Orr Hot Springs

What to expect

Orr Hot Springs is a rustic, low-key resort tucked into the hills of the Mendocino Coastal Range, roughly halfway between Ukiah and the coast. The property covers 27 acres at the headwaters of Big River, with redwood buildings and pea-gravel paths among the trees. It is small, quiet and deliberately unplugged: no cell signal, no Wi-Fi, and no phones allowed at the bathhouse.

The soaking happens in and around the bathhouse. Day guests can use private tubs, a set of tubs on an upper deck, a covered tub, an outdoor tub and a swimming pool, plus a dry sauna, a steam room and a cold plunge. The resort does not publish water temperatures. A 2025 write-up in the Piedmont Exedra put the mineral water at about 106°F41°C, which is warm enough that short soaks with cool-down breaks work best. The resort was once known as “Orr Hot Sulphur Springs,” and a 2025 visitor report lists sulfur, calcium, potassium and boron among its minerals.

The whole property is clothing optional, and most people soak without suits. The crowd tends to be relaxed and quiet. Expect conversation at a low murmur rather than a party.

Facilities are simple. There is a changing and locker room with showers, a filtered drinking fountain at the bathhouse and a communal kitchen for overnight guests. No food is sold. You bring your own towel, robe, sandals, soap and food.

History

The site sits on an old route used by Pomo people traveling between inland valleys and the Mendocino coast. The resort traces its business back to 1858 and the settler Samuel Orr. In the late 1800s it was a rest stop on the Ukiah-Mendocino stagecoach line, and it later became a getaway for city visitors. The lodge and several cabins were built in the early 1930s from locally milled redwood. The resort sells a 16-page booklet on its history if you want the full story.

Getting there

The resort is at 13201 Orr Springs Road, Ukiah, CA 95482. GPS apps are often wrong near the property, so follow the resort’s own directions.

• From the Bay Area or anywhere south: Take US-101 north to exit 551 (North State Street) in Ukiah. Turn right, go about a quarter mile, then turn left onto Orr Springs Road. Reset your odometer and drive about 12 miles. The parking lot is on the left. From the Golden Gate Bridge, plan on about 2.5 hours.
• From the north: Take US-101 south to the same exit, turn left onto North State Street, then left onto Orr Springs Road.
• From Mendocino: Head east on Comptche-Ukiah Road from Highway 1 just south of town. It becomes Orr Springs Road past Comptche. The lot is on the right about 2 miles past the Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve entrance, roughly 31 miles and an hour from Highway 1.

The road is paved but narrow and winding as it climbs over the hills, so give yourself extra time, especially after dark. The only sign at the property is the “13201” address marker. There is a designated disabled parking area.

When to go

Orr is open year-round, and every season has its pull. Winter is the classic time: cold, damp air, wet redwoods and steam off the tubs. It is also when two of the ground-level campsites close for the rainy season, and the drive over the hills can be slow in storms.

Summer brings the most demand, and the weekend and holiday slots go first. Weekdays are quieter across the year. Nights are cool even in summer this far into the hills, so pack a warm layer for the walk back to your car or room.

Prices and booking

All visits are by reservation, booked through the resort’s website. Rates listed by the resort in 2026:

• Day use: $50 per person, noon to 9 pm daily. The sauna, steam room and cold plunge stay open until 9:30 pm. The swimming pool is closed on Tuesdays.
• Camping: Eight tent sites and one van site at $80 plus tax per adult per night and $35 per child. Two-night minimum unless only one night is open. Campers must be set up by 6 pm.
• Rooms and yurts: Most units are $260 plus tax per night for one or two adults, with $80 per extra adult in the larger rooms. A single twin room is $160 plus tax. Overnight guests get bathhouse access 22 hours a day.
• Cottages and the Creekhouse are also available. The Creekhouse is the only unit with its own shower.

Check-in is between noon and 6 pm. Check-out is 10 am from the bathhouse and noon from the property. Late cancellations carry fees, which rise around holidays.

Children are anyone under 18, and the resort is mainly for adults. Day use allows up to two children per booking, and kids must book by phone at (707) 462-6277. Children may use the bathhouse from noon to 8 pm. Under-3s and kids who are not fully potty trained are limited to the private tubs. No floaties, swim toys or horseplay.

Rules and etiquette

• No phones at the bathhouse. Leave them in your car or room.
• No glass. Bring water in metal or plastic bottles.
• Nothing in the tubs. No bath salts, lotions or additives, because the tubs drain into the creek. Soap and shampoo belong in the showers only.
• Keep it quiet. Laptops and other noisy devices need headphones.
• No pets. Dogs are not allowed on the property or even left in cars in the lot. Service animals should be held and leashed at the gate because the resident cats are territorial.
• Jewelry: The mineral water tarnishes silver and platinum. Take it off before you soak.

Where to stay nearby

The simplest option is to stay on site in a campsite, room, yurt or cottage. The communal kitchen means you can cook your own meals.

Ukiah, about 12 miles east, has chain motels, restaurants and the closest grocery stores. It is also the base for Vichy Springs Resort, another historic mineral springs resort just east of town. On the coast side, Mendocino and Fort Bragg have inns and vacation rentals about an hour away over the same road.

Safety notes

• Heat: Hot mineral water and a sauna session can leave you light-headed. Drink water, take breaks in the cold plunge or the shade, and skip alcohol before soaking.
• Footing: Wet decks and gravel paths get slippery. Slip-on shoes with grip help.
• No signal: With no cell service or Wi-Fi, tell someone your plans and download offline maps before leaving Ukiah.
• The road: Orr Springs Road is twisty and dark at night, with deer on the pavement. Drive slowly, particularly after an evening soak.

Nearby stops worth adding

Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is about 1.75 miles west, roughly a 10-minute drive. It protects a grove of old-growth coast redwoods, and a walk there pairs well with an afternoon day-use slot at Orr.