Red Rock Beach Cold Spring, Stinson Beach, CA  5/5 (2)

40 people follow this spring.
Directions:

Description

Cold spring coming from deep within Mt. Tamalpais. This is the closest, most accessible quality public spring for much of the Bay Area. Park your car right next to pipes in the large pullout. The center copper pipe has the highest flow but does get occasionally vandalized. Flow rate is good through dry autumn, and really gushes in the spring. Area is nearly vacant most of the time, but can become crowded midday on warm weather weekends. Spring has been lab tested, details here: http://longevitypower.com/red-rock-beach-spring-testing-2013/. Please do not tamper with pipe setup, as local steward has to regularly fix damage that has been done. Please support excellent spring water etiquette and ongoing lab testing here: http://www.meetup.com/BayAreaSpringWater/

Nearest Address

915 Shoreline Hwy

Directions from Nearest Address

From 101 take the Stinson Beach Exit. Follow Route 1 North (Shoreline Hwy) for about half an hour until just before the town of Stinson Beach. Large parking lot on both left and right. The spring is on your right coming out of bottom of sheer cliff.

Vital Information

  • Fee: None
  • Access: Public
  • Flow: Continuous
  • TDS: 61
  • Temp: N/A
  • pH: N/A

Hours Spring is Open:

Always

GPS:

Unknown

Map Link: Red Rock Beach Cold Spring Map

Submitted by: Christian Bates, Lyle

Responses

    1. Went the day after Christmas 12/26/23. It was my first experience at a spring. After doing some research I was led to this one. The hour drive was worth it. The water tastes great and I loved the experience. I’ll definitely be back.

    2. 10 feet long copper pipe (I use 2 5 foot with a joiner). 1″ is best. 3/4 inch will do. Wrap a wet washcloth around the top end to direct the water into the pipe about 12 inches into the hole in the cliff.

  1. Debbie, I can’t stand your trolling spam on this site.  Every spring I look into, I have to go through all your copy-paste crap to sell some filter.  5 different springs and every single one you put the same stuff over and over.  Sell your crap somewhere else.  People are looking for information about the spring they select.  They don’t want poser-advertisements from you.
    MODERATOR:  WHERE ARE YOU!!

      1. You do realize that the person (Daniel Vitalis) that created this site is friends with David Wolfe so you might want to watch what you say about him or anyone else associated with them because they do amazing work and it is too bad you are slamming them! I do not care for advertising but I also do not care for your statement and find it inconsiderate, especially considering who started this website!

  2. PLEASE READ!!! I drink from this “spring” exclusively. Please for clarity:

    Yes, it is holes drilled into the side of the mountain to prevent erosion. However, trickle springs flow all around it. It flows year round, never comes to a trickle. A hot spring (available only during very low tides) is below it. Its a spring-aquifer hybrid, though most public springs nowadays are also.

    Please fill from the fissure. I bring copper pipes for ease of filling from the fissure into my jugs. DO NOT DRINK FROM THE PVC PIPES, as they are not connected to the spring eye, they just channel water from pools created just below the spring which people step in all the time. Local idiots installed these and I tear them out every time I go.

    The rangers are pawns of the municipal/Illuminati system and no nothing about Mt. Tamalpais springs. Tell them to mind their own business and stop pulluting the parking lot of the spring with their trucks, if they care about the environment. They are bullies keeping resources in the control of the Illuminati.

    I am working on getting a spring on the other side of the mountain restored, and I need your help. I will be posting a public service announcement on it soon: http://www.ChristianBates.com

    Have the best day ever, this water rocks!!!!

    1. Hi Christian,

      Thank you for testing this water in 2013 and sharing the results.

      Just wondering if you are aware of any recent tests? We would be happy to contribute to a new test. Look forward to hearing back from you.

      Thank you,
      Sky

    2. Christian, a friend and I went to hunt for this spring yesterday and could not find it at all. We drove up and down highway 1, and asking people along the road, but no one knew of this spring.

      Now that I have read this post, there is more to know in order to drink from this spring. Do you mind meeting up with me to serve as a guide to find and drink from this spring? I really need guidance since I have never searched for spring water before and am really new at this.

      I hope you get this!!

