Alvord Hot Springs Bath House & Campground

I’ll be honest, this isn’t the place for everyone. And I’m glad that people might not go to this place because it cost $30 for the day pass (why didn’t you call first? You can’t even make a reservation without calling them.) or because of one bad situation that didn’t have to do with the owners or the establishment. But terrible none the less for those campers. I had a great time and stayed at the springs. Camped alone as an Asian American woman. Felt safe, relaxed and at ease. Great weather and the springs were lovely. This place isn’t for everyone but if you’re interested I highly recommend calling and asking questions first. The owner was very welcoming and made sure I felt safe. I did call and was happy to speak to a lovely young lady who answered some questions for me as a solo lady. I will definitely be going back after July 4th (recommended to me from the attendee at the Field’s station) so I can drive into the Steen’s mountains too. But the Springs has a nice walk to the playa which was lovely.

What an amazing experience! Make time for this attraction. Just fill your gas tank before heading out. The cost is $10 for non-guests. Google is wrong on that. It also says that is for the use of the road. While that may be the case you are also paying for knowledge. The owner was very friendly and a fountain of information. Stop in the office for minute and chat. He has restroom available along with that road access. Its quite a drive to get to but worth it. We skipped the hot springs but I am sure where neat also. This is something most people will never see in their lifetime. We were grateful for the suggestion of going to the rim overlook. The Steen Mountain loop drive he said was worth the time was amazing. We would have known nothing about it had we used the free road.

It had been 20 years since we visited Alvord Hot Springs and we were happy to find it virtually unchanged - still simple, rustic, and magical. My husband soaked in the tub and I delighted in meditating to the sounds of the hot creek meandering through the grass on its way to the playa. The gravel campsite on the east side of the road was nice and level for our van. There is also a group of campsites on the west side of the road that would be great for a group. Paul was wonderful to deal with on the phone when booking and I really enjoyed talking with him during our stay. It's obvious he really cares about this place and is passionate about sharing it with others. In a world where everything is quickly becoming a virtual reality, this is the REAL DEAL.

If you are going to stay at the campground it's is best to give them a call and reserve a spot ($60/night) because they book reservations based on the number of guests and not the number of camping spots to ensure the hotspring pools do not become overcrowded. You can use the hot spring after 6pm if you camp there. I camped on the la playa and purchased a day use pass for the hot springs ($20/person) the next day. The folks working here were absolutely amazing. I chatted a bit with John and Jeff who were very helpful and lovely company. They have a small store to buy wood, select food items, & beverages. I bought an Alvord Ranch steak, which they allowed me to throw on the gas grill, and washed it down with a beer.

I can't put my finger on how healing this place is. The night sky bursting with the sight of every star in this galaxy and the next. The still of the night, lack of sound stills the mind. The playa excites the sole into kid like behavior, it might be the space or how fast could I run with all the space. But there is one thing that fills the sole. After a nice soak in the hot spring and chatting a fellow speaker of peace, a nice bite of a perfectly cooked steak completes the harmony of Alvord hot springs. I will be returning soon!