Avila Hot Springs

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Avila Hot Springs in California

Avila Hot Springs is located in the pristine Avila Beach area in the town of San Luis Obispo California. It is an oasis in the town that provides a relaxing getaway for people from the San Luis Obispo region and from all across California and other neighboring states. Avila Hot Springs is an attraction not to be missed if you happen to be visiting the picturesque and historic town of San Luis Obispo and is ideally suited for the entire family.

Avila Hot Pool Information

There is one hot pool at Avila Hot Springs that can comfortably accommodate more than ten people at any given time. The geothermal water for this hot pool is supplied by an underground hot spring brought to the surface by an artesian well. The water gets to ground level at over 130 degrees but is cooled by adding fresh water to approximately 104 degrees. Children younger than eight years old are not allowed to use the hot pool at Avila Hot Springs.

Avila Hot Springs Facilities

There are multiple options available for overnight accommodations on-site. You can rent one of the cabins that include a queen bed, two bunk beds, a fully equipped kitchen, and bathroom and comfortably sleeps, four people. Cabins also include cable television, a refrigerator, and a microwave. Avila Hot Springs also offers parking for RVs up to 25 feet in length and camping sites for a true outdoor experience. There are water slides and a pool available to everyone staying at Avila Hot Springs.

History

The hot springs were discovered accidentally in 1907 by drillers seeking to find oil. It has since been established as a natural mineral water attraction by the Budan family and is now a favorite getaway location for families who enjoy the charming waterslides and pools in addition to the thermal mineral pool at the facility. The Avila Beach region is traditionally a region known for its hot springs and was very popular in this regard in the mid to late 19th century among early Spanish and Mexican settlers and later celebrity and high net worth individuals who visited the area for the curative and healing experience provided by the minerals springs in the region.

Access and Usage Fees

To enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the hot springs, you can either choose just to purchase a day pass or stay overnight by renting RV space, tent space or a cabin. A day pass will give you full access to the swimming pool and the mineral pool. The cost for a full-day pass for an adult (16) and older is $12, children up to the age of 15 and senior citizens (55) and older pay $10. To rent an RV or tent site, the cost is $45 per night for two people, and each additional person up to 6 pays $10 per night. If you want to enjoy one of the well-appointed cabins, the night rate is $150 (Mondays and Thursdays), $125 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and $175 (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays). Holiday rates for cabins start at $200.

Seasonal Access Information

Avila Hot Springs is a year-round destination so you can visit whenever it is best suited for you! It is recommended to pre-book cabins due to seasonal availability. The facility is typically busy on weekends and during the summer and is not as busy during weekdays.

Avila Hot Springs Directions

From San Obispo:
Traveling on Highway 101 South, take Exit 195 to Avila Beach Drive. Take a right turn at Avila Beach Drive and you will reach Avila Hot Springs in 0.2 miles.

From Pismo Beach:
Traveling on Highway 101 North, take Exit 195 to Avila Beach Drive, keep left on Avila Beach Drive and you will reach Avila Hot Springs in 0.3 miles.

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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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