Harbin Hot Springs – Middletown, California

This resort is nestled among 1700 acres outside of Middletown, California. Harbin Hot Springs offers an intimate, relaxing locale featuring eight distinct pools, overnight accommodations, yoga and massage facilities, and food on site.

With a history dating back over one hundred years, Harbin Hot Springs offers all the amenities needed for a complete, invigorating retreat. Clothing is optional, and personal electronic usage is prohibited in order to maintain a relaxing environment while ensuring guests’ comfort.

Hot Spring Pools

Arguably considered the main attraction for Harbin Hot Springs, the eight pools on site offer varying temperatures suited for a variety of activities. Due to a large number of springs on the Harbin property, fresh spring water of varying temperatures is combined in the different pools to create an all-encompassing assortment of pools.

Here are a few of the most popular pools:

• Hot Pool: This covered pool features a geothermally heated spring pool that is so hot that inexperienced soakers are recommended to spend less than a minute submerged.
• Cold Plunge: This pool, as the name suggests, is filled with ice cold, untreated spring water.
• Warm Pool: Filled with a combination of water from the springs around the property, this signature pool is suited for longer soaks.

Along with these three primary pools, the property also includes five additional pools, all of which are ADA-accessible. Among these is the classic swimming pool, where guests may swim laps and relax in a more casual, relaxed setting.

Near the pool deck are changing areas, showers, and restrooms, all of which are gender neutral. Finally, this section of the resort features a large, cedar Sauna crafted from onsite wood.

Accommodations

Maintaining the laid-back, relaxing atmosphere that describes the pool area, the accommodations provided at Harbin are simple yet comfortable.

Creekside Caravans

Available for a limited time, Harbin Hot Springs’ Creekside Caravans feature fifteen individual campers separated into two lots. Located only ten minutes on foot from the main pool area, these accommodations maintain simplicity while also providing modern comforts.

Each caravan contains a kitchenette featuring a refrigerator and microwave, a private bathroom, and individually controlled air conditioning and heating. The majority of the caravans are double-occupancy, but there are a few appropriate for families with children.

Grove Cottages

For those looking for more space, the Grove Cottages may be more appealing. Like the Creekside Caravans, these cottages are only a ten-minute walk from the pool area. However, unlike the caravans, the Grove Cottages do not feature a kitchenette. Instead, all cottages have a small deck overlooking the Harbin meadow.

Reservations are not required but are strongly recommended.

Activities

Harbin Hot Springs features a variety of on-site activities, like a comprehensive massage program as well as complimentary yoga classes.

Harbin Hot Springs offers a wide variety of massage practices, including Watsu, a unique aquatic massage developed on site. This technique includes gentle stretching while floating in a warm pool, creating a massage that is deeply relaxing.

Besides Watsu, Harbin Hot Springs offers more traditional massages, like deep tissue massages as well as hot stone massages. Additionally, Harbin provides acupuncture services.

In the outdoors, the Harbin Hot Springs 1700-acre property includes a variety of trails for hiking and gentle walking. Because of a large fire that passed through the property in 2015, hiking at Harbin offers a close look at the impacts of fire on a recovering ecosystem, allowing hikers to view the natural cycles of nature.

Food

There is one restaurant on site, the Dancing Bear Cafe. With a menu full of homemade food, the cafe offers a healthy variety of foods like muffins, salads, soups, and homemade desserts.

Guests are able to bring their own food to the resort. Food may be purchased at the Hardester’s supermarket in Middletown. Additionally, Middletown is home to a variety of restaurants.

Details

Address: 18424 Harbin Springs Rd, Middletown, California 95461

Phone: 707-987-2477

Season: Year-round

Website: harbin.org