      1. Hoi, whence you do find it, it will be very obvious were it is. You probably passed it a bunch of times. It’s the only big pullout on the cliff side. 915 shoreline GPS should get you right there.

  3. Debbie, I can’t stand your trolling spam on this site.  Every spring I look into, I have to go through all your copy-paste crap to sell some filter.  5 different springs and every single one you put the same stuff over and over.  Sell your crap somewhere else.  People are looking for information about the spring they select.  They don’t want poser-advertisements from you.
    MODERATOR:  WHERE ARE YOU!!

  4. Im heading to this spring tomorrow. I hope to find it. Im here doing the longevity now conference, so ive heard alot about the san fran spring water. wish me luck. I flew all the way from australia… cheers shane

  5. Charles from what I understand, the SFDrake one was closed/privatized years ago. My friend tried to go there and has only gotten back to me ambiguously. Maybe it can be accessed!? I will get back to you.

    Definitely go into the rock fissure for fill up. The PVC has algae in it, plus anti-UV light chemicals, plus phytoestrogens.

  6. I don't doubt that the Rangers are clueless. I collected water from the PVC pipes and a crack in the side of the cliff.

    From what I understand, there is another spring off of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Any info on that one?

    1. The spring is there. It says “don’t drink” but my friend brings a 5 gallon jug there all the time. It is on the hill side of the road on a small turnout on SFD in the Samuel P Taylor area. Just got to keep an eye out and you’ll find it.
      Sorry, no more specifics.

  7. Hi, the directions and GPS location are already outlined

    Description

    Cold spring coming from the volcanic rock of Mt. Tamalpais, right near the San Andreas Fault. There is a sign that says “Non-Potable Water” but the “Potable” is scratched away and replaced with the word “Profit.” Multiple pipes coming out of cliff, some flowing water, some not. Easy access right along road for all SF Bay Area spring hunters. 1000 feet below is a hot spring on Red Rock Beach only accessible as a hot pool during very low night time tides.

    Nearest Address

    915 Shoreline Hwy

    Directions from Nearest Address

    From 101 take the Stinson Beach Exit. Follow Route 1 North (Shoreline Hwy) for about half an hour until just before the town of Stinson Beach. Large parking lot on both left and right. The spring is on your right coming out of bottom of sheer cliff.

  8. Madhuri, the holes are basically the eye of the spring. Mt. Tamalpais has dozens of springs all over it. A few springs higher up on the Mountain here fed the Bay for eons before the Municipal system was in place.

    The flow increases slightly in the winter, but does not go down much at the end of summer. Its a deeper spring, I would say less than half effected by rainfall.

  9. Yep, go here every week. Water is always flowing. Landslides only happen in the winter. There was a big one that covered the spring. Myself and a few locals dug it out. The pullout is just 2 to 4 minutes south of Stinson Beach.

  10. I also think this should maybe come of the sight. I was there and it seems it is effected by rain fall and so not a true spring. Also spoke with some folks living in the area that said they felt they got sick from the water. I guess the source is somewhere up on mount Tamalpais, and these pipes were drilled into the side of the mountain to relive the wetness that was happening up by the spring source. We should go find out where the source is. I'd be up for that adventure.

  11. I also think this should maybe come of the sight. I was there and it seems it is effected by rain fall and so not a true spring. Also spoke with some folks living in the area that said they felt they got sick from the water. I guess the source is somewhere up on mount Tamalpais, and these pipes were drilled into the side of the mountain to relive the wetness that was happening up by the spring source. We should go find out where the source is. I'd be up for that adventure.

  12. I also went here today and it was not producing. I was able to shake the spout and get some water from it- and it tasted funky. I recommend removing this 'spring' from the database. I also HIGHLY recommend Rattlesnake spring in NAPA. It is well worth the trip. Best tasting water ever.

  13. Hi everyone! I noticed that there is no up-to-date information about the water quality for this spring. I would like to collect from here but also want some peace of mind. I will use the findaspring 15% discount code but would like help fundraising to get new testing done by watercheck.com I want to do the deluxe, iron bacteria, and glyphosate testing. please feel free to share the gofundme to people you know who collect here/ want to collect here who might want to see the updated results as well 🙂 https://www.gofundme.com/f/check-water-safety-of-red-rock-beach-spring-water?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

  14. I am planning to collect water from this spring but I’m getting a bit apprehensive due to so many mixed reviews. How do I know if this water is really pure? And how do I find the fissure if the pipes are not safe?

