Photo courtesy of Unsplash | Eleonora Patricola
Napa might get all the glory for healing soaks in Wine Country, but Sonoma Valley has bubbling hot springs of its own.
Tucked within a 10-mile stretch of the Sonoma Mountains’ eastern slopes, you’ll find both luxurious hot springs resorts and geothermal mineral springs with summer camp vibes, all reaping the benefits of the geothermal mineral water just below the earth’s surface. These Sonoma springs are your ticket to relaxation, healing, and rejuvenation in between sips of wine.
Hot springs are naturally occurring pools fed by geothermal water. While they’re often found near active volcanoes, they can also be discovered near extinct volcanoes. The Sonoma Volcanics, a geologic formation that lies beneath both Sonoma and Napa Valley, reveals that these areas were once covered in volcanoes. The springs that burble here now, and the volcanic soil that makes up the valley’s signature terroir, are both further evidence of the area’s once prolific volcanic activity.
People have been drawn to naturally warm waters for centuries, in search of the same things we seek today: well-being. Soaking in these geothermal mineral pools for short periods of time offers a variety of health benefits:
Photos courtesy of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Natural springs occur in many places in California, from the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in the east all the way to the healing mineral waters you can find today in Sonoma. While most people know about Napa Valley’s Calistoga springs, and rightly so, as they’ve been drawing visitors for over 150 years, Sonoma’s hot springs remain more off-the-beaten-path but no less enjoyable.
Sonoma was once home to a few more thermal mineral springs than it is today, including the Fetters Hot Springs Resort and the Agua Caliente Springs Resort. The arrival of train travel made it easy for folks from San Francisco to get to Sonoma, and during the 19th century, visitors came to these springs every weekend to soak in the healing warm waters. Today, some of those once-popular Sonoma springs no longer exist, including Agua Caliente, where the Sonoma Valley Fire Department now stands.
Sonoma’s active hot springs are located within 10 miles of each other, roughly following the eastern edge of the Sonoma Mountains. Sought out for centuries, first by Native Americans and later by European settlers, these mineral-rich waters have always been a well-loved feature of the valley. From the swanky geothermal pools in the town of Boyes Hot Springs to the family-friendly Morton’s Hot Springs, here’s everything you need to know to soak and submerge in Sonoma.
Named for its long history of hot springs soaks, Boyes Hot Springs is both a small Sonoma town and the name of a series of geothermal springs found in the area. Despite its moniker, you’ll need to pay a visit to the luxe Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa to soak. Built on the site of the original Boyes Hot Springs Hotel, which burned down in 1969, this award-winning wellness resort is the most lavish of Sonoma’s mineral springs.
Harnessing the geyser that came bubbling to the surface from below the spa during excavation, temperatures range from a balmy 85° to 102°, spread out over 5 naturally-heated geothermal mineral pools. Both hotel guests and visitors of the Fairmont Sonoma can take advantage of the glorious geothermal water found here.
Insider Tip: Continue your path to total nirvana by booking a treatment at the Fairmont Spa, from a halotherapy sauna session to aromatherapy and the Roman Hot Pool.
Visit: 100 Boyes Boulevard, Sonoma, CA 95476
Contact: (707) 938-9000
Hidden away in the Valley of the Moon, Morton’s Hot Springs is a geothermal refuge surrounded by a centuries-old oak grove. What was once a rustic bathhouse was transformed into an oasis by the Morton family and updated by new owners.
Visitors will find three outdoor pools to soak in, ranging in temperature from 90°F to 95°F, including one that’s specially reserved for little ones. Popular with large groups, guests have access to other amenities, including changing rooms, geothermal showers, and picnic sites. Just keep in mind that Morton’s is only open from May to September by reservation!
Insider Tip: Punctuate your soak sessions with smoothies and sandwiches from the organic Cafe 108°.
Visit: 1651 Warm Springs Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Contact: (707) 833-5511
Whether opting for a full-day wellness retreat in luxurious warm waters or savoring a quick yet rejuvenating dip in a historic hot springs pool, Sonoma’s geothermal treasures are worth exploring during a Sonoma County vacation. These healing mineral waters, steeped in history and surrounded by the region’s stunning landscapes, provide the perfect way to relax and recharge.
