Guest Reviews from Hot Springs Yelp

"Four and 1/2 Stars... An off-the-grid, unplugged retreat on 1800 acres of beautiful green valleys and oak woodlands. Oh, and the waters of Wilbur Hot Springs are... FABULOUS! You sink into the mineral bath and then BOOM you float. Did I relax or what?!? I am on-call 24/5 and occasionally that rolls into being on-call 24-7. No phones or wireless computers here. To be at Wilbur was to soak, to eat, to read, to sleep, to contemplate, to hike and to enjoy my significant other's company. Both solitary and romantic at the same time if that's possible..." Karen F. | Fort Bragg, CA, via Yelp

---

"This one's too hot. This one's too cold. Ahhhhhh, this one's just right! Everyone needs a special retreat that's far away from the city, but not too far. Less than 3 hours from SF, Wilbur offers 1800 acres of private nature to wander, natural mineral springs to soak, and a beautifully preserved turn of the century hotel to rest. The vibe is super mellow. People speak softly, move slowly, and smile genuinely. I love the big, fully equipped communal kitchen. They give you a designated shelf in the refrigerator and one in the pantry and you bring all your own food. That way, you can cook what you want, when you want and likely end up sharing great conversation and delicious treats with a new friend. The fluminarium has three flumes with water of varying temperatures depending on where you sit in the flume. There are plenty of lounge chairs situated around the pool, which become the perfect spot to get a little sun during the day, or gaze up at the start-covered sky at night. The beds are comfy, the common areas are spotlessly clean and the management is friendly and accessible. You should note that WHS is clothing optional, so don't forget the sunscreen." Angela C. | Oakland, CA, via Yelp

 

---

 

"Absolutely love this place. Living in the Bay Area, its great because it's only a two hour drive and you really can get away. No televisions, no cell phone reception, no Internet access. My boyfriend and I discovered this place while we were both working in high tech and it was impossible to detach us from our work. Wilbur was the only place we could really get away from all of it - even if it was only for a long weekend. After ten years, the prices have definitely gone up for the rooms. Guess that's what happens when you start to get popular. I've also found that I have to plan a little further out because Wilbur is now more consistently booked - especially on the weekends. But the tubs are awesome, the house is beautiful and the surrounding countryside is just breath taking. Make sure to do some hiking out while your there. Anytime of year is good. I especially like going in the fall when the weather is a little cool and even raining. Just hanging in the tubs and reading or just sitting is pure heaven." Dawn S. | Alameda, CA - via Yelp

 

---

 

"OMG, this place is amazing. Incredibly friendly service... a charming hundred-plus year old hotel, crisp, clean sheets, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, a huge kitchen with long wooden countertops, comfy library with tons of magazines and books, very reasonable prices, not too far from SF (but just far enough - no cellphone reception!), plenty of cool places to relax in the shade and drink wine with your friends, and it's SOLAR powered. Wait, did I even mention the hot baths? the cool baths? the swimming pool?! the sauna? the nekkid people?! the free outdoor yoga on the weekends? aaaaaah, what a relaxing couple days (and trust me, I'm not very good at relaxing.) ... just get thyself to Wilbur and watch your cares melt away..." Jean W. | San Francisco, CA - via Yelp

 

---

 

"Wilbur is a jewel, an old Victorian hotel that's been kept up beautifully, completely solar and off-the-grid. It's been there since 1865, and quite a few retreats, yoga and other, happen here every year. The water is loaded with salinizing forces, lithium, sulphur, tons of minerals. It's a force to be reckoned with, leeching all toxins out of your body. Seriously, the water is almost like horseradish, it's the most intense hot springs I've ever experienced. Very, very beneficial, just don't drink too much while you're there... Go out to Wilbur and get fixed. Bring some good reading, some good grubbins, and enjoy yourself." Abendigo, R. | San Francisco, CA - via Yelp

 

---

 

"The first thing that strikes you is its age. It's ancient in a way that makes you feel respect. It's not dilapidated or in any way run down. It's solid and stately, like an ancient oak. The huge lodge/inn is very comforting and welcoming with more of a family home feel than a resort feel. The rooms are warm and cozy... The furnishings are gorgeous and antique. The lodge is warm and large and had the coolest music corner with all sorts of instruments to play. Their Library was really nice to hang out in and well-stocked. The kitchen is large, well-stocked with utensils and pots and they are fine with any type of food, meat or veggie.

The pools are fabulous. They call their pools flumes. And the three flumes are 101, 105, and 109 from cool to warm. These are all quiet pools. There is a talking Flume that is 105. Which is perfect. There is a Sauna, which is nice and spacious. But the star for me was the 88 degree swimming pool that is 88 degrees night or day. And the sulphur levels make the water SO silky and nice. We spent hours just floating around the 88 degree sulphur pool together in heavenly relaxation. Now the Sulphur is heavy here, and the drinking water a little too sulphuric for my taste, so bring bottled water if, like me, you are picky about your drinking water. But, I don't mind the smell or feel at all. My skin felt SO good the whole time we were there. But even more amazing then the lodge or pools were the people there. Everyone was so nice and friendly. Staff, guests, everyone. We met nice folks and enjoyed talking to people and the general casual, friendly atmosphere to the whole place. We sat around and ate with folks who were sipping wine and drinking beer, while people played music and sang or read books or played cards. Wilbur was a moment in Heaven we will repeat as often as we can." Kevin G. | Alameda, CA - via Yelp

 

---

 

"I loves Wilbur! The closest thing we have to an onsen in California. It's super laid-back, restful, beautiful, and the people are nice who work and visit there. The mineral baths are not sex separated like most of the places in Japan, and are clothing optional. However, like many "clothing optional" places in CA, they really mean "clothing discouraged". I guess you could wear a swimsuit if you were really self-conscious, but you would then feel self-conscious because you'd be the only one with a bathing suit on. Anyhoo, no one cares, believe me." China N. | San Francisco, CA - via Yelp

 

---

 

"My 'secret' place for a spa retreat: gorgeous private property, starry skies above, healing mineral waters all around. My nose assayed high sulfur so a perfect skin tonic. Clothing optional baths, clientele very discrete, self-catered. Use your GPS to get there!" Alessandro F. | Palo Alto, CA - via Yelp