  15. Has anyone tested this water ? I have drank several gallons of it and seemed good, but I wonder if any nitrates or anything else is in the water ?  I went to Home Depot and the water testing kit is $90 !  I agree that spring water is a good idea, but am very curious to know what is in this water. I think it is impossible to know if has runoff unless it is tested – perhaps I’ll make the investment .. if I do I’ll post the results

  16. The Google maps GPS coordinates are:
       37.88934, -122.62976

    So to get directions from SF type:
       94105 to 37.88934, -122.62976

    Does anybody want to go in with me on getting it tested? I’d like to know, but it’s expensive ($300+).

  17. Christian, I am in West Marin right now. I want to find the spring, and am getting back on the 1 south right now. Are there any specific directions you can give me? Or will I just be able to see the spring from the road? Also, do you know of any other springs on the 1 or the 101 south all the way down to L.A.?

    1. Hi, I am JazzyJ Chef, just under a different name. I just wanted to let you know that I am heading to 700 Sequoia Valley Rd., and want to find the spring while I am on the 1. Please let me know how to find the spring. Right now I am going south on the 1 and am going around a huge lake by West Marin.

  18. went to the spring yesterday with a friend to collect some water from the fissure, at first i felt ok about the water, it tastes slightly metalic-im guessing it has a lot of iron from the red rock of the mountain/dirt surrounding it. I didnt bring a pipe so my friend and I just filled up one small water bottle each. While we were standing there a local hippyish character came by to talk with us about the water. He said some people drink from it and haven’t gotten sick but from his observations he personally wouldn’t drink from it. He said that 5 years ago the holes were drilled in an attempt to save the road (as erosion was causing the mountain side to slide down) and that within a short time of the holes being drilled a lake from above completely drained (this is a good indication that at least some of the water from the spring is shallow ground water and not from an aquifer- and therefore a little more susceptible to contamination). His other qualm was that he has seen a snake (with prey) coming out of the same hole that christian suggests we collect from-which (if its true) is slightly worrisome. My personal feeling is that it is difficult to know much about a water source that I don’t really live with and get to observe all the time (however I did notice that the water was not that cold-or as cold as other springs and wells i have happily enjoyed water from in the past, which is a big indicator to me that this isn’t the most reliable safe water source) – given the different sides of the story that I have heard I’d rather commute to a different spring since I had to drive about an hour from Berkeley to get there anyway. However it is a beautiful place and I’ve heard that the tidal hot springs are worth visiting! Anyone have suggestions of another spring with less controversy surrounding it? Much love and blessings–Heather

  19. Thanks for all the info Christian! And for the use of your set-up. The water is great! I’ve drunk about a gallon and so far, so good. Note to everyone: I did not harvest from the pvc pipes, when I went Christian was there with his copper pipe and ormus set-up.

  20. I tried this spring last summer.
    The water was warm coming out of the spout(s). When I got home and drank it, it tasted “off”. Very weird after taste, somewhat chemical in nature. I dumped the rest and would not drink this water again.

  21. 16 May 2010: 2 friends and I felt 'wrong' after drinking a few sips of this water at the spring. I tried it again the next day (this time after boiling it for 10 minutes) and it still felt 'wrong'.

    Please test this water for contamination before you decide to consume it.

  22. I tried to find this spot this morning and no luck! I'm pretty sure I was at the right place, but couldn't even find pipes/sign. saw a few areas that looked buried/landslide
    Anyone been here lately? Any water?
    If this spot still does exist, any help finding it (specific mileage references?) I'd be grateful!
    This is a wonderful website, we've gotta get more springs up here!!!
    ANYONE KNOW OF ANY OTHERS IN THE SF BAY AREA?! PLEASE ADD THEM!
    Blessings!

  23. I also think this should maybe come of the sight. I was there and it seems it is effected by rain fall and so not a true spring. Also spoke with some folks living in the area that said they felt they got sick from the water. I guess the source is somewhere up on mount Tamalpais, and these pipes were drilled into the side of the mountain to relive the wetness that was happening up by the spring source. We should go find out where the source is. I'd be up for that adventure.

