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
• Conserve Your Land
• Tours and Talks
• Maps and Directions
• News
• Board Meetings
• Volunteer
  • Quick Jobs
  • Projects
  • Host Positions
• Capital Campaigns
• Ways to Give
  • Gifts of Cash
  • Gifts of Stock
  • Gifts of Real Estate
  • Gifts of Business Interests
  • Gifts of Personal Property
  • Gifts through Your IRA
  • Gifts of Life Insurance
  • Life Income Gifts
  • Gifts of Retained Life Estate
  • Bequests
• Media Contributions
• Board Openings
• Staff Openings

Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Irrigation

Permaculture