Harbin Hot Springs was a long awaited & recommended spa destination, and there are many things to love about it. Beautiful setting, heated and cold pools, a steam room and a sauna... Places to chat, and places to be quiet. I have been coming here here periodically with my women friends, and--Why is it that an ogling eavesdropper will follow us EVERY TIME ??? And there is always that couple, all over one another in the meditation pool, or the folks having sex the small heated pool-- a gross out for anybody else who might wish to use it(except for the guy who sideled up to them, and joined in, solo...) Why is there is no supervision, or easy way to report this. What kind of healing spa ignores it's own rules? Why isn't there a call button, or more present security? read more

Did not realize so much has changed since I was here last , New hotel going up , new steam room and changing rooms, and new restaurant . Staff was nice and property was clean , the Pools were amazing as always Tried out the new restaurant and I was disappointed, potato's felt old and dry , eggs overcooked and for the price I wasn't very happy . Hopefully it was just an off day . Will give it another try on my next trip . Can't wait to come back read more

I do like this place a lot. It can get really crowded - especially on holiday weekends. There are lots of little nooks around the property for camping, which is awesome. I really enjoy tent camping here - but have also stayed in their lodging - specifically in the domes, which are cool as long as you realize most do not have a private bathroom - even with indoor lodging. It's a clothing-optional retreat. The first time I came, I wore a swimsuit and felt a little awkward about it. Since then I've opted to just go with the vibe, which is not as awkward as I played it up to be in my mind. It's amazing how my comfort level with nudity grew through repeated exposure. As I attempt to reprogram myself from the moral ideology of my childhood, Harbin helps me move the needle toward stepping out of my comfort zone and liking it. read more

LOVE HARBIN! A magical experience, every time. There's something healing about the place, the waters, yoga, soil, trees. The vibe is mellow and relaxing. Their waters are treated with ozone and peroxide... naturally, and the soaking pools use natural hot spring water. I suggest going from the hot water to the cold by the river, back and forth, being in the meditation of this rhythm with nature. I've been visiting these sacred grounds for the past 20 years. It's great to see Harbin grounds coming back into flow more and more. Praying they rebuild the yoga dome. This is a healing retreat, clothing optional at the pools, with a membership fee and rules to follow, so be respectful when you go. Sure, the place changed a lot after being completely burned to the ground-- so many years were spent making it what it was, and it was the layers of the years and the attention to details infused in the process over those years that had made the grounds and dwellings of Harbin so amazing. Now, much of that has been replaced with trailers and such. But the pools, specifically the hot and cold, are the same; the coy fish too, and some of the domes. Make sure your expectations are aligned. Less complaining, more appreciation. That said, the prices have gone up significantly for daily rates since the fire, and that's a bummer. read more

Harbin Hot Springs - Dome 53 - Meditation Centers Near Me - Middletown, California

Wow, the facility is really coming back beautifully after the fires. We stayed the weekend in the Creekside Caravans and it was a treat! Amber, the weekend manager, was amazing at getting us settled - the first caravan we were in had a minor issue with water pressure, but Amber got us moved to fully functioning unit in no time (and even offered to help schlep our stuff!). We slept like logs listening to the creek gently babbling all night, and the STARS at night! Amazing! The variety of water temps is fantastic, the steam room and dry sauna are ideal, and the locker rooms are new and roomy. We'll be back! read more

TLDR: Avoid if you're a person of color, queer, or have any other marginalized identity. The hot springs staff and policies will not protect you. My friends and I went to the hot springs 5/23/2026. When there, we saw another person in the springs with a large SS nazi tattoo (with additional language under the SS with the tag "white power"). The tattoo was his whole back and was interpretable as nothing other than hate speech. Two people came up to warn us about the presence of this individual and told us that when they alerted the staff, staff said they would not address this situation. The man with the SS tattoo came to speak to those who warned us, and at that moment, I called using the staff phone asking them to send security. I was told that "they could not legally discriminate against patrons for any tattoos" which is neither federal nor California law. They said they could only intervene if there was a threat of violence. I believe any reasonable person can recognize hate speech as an implicit threat of violence. But by the time I got off of the phone, there was a threat of violence, where the man got into the face of the person he was talking to and talked about having someone hit them. The group of people he was talking to during the time of the threat included several women of color, several people who identified as queer, and one visibly disabled person. After that, I called again, and they sent a young man of color ALONE to try and address this situation, where he was not able to find the man in question (he had walked off on a trail knowing there were complaints about him). He was able to do this because of the time it took for the staff to try to address the situation. After a long time of complaints (over 1 hour), being told we didn't understand the discrimination laws, and that they couldn't get in touch with a manager to even confirm that they could remove the man, we got a full refund and left. We had to fight for that refund, and even though they had sent that one young staff member before, it was only when we finally confirmed a refund did a manager even direct the staff to collect details on what this man said, did, and looked like, indicating that it either took staff over two hours to contact a manager, which is a problem in any emergency, or it took us asking for a refund for any action to be even spoken about in this dangerous situation. Either way, I will never step foot in this establishment again. This spa promotes itself as a safe space, but is unwilling to have policies and staff that actually create a safe space. read more