  24. I was here on Dec 22, 2009 and it was just basically a trickle coming out of the rock. there really wasn't any way to get water from this location. Maybe at other times of the year it's flowing.

  25. I’ve noticed there are very visible floaters in this water. I also know the surrounding rock has asbestos. I enjoy this water consistently for years. Hoping someone assuage my concerns 🤙🏼

  26. Hello everyone I am new to the “find a spring” community. Would anyone be able to tell me if there’s anything I should bring just to be more prepared I was reading something about a Fisher pipe in the comments, well other than a water jug. Any info would be highly appreciated as I’m planning on making the drive sometime this week I will be coming from about an hour away.
    Thanks in advance 🙂

  27. Went to the location April 1, 2019. Easily accessible. It was really flowing! Three pipes sticking out of mountain on a big turn out. Two of the pipes were really flowing, filled up 20 gallons in minutes.

  28. Any new updates on this spring? Is it reopened? Has it been retested since construction? I read in a comment that someone found a micro worm, would anyone suggest filtering this before drinking it to remove any micro organisms not meant for consumption? I’m so afraid of fluoridation and other chemicals in my tap water and this is the only bay area spring I can find online!!! Help!

  29. Red Rock spring review January 9th 2019

    Water temperature 63.5 degrees TDS 62 ppm or 131 us/cm.
    Flow rate: .91 gal per min/ 54.5 gal per hour.

    The spring is back open! There are currently three spigots in the wall from left to right it follows: one plastic spigot, pretty well buried in the wall but with a hole over the top of the embeddment that might go back into the hill that has access for mice and critters, pipe is plastic. The second spigot is a piece of copper stuck into some type of plastic and very well buried no real visible access for critters to access the output. The flow rate is the best of the three, with a little concrete pad underneath. This is the one I use, it is the most accessible with a 5 gallon jug. The third spigot is made of plastic with a deep crevice with a very big access for critters. It is hard to get too, with a very low flow rate, and not enough room for a bottle. I saw a mouse run up into the deep crevice that goes around the plastic pipe. It must go back for a good 5 or 6 feet. This was at night. It is my opinion that this may very well be a spring are at least a stable drain of the near by water shed, the flow does not seem to increase with heavy rainfalls.

  30. We went to the spring (2 days ago) and it was fenced off to all, but today, there is no fence and the water was running well! Would post a picture if the comments allowed. Thank you Universe for answering our prayers!! We’ve been waiting a long time for the return of the spring…

  31. Has the construction finished? Is this amazing spring accessible again? Please respond here and/or email me at ducphotogmailcom. Thank you very much! 🙂

  32. 東京第七家信用スーパーコピー時計の実体の店
    ブランドコピーバッグの誠実と信用の店、
    24時間以内に出荷し、3~4日に到着して、
    当社の販売のさまざまな国際ブランド、
    ルイヴィトンバッグ、エルメスコピー、
    ロレックスコピー、オメガ コピー、
    シャネル時計コピー、スーパーコピーバッグ、
    当社は誠心誠意あなたのためにサービス、

  33. So sad! took the trip from the Bay Area after hearing that the road is finally reopened- true but once we arrived where the spring is we found major construction (pods, trucks, and a hige sign that says hard hat area). Asked the workers if the water was still flowijg out and got a “yes” answer but denied access to see it or get water. Wondering if it will be the same after all this construction is done? Been going to get water for years and so sad havnt been able to access it for months now.

  34. Hello, does anyone have any updates since September about the spring? Did they end up attaching a hose or some way to continue to collect water? That is really sad that the road is now fully closed for so long, so many people rely on this spring. Any information would be highly appreciated!

