The Orient Land Trust protects and shares 2,200 acres of open space located 4-1/2 miles south of Villa Grove, Colorado and 7 miles east of the junction of U.S. Highway 285 and Colorado Highway 17 on Saguache County Road GG (a gravel road). This high-mountain, rural oasis is far removed from gas stations, grocery, and other services. OLT stocks a small selection of local foods and snacks. It is a 175 mile drive from Denver (over 3-1/2 hours), 146 miles from Colorado Springs (over 3 hours), 198 miles from Santa Fe (over 3-1/2 hours) and 260 miles from Albuquerque (4-1/2 hours). The closest towns with services are shown on the maps below.

The gate closes at 9 pm each night after which no one is allowed entry. Reservations are highly recommended without which admission cannot be guaranteed. Please plan accordingly. We sincerely regret having to turn visitors away. If delayed, please call as soon as possible to coordinate other arrangements. We will assist however we can.

Valley View Hot Springs at the Orient Land Trust
64393 County Road GG
Moffat, CO 81143-9723
719-256-4315

Map and Directions (Google)

Closed each December 1st through the 28th.

See Member Benefits to see how to reserve up to 3 months in advance! Due to COVID19 we are only accepting reservations up to one month in advance.

There are a maximum of 4 2 Oak House Bedrooms and 6 0 Dorm Beds. The maximum number of Vehicle and Tent Spaces may be limited by conditions such as snow or mud.

See below for the availability of accommodations. This availability calendar updates just twice a day. Please call the OLT Welcome Center at 719-256-4315 for up-to-date reservation availability.

NOTE: Even if campsites or cabins are vacant, we may still be FULL due to reaching our guest capacity quota.

Please Become a Member of Orient Land Trust!

Contributions of $35 or more make you a member and provides important support to Orient Land Trust in fulfilling its mission. We depend on contributions to continue our conservation work and protect this place from development. As a member, you get the benefit of making reservations more than 1 day in advance. Different levels of membership provide varying time frames for advance reservation benefits. A member can also get a discount on a day visit if you are only planning on staying for 2 hours or less. This is referred to as a Quick Dip and is only available to members. Call 719-256-4315 for more member information.

When you support Orient Land Trust by becoming an Annual Contributor, you become part of a community working to preserve land, history, ecology, and a unique niche as a naturist experience. You also benefit by being eligible for increased reservation windows and discounts. Other benefits, such as access to special programs and events, may also be offered in the future. The table below lists the benefits you are entitled to receive for one full year at each donation level.

You may become a member at any time, donations are tax-deductible, and benefits are good for one year from the date of your donation. Please note that purchases of raffle tickets, online auction items or coupons given to members are not included with your total of annual contributions and are not tax-deductible. 

Four easy ways to contribute!

• Check - print the annual contributor form and mail it back to us
• Credit Card via our secure online donation site.
• Credit Card by calling Orient Land Trust at 719-256-4315
• Donate in person on your next visit to Orient Land Trust / Valley View Hot Springs

Thank you for your support!

Families

Families are very welcome here! And children under age 16 are always admitted for free. OLT preserves a world full of magic and discovery for children of all ages. Those who find clothing uncomfortable and restrictive are free to be themselves, au naturel. Adults here tend to be kind and playful, often regressing to their own childhood as they relax and notice the amazing world around them.

Note: Children must always be attended by their parent or guardian and respectful of other guests and the sensitive spaces we share here.

Pets

Well-behaved pets are invited to accompany their owners to OLT. We love animals and many staff have pets among their own family. However, we strongly urge pet owners to visit first without their pet to recognize how sensitive and alive this space is. Owners are held fully responsible for the behavior of their pets and risk fines and restrictions if left unattended or unleashed. This helps avoid disturbing the peaceful environment with potential aggression, territory, and abandonment issues that are common, especially among dogs.

No pets in any of the pools

First-time visitors are discouraged from bringing pets until they've first familiarized themselves with the space and wildlife here. 

We have a limit of two pets per reservation. Please confirm if space is available for your pet when you make a reservation. A per visit fee will be charged for each pet.  If appropriate, you may be asked to leave immediately and may not be allowed to return with your pet. If uncertain, please consider alternative arrangements for your pets.

Rates and Reservations with pet fees

Pet policies, Terms of Admission

HOT SPRINGS GEOLOGY 101: Where the Water Comes From

        Valley View’s water rises along the Sangre de Cristo Fault (SCFZ), a planar geologic fracture across which the Sangre de Cristo range has been uplifted as much as 16,000 feet relative to the San Luis Valley. The SCFZ is Colorado’s most active fault, having displaced moraine deposits of the latest Pleistocene ice age as much as 6 meters vertically in 2 large prehistoric earthquakes of about magnitude 7 (but that’s another story...).

Bedrock in the fault zone has been crushed and rotated by this slippage, creating a near-vertical zone of interconnected void spaces that water can flow through. The fault zone is generally more permeable than the adjacent wall rocks, so it intercepts and diverts lateral deep groundwater flow from the mountains to the valley. This warm water then rises up the fault zone and emerges at Valley View. The springs are probably localized at this spot because an east-west fault in the mountains intersects the north-south Sangre de Cristo Fault, creating a small but severely crushed intersection zone.

        The spring flow is made of 2 water components: (1) deeper, warmer groundwater that intersected the fault zone at depth, got heated, and then rose up in the fault zone (geothermal water), and (2) shallow, cooler water from infiltrating rain and snowmelt (meteoric water). The flow volume of deep geothermal water is essentially constant through the year, but an influx of cooler meteoric water occurs  from spring snowmelt in March to May of each year. At that time of year, the springs flow with the least volume but the entire flow is cooled by the larger component of cool meteoric water.  Possibly the cooler water reduces the ability of the deeper, warmer water to rise. This effect is most pronounced at the top springs, which catches the most mountain runoff, and is less at the lower springs. Conversely, in late summer through mid-winter there is essentially no meteoric infiltration on the mountain, so the spring flow is increased in volume, but it’s hotter because it’s almost totally composed of deep circulating water.  This year, the drought has caused water flow to drop to about  65% of the long-term average with no return to normal flow so far. However there has been no measurement of temperature above the normal 99 degrees at the top springs.  Other dry spells have produced top springs temperatures of over 106 degrees. Clearly, further research is needed. Some poor geologist may have to do this, by soaking in all the pools repeatedly. Yes, it's a tough job........

James P. McCalpin, Former Director, OLT
President, GEO-HAZ Consulting, Inc.
Director, Crestone Science Center
Research Assoc. Prof., Utah State University
P.O. Box 837
600 East Galena Ave.
Crestone, CO  81131  USA
phone 719-256-5227
Fax 719-256-5228

www.geohaz.com 

Volunteers are extremely important to OLT. Stewardship of OLT's lands and resources is the best thing visitors can give. Whether you have a few hours during your next visit or a full day for a special event or specific skills, please consider a donation of your time to help us work more efficiently toward the protection of the northern San Luis Valley's unique resources and open space. Help us learn of your interests and abilities by filling out a Volunteer Application. Print the application, fill it out and mail it in or give us a call and talk to our volunteer coordinator.

Volunteer Advisory Committees

Being a small yet very diverse organization, volunteers often get connected to us just by saying they want to help and sending us an application.

There are many rewarding ways to engage OLT and its mission. Your contributions help protect the unique natural experience you love so much.

• Donate and Join
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• Maps and Directions
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• Board Meetings
• Volunteer
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