![]() ![]() “I think I’d need to wear clothes some of the time,” I said. “You know,” my wife said, “I could get used to this.” He sounded like he knew his business, despite being naked. “But it doesn’t smell like chlorine.”Ī helpful naked man with a flowing white beard floated over and informed us that the blue of the waters came not from chemicals, but from the mineral travertine, a white sedimentary rock that’s often found near the openings of hot springs. It was mellowness incarnate, and I eased into the warm pool. No one stared, or snickered, and no one applauded or expressed any outrage or surprise whatsoever. The moment was like nothing I had imagined. I handed the towel back to my wife and walked out au naturel. No one was swimming laps or throwing footballs to each other. A dozen people of varying ages-most but not all of them naked-chatted silently or simply floated in the blue water. A glinting limestone pool was framed by a series of lawn chairs, white rock sculptures and an endless horizon-not so much as a single house in sight. It was smaller and far quieter than I imagined. I looked in the direction of the hot spring. “Do you want a towel?’ she said, holding one out for me. She burst out laughing at the sight of me. I took it all off, put on my Crocs-and only my Crocs-and emerged to find her waiting outside in her bathing suit. ![]() That settled it.Īnd so it was that one bright and sunny day in the middle of the Colorado winter, my wife and I got in our brand new Subaru and set off in the direction of the hot and clothing optional.Īfter paying our entrance fee, we went to our respective changing rooms. My wife suggested that perhaps I could ask her. Surely I could think of someone-a friend or colleague, perhaps a neighbor-who would enjoy and even benefit from the experience of being my escort to a clothing-optional hot spring. The requirement of a female chaperone was an obstacle, but not insurmountable. While not all hot springs have such a policy, enough of them do that it’s worth checking before you visit. All men using the facility have to be accompanied by at least one woman. Photo courtesy of Desert Reef.īefore departing, I checked the website for opening times and discovered that I would not be able to go alone. Forty minutes on Highway 115, then about 10 minutes along a winding dirt road make you wonder if you’ve fallen off the grid entirely.ĭesert Reef underwent a full renovation in 2022, adding soaking pools and Airstream trailers and tiny homes for overnight stays. There are bigger and certainly more upscale places, but Desert Reef is one of the closest to the Springs. I decided to visit the Desert Reef Hot Spring in Florence. Most hot springs are associated with mountainous areas and their geological faults, heavily fractured zones within rock that provide a path for water to circulate to great depths where it is heated and charged with healthful minerals. There are a lot of them in the state because of its unique geological profile. My first order of business was deciding which hot springs to visit. Just try saying you don’t have a bathing suit. Suddenly, you’ll see a sign for a clothing optional hot springs. ![]() Maybe you’ll be skiing, or will have just finished a hike, or be driving innocently through the mountains. If you live in Colorado and have not yet had some form of clothing optional discussion, it’s only a matter of time. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |