Chuck's Trip Report - Desert Reef Hot Spring, Florence, CO

In the Rocky Mountain Naturists forum, "Chuck" posted a trip report on his visit last week to Desert Reef Hot Spring south of Colorado Springs. I thought I would re-post some of it here for others to access:

Hi all, The three of us are relatively new here, having joined the group about a month ago, and have been lurking in the background to see what RMN is about. We greatly enjoy outdoor activities and are avid campers during the warmer seasons. I seriously doubt if we could be classified as all out, active naturists, or nudists, or whatever the right word is, but we have no hesitation in going to clothing optional hot springs. DESERT REEF HOT SPRING http://www.desertreefhotspring.com/ (719) 784-6143 (The web address has been added to the group's links section.) Last Saturday, Dec 8, we had some relatives fly in from Northern Europe for an extended stay over the Christmas holidays. Since their bodies were about eight hours out of sync, we decided to do nothing on Sunday except to make a trip to our favorite hot spring, Desert Reef, for some relaxation and acclimation. When we arrived, we had the place to ourselves for several hours. The air temperature was around 20 degrees and it was lightly snowing, so none of us wasted any time in dashing from the changing rooms to the pool. On this day the water temperature was about 104 and due to the temperature difference, there was an abundance of mist constantly rising from the pool area that provided for a very pleasant and quieting atmosphere throughout our stay. Tanya, one of the resident managers, was as congenial as ever, and since we were the only ones there, allowed us to take pictures. For the most part, cameras are not allowed on the premises for obvious reasons. Some of the things we really like about Desert Reef are: - It is nearby. - It is an out-of-the-way place and not that well known, and therefore is never crowded. The pool is drained and cleaned every week. - The water comes from a natural geothermal source over a thousand feet down. It is pure, crystal clear and with a blue tint because of travertine minerals. It also contains calcium. Most importantly, to us anyway, it is completely sulfur free, none of the noxious smell usually associated with hot springs. - No chemicals are added to the water. - Tanya and Norm run a tight ship, keeping the place clean and closely monitoring the actions of visitors. - Desert Reef is a family oriented place and it is almost impossible for kids to be out of their parent's sight. We feel safe having ours there with us. Without reservation, we most highly recommend Desert Reef Hot Spring as a good place to visit for anyone and as a safe place to take your kids. F CB