Orient Land Trust
Valley View Hot Springs
Email:
info@olt.org
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Ponds and Pools of Valley View Hot Springs Click a thumbnail picture to enlarge. "Top Spring" The largest single flow of water, the Top Spring, is located in a narrow steep gulley at 9,000 feet elevation. The view looks over the San Luis Valley to the La Garita and San Juan Mountains forty miles to the west. This is the only spring at Orient Land Trust that changes temperature. At very wet times, usually during the spring from snow melt, the temperature can drop to near 70ºF. Occasionally heavy rain in summer will lower the temperature. After a very long dry period the Top Spring temperature may climb to 105ºF. Most of the time it is about 95-98ºF. A trail about one-quarter mile long climbs 300 feet to the Top Spring
"Soaking Pond" The largest natural pond, the Soaking Pond is a short walk up-hill. The pond is about three feet deep and the temperature ranges from one end to the other at 94ºF to 97ºF. The photo on the right clearly shows the carbon-dioxide bubbles which rise from the gravel bottom.
"Swimming Pool"
"Middle Spring" or
"Waterfall Pond"
A small pond filled from a 99ºF spring flowing through a pipe overhead as you soak.
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