Ten Thousand Waves

What to expect

Ten Thousand Waves is a Japanese-style spa on a wooded hillside above Santa Fe, on Hyde Park Road in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It has outdoor hot tubs set among pines and rock walls, a large shared bath, massage and skin care rooms, a small inn called Houses of the Moon and an izakaya restaurant, Izanami. The design borrows from Japanese mountain inns: wooden gates, stone paths, kimono and sandals for every guest.

Start with the water, because it matters on a site about hot springs. Ten Thousand Waves is not a natural hot spring. The spa’s own FAQ says the highly mineralized water in its baths comes from a 900-foot deep well. It treats that water with ultraviolet light, hydrogen peroxide and ozone, cycles the full volume of each tub through the system every 20 minutes and runs weekly bacterial cultures. Nowhere does it claim a geothermal source, and the tubs are held at set temperatures. If you want water that comes out of the ground hot, look at Ojo Caliente or the Jemez springs instead. If you want a carefully run Japanese-style soak a short drive from the Plaza, this is the one people book.

The spa opened in 1981, when founder Duke Klauck bought an old adobe ranch house and corral about 3 miles from town. The first version had a small bathhouse, eight outdoor tubs and one massage room. It has grown steadily since, adding lodging, the restaurant and more parking. During the pandemic it dropped walk-in communal bathing and moved to timed, reserved sessions, and that is still how it works.

The pools

There are two ways to soak.

Private hot tub suites. These are the core of the place: open-air tubs, each with its own enclosure and changing area. The current list is Ichiban, New Wave, Ofuro, Shoji, Waterfall, Shin Kobuta, Oyu and Kojiro, or you can book “any available” tub. Sessions are 90 minutes. Private suites are clothing optional. The Shoji tub can be turned down to 99°F37°C if you ask when you reserve.

Shared soaking. The Grand Bath is a large outdoor tile pool at 104°F40°C with strong jets, a cascade, a wet and dry sauna at 175-185°F79-85°C, a cold plunge at 55-60°F13-16°C, a cold shower and sunning decks. It holds up to 18 people. It is only open to lodging guests and people booked for a massage or skin treatment, and those guests get unlimited Grand Bath time on the day. Reserved Community Soaking replaced the old walk-in communal tub and women’s tub. It is a 90-minute shared session you can book at short notice. Swimsuits are required in both.

Prices and booking

Rates on the spa’s site in 2026, before tax:

• Private hot tub suite: $89 per person for 90 minutes.
• Reserved Community Soaking: $64 per person for 90 minutes.
• Massage: 80-minute sessions from $229 (Body and Sole, Prenatal and others) to $259 (Signature Japanese Shiatsu). Hot stone and targeted bodywork are $239. All include Grand Bath time.
• Facials: $169 to $179 for 50 minutes.

Kimono, sandals, towels, lockers, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and a private changing room are included. Swimsuit rental is $4.

How to book. Everything is by reservation. Private tubs open 45 days ahead, or 60 for lodging guests (who book by phone at 505-982-9304). Reserved Community Soaking opens 72 hours ahead. The spa does not take reservations by email, and it no longer sells day passes. Arrive 15-20 minutes early, or 45-60 minutes early if you want Grand Bath time before a treatment.

Cancellations. Change or cancel spa bookings at least 24 hours ahead, or you pay 50%. Izanami charges $25 per person for late dinner cancellations.

Hours. The spa runs 9am to 9pm daily, from 8am for lodging guests. On Thanksgiving and on Dec 24 and 25, the spa is open 10am to 4pm. Hours can change, so check before you go.

Rules and etiquette

• Ages. The Grand Bath, Reserved Community Soaking, massage, facials and the Relax Room are for ages 16 and up. Guests under 18 need an adult’s permission to use the facilities alone. Children under 4 feet tall soak free in private tubs, with a limit of two per adult. That makes it workable for a family in a private suite, but it is an adult-oriented spa.
• Clothing. Optional in private suites. Swimsuits in the Grand Bath and Reserved Community Soaking.
• Alcohol. Not banned, but the spa warns that drinking before hot water can make you pass out, and suggests waiting until after. Tell staff if you bring glass; they lend unbreakable cups.
• Health. The spa asks pregnant guests and anyone with a chronic condition to check with a doctor first.
• Phones. Reception is spotty, and this is a quiet place. Keep calls out of the bath areas.

Getting there

Ten Thousand Waves is at 21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, off Hyde Park Road (the road up to Hyde Memorial State Park and Ski Santa Fe), about 3 miles from downtown Santa Fe. From the Plaza, head north and east to Hyde Park Road and climb into the foothills. The road is paved.

Without a car, the RTD Mountain Trail bus runs from downtown several times a day, and Uber and Lyft cover the trip. Cyclists face about 800 vertical feet of climbing from town, which takes 35 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on fitness. From Albuquerque’s airport, the drive is about 1.5 hours, and NMShuttle runs a few trips a day to Santa Fe.

When to go

The spa is open year-round. Winter is the season it is built for: cold, dry mountain air, sometimes snow on the rock walls, steam on the water. The spa itself says the Grand Bath is even better in winter. That also makes winter weekends and holidays the hardest slots to get, so book as soon as the 45-day window opens. Summer evenings are pleasant after hot afternoons in town. Weekday mornings are the easiest time to find an open tub at short notice.

Where to stay nearby

Houses of the Moon, the spa’s own inn, has ryokan-style rooms in four tiers, from Zen rooms to Emperor suites. Check-in is 4pm and check-out noon. Lodging includes Grand Bath access and soaking all day on arrival and departure days. Lodging cancellations are free 8 or more days out. The rates page lists a $60 per night pet fee, so dogs can come.

Downtown Santa Fe, about 3 miles below, has the full range of hotels and inns. For another developed soak in the area, Ojo Santa Fe is a spa resort south of town, and Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, about an hour north, has real geothermal pools.

Safety notes

• Heat. At 104°F40°C, 90 minutes is a long session. Take breaks, drink water and get out if you feel lightheaded.
• Sauna and plunge. Going straight from a 185°F85°C sauna into a 55°F13°C plunge is a shock to the body. Ease into it.
• Altitude. Santa Fe sits at about 7,000 feet, and the spa is higher. Visitors from sea level feel hot water and alcohol more strongly here.
• Paths. Outdoor paths between the tubs can ice up in winter. Take it slowly.