Orient Land Trust is a non-profit land trust created around Valley View Hot Springs, its unique culture and environment.

With the Orient Mine and Everson Ranch, we now protect 2,200 acres, its wildlife corridor, pristine spring waters, hiking trails, rustic cabins, and camping. Visitors of all ages and walks of life enjoy free educational programs, clothing-optional naturist open space, geothermal warmth, hydroelectric energy, and Colorado's largest bat colony.  Read more...

Guidelines Rates and Reservations Bat Tours

Highland Cattle
Friday, March 10th, 2017

Down on the Ranch

March madness is in effect at Everson Ranch! The weather is a month of transition with a split personality. It's typically the snowiest month and can be interlaced with early tastes of spring and everything in between. We have new baby animals and thoughts of this years projects and programs are getting some attention. March is also the time of year that Nancy Roberts, of Arrowpoint Beef Company, will bring…
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Bat Host, Michael, answering questions
Friday, March 10th, 2017

Scheduling Volunteers for 2017!

Volunteers are very important to our organization! In fact, we could not do it without them. In 2016, we had 113 volunteers work over 8,000 hours! Thank you to everyone who made 2016 a success! It's that time of year again when I start scheduling for the summer season. We are looking for individuals who love this special place and have the time, energy, and expertise to share. A positive…
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Sunlight Breaking Through
Friday, March 10th, 2017

Renewal Reminder Letter

Have you been waiting for your letter from Orient Land Trust reminding you that your membership will be expiring? We are not going to mail those letters this year. The cost in time and postage of sending such letters is significant. Based on the follow up from these letters last year, this was not an effective approach; we had only a marginal response from our mailings. If you are curious…
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North end of the Sangres in the early morning
Thursday, February 9th, 2017

More Daylight!

The days are getting longer, the sun is stronger. We're glad that we are getting a respite from the cold temperatures we had for much of January. There will no doubt be more cold and snow. The aquifer can use whatever we get and we will rejoice instead of complaining when more snow comes. However, the past few days have been nice, if a bit hazy. We are technically midway…
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Hercules the kid goat
Thursday, February 9th, 2017

Goat Population Explosion

A lot has changed over the last few years at the Everson Ranch. The hay fields have been restored and improved. A strawbale bathhouse was built for ranch volunteers and interns. New fences put up, old ones taken out and a gated irrigation pipe system installed to keep it all going. Along with these changes, the ranch animals have been brought back! Nancy Roberts, owner of Arrowpoint Beef, runs her…
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OLT's Hydroelectric Power Plant
Friday, January 13th, 2017

Electricity

The electricity generated by OLT's hydroelectric plant is finite. Grid power is miles away. We can make about 62 kilowatts of continuous power. When people turn up their cabin baseboard heaters, that uses electricity. When people cook on the stoves, that uses electricity. When the dryers in the laundry room are spinning, that uses electricity. Vehicle campers that plug into those sites with electricity use electricity. When the air temperature…
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Colorado camping, year round
Friday, January 13th, 2017

Winter Visits

Plan ahead - be prepared. The night time temperatures are cold. Indoor accommodations are typically reserved in advance. Winter campers have many choices and there is no tent site fee for tent camping October through April. Most winters, for most of the winter, there is snow on the ground. Winter campers should be prepared to clear the snow from their tent site to suit their needs. All visitors should bring…
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  • Naturism by Neil & Terry Seitz, FoundersHistory of Naturism at OLT
  • Words of Wisdom by Neil & Terry Seitz, FoundersSharing experience and wisdom that helped sustain this special place through the decades.

For the education, enjoyment, and well-being of current and future generations, Orient Land Trust: 
promotes a positive clothing-optional experience at all properties including Valley View Hot Springs, Orient Mine and Everson Ranch;
preserves the viewshed, including land acquisition; 
protects natural, wild, agricultural, and historic resources, in the northern San Luis Valley.

Values

  • Dedication to inclusiveness and the public good
  • Accountability to a diverse public community and maintaining their trust
  • Social and environmental justice beyond mandates
  • Respect for the worth and dignity of individuals and nature
  • Embracing naturism through practice and education
  • Modeling collaborative pluralism, transparency, integrity and honesty
  • Pledging excellence and responsibility in stewarding resources
  • Encouraging lifelong learning

Goals

  • Visitor Space Protection and Management: Maintain and protect Valley View Hot Springs as an affordable, peaceful and family-friendly clothing-optional recreational facility that enhances the visitor experience year round.
  • Conservation and Preservation: Follow the highest possible standards for land preservation, agricultural practices, and energy and water conservation.
  • Research and Education: Facilitate scientific research around OLT resources, and promote educational programs and activities suitable for adults and children.
  • Staff Development and Community Relations: Maintain OLT as a responsible citizen of the San Luis Valley.