  35. IMPORTANT UPDATE: this spring is temporarily closed and may not open until next summer:
    09/20/17 – Wednesday
    Highway One South of Stinson Beach apparently will not be open for another year. Here is the latest from Chief Kenny Stevens:
    “The latest construction project has started. Red Rock beach parking lot is closed. The Spring water tap is off limits. No Bicycle, hiking allowed on roadway. This project is larger than what has been happening already . The bad news is they say the highway will not open until after summer of 2018. I have contacted Supervisor Rodoni and have also talked to Chief Anita about the upcoming winter and the effects this is going to have on our commuters should Panoramic have to close. I and Anita will be trying our best to get the word out for any delays. We will also be trying trying to get some signage for when there is a closure. Maybe get a sign board in Tam Valley to warn people , before they get up the mountain. Hopefully a mild winter happens and they can get it done sooner. Kenny” (thx GFS)
    http://www.thewestmarinfeed.com/entry.php?id=2168

  36. Tried to go to this spring today and the road was closed. Like, really closed, with a high chainlink fence. The road has been closed to regular traffic for some time but the spring was still accessible, until now. This is a new fence and a new nine-month project just began. A Caltrans worker was stationed there and said the spring would not be accessible until the project is completed. The only way in, he said, was via the beach, over the rocks, from Stinson Beach. He said lots of people have been coming trying to get to the spring, so they’ve been talking about possibly snaking a hose of some kind from the spring to where the new fence is (quite a ways from the spring). Anyway, a bummer.

  37. Hi all,

    We are grateful to have this spring closeby. Just wanted to know if there have been any tests of this spring water lately? We would be happy to contribute to the cost of a new test if there are others out there willing to also contribute.

    Please get in touch.

    Sky

  38. Today as I was about to drink some of this water I luckily inspected it before and saw a microscopic worm. I took it out of the water and examined it and it was a living worm looking thing. So small you can barley see it. Anyone else encounter this? Any ideas if I have exposed myself to parasites? I had already drank that water earlier before noticing this. Thanks in advance. Email me at gabby4432@gmail.com if you have any info, questions, or concerns. THANKS!

  39. Has anyone even tested the purity of this water? I’m not much for just blind faith especially when its labeled not drinkable. Who knows maybe there is something toxic nearby that can be leaching into the water.

  40. I’m going to take the drive up and am hoping the spring is flowing! Andrew I’m sorry you have Lyme’s. I have Fibromyalgia and had some initial amazing results from drinking alkaline water, bottled. Those results have now gone so I’m hoping the higher quality spring water will be better, that it will bring back the progress I had when I first started drinking alkaline water. Here’s hoping!

  41. A glorious spring that is constantly pouring out water. It’s very easy to find. I most recently visited it January 28, 2016, and it was pouring out of the two pipes. Very quick to fill jugs; about 2 minutes to fill a 3 gallon jug. This is the most energetic water I have drank as far as I can remember. I am currently making the trip up from Santa Clara to get it.

    Am healing myself from Lyme and quality of water is extremely important; which is why I drive up here to get it.

  42. Hello everyone, my wife and our baby took a Trip up highway 1, and were able to spot this awesome water spring coming out of the mountain just like it shows on the picture. We had a one gallon jar (by luck) and decided to stop and fill it up. The water flow was good and the spring is right off the shoulder of the road just like the picture on the background of this website shows. We will look for the coordinates and come back and do another post for those that can’t find it. Good Luck and fun adventures.
    Family Gonzalez.

  43. Hey All, yes this spring is still running and has recently been fixed up to provide even more flow of water for everyone and comes out of copper pipes placed into the rocks. My partner and I have been drinking this water for almost 3 years. Easy to find, off the road on the right side when coming down the 1. it is about 1/2 mile before you enter the town of Stinson Beach. You can’t miss the huge slat of “RED ROCKS” that gives away the amazing amounts of nutrients that flow below the rocks. Enjoy and please help keep our spring beautiful and do not take out the pipes. Thanks!!

  44. Attention bodacious SF Bay Area spring water aficionados!

    ~~~Red Rock Beach Spring Fill Up Etiquette~~~

    Lately, somebody keeps destroying the piping setup at Red Rock Beach Spring in Stinson Beach that my friend Kevin has meticulously made very nice for the community. I can’t tell if it is vandalism or if someone thinks that they need to destroy the setup to use their own pipe (and thinks that they are doing a good thing.)

    If you bring your own pipe, please stop. 4 years ago there was a lot of cliff erosion and I propagated the idea that you need to bring your own pipe to effectively fill up your jugs. This is no longer needed but I suspect some people are stuck in this obsolete recommendation and are doing harm to the spring in the processes. The spring description and comments on FindASpring are old and no longer apply.

