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:

  • 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. We do shovel the paths and salt when needed, but… well, this is nature! We suggest a basic pair of hiking 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, and low-lying prickly pear cacti are prevalent, 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 in 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!

Getting here:

  • Make sure your contact information is correct!

  • Once again, 4WD/AWD with 7+ inches (7.5”+ for Winter) of Ground Clearance is absolutely required! If you don’t have a vehicle that meets these requirements, DO NOT attempt to access the ranch. We do not offer refunds to guests who attempt this and are unable to make it to their soak. See our Cancelation Policy.

  • Preferred access routes vary with weather and the seasons. See Road Conditions for current conditions, travel advisories, and closure announcements.

  • Turn traction control to “off“ when climbing dirt roads - doing so will prevent your vehicle from shutting off power to a slipping wheel. You are not truly in 4WD until traction control is off.

  • Generally, if your reservation is between the months of September and May (Fall, Winter, and Spring), keep an eye out for messages the night before and/or the morning of your soak - these messages may contain pertinent information regarding road conditions, access directions, or notifications of closure due to weather-related hazards.

  • The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our number one priority! If the area you’re coming from is under travel advisory or restriction, please let us know. We would be happy to assist you in rescheduling your soak. We can also issue a soak credit for a future date if you don’t live in the area. We usually close and issue full refunds or assist with rescheduling on days with active snowfall over 1 inch, and when overnight snow accumulation leave the roads impassible. We plow when we can (these are not county-maintained roads) but sometimes it is just too dangerous. Read more about snow closures on our Cancelation Policy page.

Checking in:

  • Aim to arrive 5 minutes prior your reservation time unless you plan to hike. Winter hiking conditions require snow shoes. Hiking requires closed toed shoes.

  • If you intend to hike, or if you arrive on the property unexpectedly early and decide you’d like to explore, please text us at (303) 718-7971 so that we can greet you and send you in the right direction.

  • Park in the flat area facing the Buddha statue and one of us (Alex or Alyssa) will come up from the house to check you in. The house within the fenced area is our private residence - please wait in the parking area for us to greet you. Feel free to text! It might be that we are caught up in a task and didn’t hear you come in.

Privacy and 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. We expect that you will be walking back to the parking area at the end of your reservation time. If you would prefer a reminder over checking your phone/watch or setting an alarm, let us know; we can come down and give you a heads up when there are 10 minutes remaining in your reservation. This would be the time to begin the process of packing up and vacating the Spring 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 count on guests being back at the parking area at the turn of the hour so that reservations following yours don’t have to be pushed back! 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. Plus, it often means at least an extra hour of work for us, between communicating the delay with guests and staying open later. Please, help us keep the Spring running smoothly by respecting the schedule and staying within your reservation 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.

  • 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. If we don’t see any signs that you are vacating the Spring area with 5 minutes remaining in your reservation time, we will come down to the Spring to check on you. If it is clear that you are in the Sauna, we will assume you are on track to leave on time.

  • Used towels can be deposited in the wicker basket near the Buddha statue on your way out.

  • We love dogs! Leashed dogs are welcome at the Spring, but please do not allow them in the water with you! Also, no unneutered male dogs are permitted on the property.

  • 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 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. Checking guests in is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the work involved in running this place, and finding time to go to the post office is just not in the cards.

  • Pack it in - Pack it out! We do not have a trash can for guests’ food scraps, cans, containers, etc. As an off-grid business, we haul all of our trash to the county transfer station 20 minutes away. As such, we operate under a “leave no trace” policy. This policy applies to natural objects as well - we encourage admiration of rocks and wildflowers, but please leave them for others to enjoy.