Entry No. 30 — the Pueblo file — filed under: hot-springs-wellness
Valley View Hot Springs (Orient Land Trust)
“A ribbon of 250,000 bats at dusk — you don't just see it, you hear it.”
A nonprofit land trust runs this one: seven soaking ponds strung up a hillside at the foot of the Sangre de Cristos, clothing optional across the entire property, power from their own micro-hydro plant. The real move is mid-June through mid-September — hike two miles past the Orient Mine ghost town to the Glory Hole, where roughly 250,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats (a bachelor colony, documented since 1967) pour out at dusk in a ribbon you can hear. Admission is capped, so it never feels crowded.
The story
At 8,700 feet against the steep base of the Sangre de Cristo range, Valley View doesn't run like a resort. The entire off-grid spread generates its own power through an on-site micro-hydroelectric plant, supplying seven unpaved soaking ponds lined with natural rock and gravel. Water temperatures swing between 83°F and 104°F depending on which pool you climb to and how close you sit to the vents. The Orient Land Trust keeps human development stripped to the bare dirt, enforcing two core rules: daily admission is strictly capped to protect the land, and clothing is optional across every square foot of the property.
The stranger half of the land trust sits two miles up the mountain, tucked past the iron ruins of the abandoned Orient Mine ghost town. Since 1967, biologists have documented a bachelor colony of roughly 250,000 Brazilian free-tailed bats roosting inside a massive mine collapse known as the Glory Hole. Every evening from mid-June through mid-September, the quarter-million males pour out of the earth in a dark, audible ribbon that spirals directly overhead into the San Luis Valley night.
What it's like
Turn east onto County Road GG off the US-285/CO-17 junction south of Villa Grove and follow seven miles of graded dirt right up to the foot of the mountains—any car can handle it if you drive slowly. Skip the lower pool by the parking lot and take the steep quarter-mile trail up the hillside to reach the unpaved rock ponds where the natural thermal flow is best. If you're coming for the bat flight, set out well before dusk: the hike up to the mine pit is nearly two miles each way with a punishing final pitch, and you'll be navigating pitch-black woods on the way down. Bring closed-toe shoes and a headlamp.
The move: Reserve a summer day pass, soak the top ponds through late afternoon, then hike the two miles to the Glory Hole and stand still while the bat ribbon spirals out overhead — headlamps on for the walk down.
📍 Before you go From the US-285/CO-17 junction south of Villa Grove, turn east onto County Road GG and follow the graded gravel about seven miles to the foot of the mountains — any car makes it driven slowly. Admission is capped and runs on reservations: supporting members book months out, non-members much closer in, so plan ahead rather than drop in. The lower pools sit near parking, but the best natural ponds take a steep quarter-mile climb, and the bat hike is nearly two miles each way with a sharp final pitch — bring headlamps and closed shoes for the dark walk back. Crestone and the Great Sand Dunes are both within about an hour south if you want to stack the day.
- 📍 Villa Grove (north of Crestone)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 64393 County Road GG, Moffat, CO 81143 (about 7 miles east of the US-285/CO-17 junction south of Villa Grove)
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Joyful Journey Hot Springs — Six miles south in Moffat, Joyful Journey offers a fully clothed, manicured contrast with lithium-rich, odorless soaking water.
- Crestone Ziggurat — Drive 20 miles south to Crestone to climb a four-story golden Babylonian ziggurat built on a foothill by a former Pan Am executive.
- Westcliffe & Silver Cliff Dark Sky Community Star Parties — Cross the valley to Westcliffe to pair your sunset bat flight with naked-eye astronomy in Colorado's first designated dark-sky community.
Good to know
Do I need a reservation to visit?
Yes. Daily admission is strictly capped to keep the ponds quiet and prevent land erosion. Supporting members can book months ahead, while non-members must secure spots closer to their target date. Do not turn up without a confirmed booking.
When do the bats fly at the Orient Mine?
The bat flight runs from mid-June through mid-September at dusk. Around 250,000 male Brazilian free-tailed bats stream out of the Glory Hole cavern in a continuous wave.
Is clothing optional everywhere on site?
Yes. Clothing-optional status applies to the entire property, including the lower pools, hillside ponds, and connecting trails.
How hot are the pools and how is the site powered?
Pool temperatures range from roughly 83°F to 104°F across seven natural soaking ponds. The entire property operates completely off-grid using its own micro-hydroelectric power plant.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: olt.org · uncovercolorado.com · alamosa.org · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-11