    Please remind your lovely spring water buddies not to adjust or remove the center pipe at Red Rock. Please report any vandalism to me (Christian@LongevityPower.com)

    This is a rare and precious resource that will gradually become more popular so we must continue to spread the word of how to properly take care of it and share its wonders.

    Please support excellent spring water etiquette and wisdom by joining our meetup group smile emoticon http://www.meetup.com/BayAreaSpringWater/

    Water quality testing of Red Rock Beach Spring: http://christianbates.com/?p=1788

  45. Hello all curious living water seekers, I just wanted to update this thread and let you know that this spring is alive and safe to date — people come from all over the Bay Area to harvest this water and solely consume it. I live nearby in Corte Madera and do so weekly, it’s the only water I will drink (as goes for many people I know). The general consensus is that drinking this type of unadultered living water makes you feel incredible and otherwordly.

    1. I was there a few weeks ago and the water was flowing well and it tastes fabulous ! I need to go there again soon and don’t like driving there alone, I need someone to talk to along the curvy highway 1! if anyone interested in going with me I live in Berkeley and will gladly show you how to get to this amazing spot ! email me at kargotty@yahoo.com

  46. hit this spring Easter sunday. Their was some real old dude.. beach bum type, and he said he has been drinking and bathing in the spring since 76′. He also said it runs way stronger down by the beach. Tastes Great too..

    1. down by the beach as in stinson? which way would you say it is from the spring? if anyone else can chime in that would be awesome! ~*~

      also i heard the road needs a repair and there’s a detour, is that true?

  47. Hey All
    I was planning a late night trip to this spring
    I have not been there yet and I wanted to know
    Can I fill up my 5 gallon jugs there and
    if so do I need any special equiptment?
    can I show up at 3 or 4 in the morning?
    Also is the spring producing right now?
    Thanks

  48. Also, I saw an interesting documentary called The Invisible Peak recently, narrated by Peter Coyote. It details Mt. Tamalpais’s covert military history. Michael Krasny of Forum did an interview with the film makers recently, search http://www.kqed.org, Forum, Thu Feb 20 2014 for that interview for more juicy details, plus the full documentary is still posted on the site as of today. There are cool opportunities ongoing now to support the healing of this sacred mountain which gives so much to all who live in it’s proximity.

  49. Mt. Tamalpais is full of springs. Today we were hiking on Marin Municipal Watershed lands and came across one at Barth’s Retreat (see map of the mountain provided by California State Parks for exact location). It’s true that you can’t drive up to most of these location to collect gallons, but it’s good to know where they are when planning day hikes.

    1. Thanks, Christian! I recently moved to the area and a friend turned me on to this spring. So grateful to have this here, especially after Castle Rock water, which we loved, stopped delivering to us because they couldn’t make it up our driveway. The energetic resonance was clean and good, and I like it better than Castle Rock water from Mt Shasta, which we were paying for and had thought to be the best until we tastes this! Thanks so much for testing this! Great to have lab analysis backing up intuition 🙂

  50. Hey everyone! My boyfriend and I have been drinking exclusively from this spring for more than a year. It’s really great water! We’ve never had any negative reaction to it and now it’s been tested. It’s clean and I highly recommend it. It’s easy to pull right up and fill big jugs. I drive from San Francisco about every two weeks. So lucky to have this spring.

  51. If you are trying to test for pure water, you can purchase a TDS device like on amazon that can test for the amount of ppm inside the water. “Ions from the dissolved solids in water create the ability for that water to conduct an electrical current, which can be measured using a conventional conductivity meter or TDS meter. (wiki)”
    So, if you were to test distilled water(pure H20), there should be 0 ppm. Spring water on the other hand have minerals which will trigger this device. Ideal range for drinking water should be 0-50ppm. If you are concerned on what you might be consuming, (I believe) its best to drink distilled water (since its the purist) and eat healthy organic food (to make up for the loss of the mineral in the water).

    For those that want to learn more about distilled water:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soreXZkNEy8

    Note: All of the information I gathered from above is straight from google. I am just trying to pass information.

  52. I was here on Dec 22, 2009 and it was just basically a trickle coming out of the rock. there really wasn't any way to get water from this location. Maybe at other times of the year it's flowing.

How to Collect Spring Water

Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.

The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.

FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.

Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.

Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug

When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.

When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.

How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.

How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.

I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.

Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.

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