Our original plan was to head for MacKerricker State Park in Fort Bragg for the next three nights. But, I found a new hot spring that wasn’t too far out of our way to check out, Harbin Hot Springs. It got mixed reviews, so we weren’t too sure what to expect.
It burnt down in the Sonoma California fires, but has since been rebuilt. The grounds are incredibly peaceful and serene. Lots of green rolling hills, wildflowers and oak trees.
The great news is that they allow camping! The bad news is that it’s not so great in a van.
We are basically camped in a parking lot.
If you’re a tent camper you can pick either these really cool tent platforms near a creek or pitch your tent in a beautiful meadow. So, this place is definitely cool for tent campers.
They also have a bunch of “caravans” you can rent out. Not really picturesque, but it does solve the problem of camping if you don’t have equipment. They also have cabins and domes you can rent out.
We’d rate the camping experience here (at least in our van) as a C-. There are a couple of nice comfort stations scattered around that have flush toilets and showers, but no designated camping spot. Thus, no tables, fire rings, etc.
However, we’re not here for just the camping experience, it’s really all about taking in the medicinal waters. And they are pretty awesome! There are 8 pools, all with different temperatures. We arrived mid afternoon and spent several hours just soaking. The hot spring area is very picturesque, clean and super chill. This is a clothing optional resort and my guess is that 95% of the people are enjoying being in the buff. So, when in Rome...
There are no cell phones allowed in this area so I got this picture off the internet. Kinda gives you an idea of what it looks like, but honestly it’s much more beautiful.
The van is a good 10 minute walk thru a meadow and over a hill to the hot spring.
After fixing an early dinner at our “camping spot” we had a beautiful walk at dusk to the springs. We soaked until about 10. It was divine.
Okay, I managed to sneak one quick pick of the main pool area at dusk. (Ned looks ready for a dip). The other pools are tucked away in the hill, along a creek or next to this big pool.
So far our experience here has been amazing - beautiful grounds, clean pools, friendly people and chill vibes.
