAST YOUR RESERVATION TIME. A one-hour soak time does not mean you get a full hour in the water, it means you have one hour total in the private area. Please plan on being out of the water about 7-10 minutes prior to the end of your soak time so that you can gather your belongings from the spring area, dry off in the sauna, dress, and pack out. We suggest setting a mellow alarm on your phone so you don’t have to worry about the time. For larger groups, please be aware that this process takes more time - this is why we suggest the two-hour time slot for bigger parties. We count on guests being back at the parking area at the turn of the hour. Overstaying by five or ten minutes might not seem like a big deal, but it could make the difference for a group with dinner reservations following their soak, a family heading back to DIA to catch a flight, or a couple who booked the sunset soak for their engagement. Please, help us keep the Spring running smoothly by respecting the schedule and staying within your reservation time. If the guests whose reservation precedes yours have stayed past the turn of the hour and infringed on your soak time, please inform us.

• Raspberry Hot Springs is a clothing-optional spring. However, please keep nudity contained to the forested spa area. If you come back up to the parking area during your soak, we ask that you don a robe or other garment, out of respect for guests arriving for the appointment time following yours. Also, please keep track of time and be in the sauna, on your way to being clothed 5 minutes prior to the end of your reservation time.

• Used towels can be deposited in the big wicker basket near the Buddha statue on your way out. Please do not leave used towels or loose trash at the spring, near or in the sauna, on the ground in the parking area, on the rocks, or on the chairs by the kiosk! We ask that you leave the area nice for the next guests. We work very, very hard to keep this place running and to keep the grounds tidy. If anything is in need of attention, please let us know by sending us a text.

• We love dogs! Leashed dogs are welcome at the Spring, but please do not allow them in the water with you! We understand that some dogs are great off-leash and are fully responsive to voice commands, but we get wildlife around here - moose, black bear, deer, rabbits, squirrels - which may test your dog’s obedience. In order to ensure the protection of both your dog and the wild denizens of this mountain environment, please keep your dog leashed while you are on the property. Also, no unneutered male dogs are permitted on the property. No exceptions.

• No smoking of any kind in the sauna! Also, smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products IS NOT PERMITTED on the property - this includes both the Spring area and the parking area.

• Again, no glass whatsoever in the Spring area and no eating in or near the water.

• We cannot be responsible for items left at the Spring. Please triple-check that you have all of your items before you vacate the Spring area. Commonly left items include:

  • Sunglasses

  • Rings

  • Watches

  • Water Bottles

  • Hair Accessories

  We are very, very busy and do not have time to ship lost items back to folks. Finding time to package items, gather shipping info, and somehow get to the post office during business hours is just not in the cards. If you leave an item and simply must have it returned, the fee will be $50 (oversized items will cost more). This includes shipping and handling, and must be paid ahead of time. Alternatively, you may come retrieve the item during business hours - just make sure you text us ahead of time to make arrangements.

• Trash can be deposited in the metal trash can near the bathroom. Please do not use the trash can or bear box by the solar shed - this is for our personal use and this area is not set up for guests. We ask that you stay on the path when going to and from the Spring.

• Please follow Leave No Trace principles. Remember that you are on private land - do not take souvenirs from the property. We encourage admiration of rocks and wildflowers, but please leave them for others to enjoy.