I have never been to a hot springs before. I had heard about the water & how it has healing properties for your skin, (probably not with one time use) but I wanted to try it for that purpose. I was excited to try the different pools & see how my body responded to them. I learned that Harbin was clothing optional & wrapped my mind around that. I could deal with that for 3 hrs. as long as people weren't having orgies around me. Then I read that people take kids there, that was a whole other round of processing I had to do. It was very what I call hippy like, lots of naked people hanging out (ha!) in the sun reading books. I didn't feel shunned because I was wearing a swimsuit & had I, I wouldn't have cared. These are obviously not my people. Good for them though. I did get a massage while I was there. For me this was the best part. My masseuse was an woman who was very on tune with & attentive to what I was telling her.It is because of the massage that I took my Habin experience from a 2 to a 3. It's got alot to offer, this just isn't my thing. I'm glad I tried it, glad I went, glad I had the experience. For me...not worth the drive if that's the only reason going up there. I will say it is impressive to learn that the entire place burned down in one of the fires & is still somewhat under construction. The fires were very apparent & such an incredibly sad reminder coming into the spa. They have recuperated quite well I would say & I wish them nothing but the best. Now go get your deck girly! (meant for masseuse. read more

We were excited to visit again after 30 years but were very disappointed. The staff were un-friendly, the day pass plus membership was expensive for 3 hours spa visit, and the pools were dirty! And to top it off we were scolded by a staff member while using one of the hot tubs (not the silent one) for being too loud. We were speaking very quietly but in a foreign language. After 30 minutes another group came to the same pool and were speaking much louder than us but in english and nobody said a word to them. The guests were not diverse at all so made us wonder if they rather only have Marin hippies visit. Overall the place felt snobbish and not worth it. read more

Do a quick Google of Harbin Hot Springs before you go, and make sure to read the previous reviews here. Harbin used to be glorious, but burned down in 2015. It now looks like a trailer park, with a bunch of trailers lining the property and no plans to make it beautiful again under new ownership. (It's been 10 years, folks.) Harbin apparently has dubious origins and a cult-like leader, and followers are known to take to the pools and moan in orgasmic ecstasy. (It's the Bay Area, friends, what did you expect??) We decided to go anyway out of morbid curiosity. It's EXPENSIVE for what it is, and you have to *join their church* in order to enter. Read the fine print, folks. You also have to hand over your drivers license so they can copy all your info. It's admittedly a bit creepy. We'd heard the pools get super crowded, and that is indeed true. Very little space. Best advice I can offer is to go in the dead of winter when it's grey, cold, and raining. The crowds are much thinner, although the pools are still full, and it's actually quite nice to be in the hot water with cold rain coming down. read more

I love Harbin. BUT BUGS!!! We had a great time there this week for 24 hours 6/24/26 but we are home now covered with incredibly itchy and tenacious bug bites. Still swollen, oozing, and itchy 4 days later. Not mosquitos, maybe "no-seeums"? We've had this experience before but rarely. I think it's a matter of timing. I'd like to know ahead of time when the bugs are around. I will go back but not when the bugs are there. read more

I read all the reviews and they are ALL true; the one star and the five stars. Your truth will be experienced at Harbin. Here's my truth: YES most are nude NO no one cares if you wear a suit YES it can be a crowded scene YES the pools are nearly empty at 6am- get up YES people talk right in front of the "no talking sign" YES you can practice tuning them out YES there will be kids, you were a kid once too NO it's not the same as before the fire, it never is YES the trailers are unsightly NO one prevents you from enjoying the epic view YES the cleaners work hard and miss the corners YES some late night smooching may be seen NO it is not acceptable to stare, touch w/o consent NO it's not a "day spa" NO it's not a untouched rural hot spring ITs Harbin YES you should go at least once and find your own truth. read more

Do you like hot springs? Do you like theft? If so, you've found just the place! After relaxing in the hot springs and enjoying the beautiful scenery, be advised that after checking out on time you may get a surprise bill for checking out late. That's what happened to me. Checked out at ~9am and got billed for checking out late (their checkout time is 11am). After emailing harbin I was informed that house keeping saw me leave the room late, even though I was nowhere in harbin at the time. I sent multiple forms of evidence that I had checked out on time. Pictures of a sticky note the lady at the reception desk had given me. Photos with loved ones showing conversations confirming I'd checked out way before 11am. Multiple staff members and departments were contacted regarding the matter. All emails seemed to fall on deaf ears. The last I heard from them they'd told me they'd get back to me by Monday. Well, they never did. So if you'd like surprise bills and fees for things you didn't do, this is the place. Enjoy the $25 you stole from me, Harbin. I understand now why the Gods punished you. It seems you haven't learned a thing. read more

I have been visiting Harbin for the last 8 yrs and absolutely love it!! For the first time this year the last 2 times I have been, in the last month there have been these tiny black flies that bite and sting you. They leave horrible bites with intense itching for several days to a week. I usual set up my spot next to the big pool under the wooden awning. The flies are really bad there. Is it possible to please put up fly traps around all of the pools? I have also noticed the big pool isn't the cleanest lately. I live coming to Harbin it's my sanctuary and I come as often as I can, but those flies are definitely enough to keep me away and that makes me really sad. Thank you for your time. I tried calling but no answer. read more

If I could give a negative minis 5 star review I would. I stayed in a cabin for one night and came home with bed bugs. They do not keep the rooms clean enough. The pools are dirty and I was sexualy harassed at the pool area. As well as seeing condoms around the pool area at night. During the day there was an African American security guard that spoke extremely rude to me about having a glass cup in the pool area. I understand now no glass in the pool area and why but Chris I think thats his name did not need to be so rude about it. I will never go back. It's not a very natural hot springs vibe. It's more like going to a pool with hot spring water. There are better places to go. Do not waste your time or money. This place has more of a cult vibe than hot springs get away vibe. read more

I love Harbin. It is wonderful place to come in relax. This is one of those rare clothing optional places. I hate swimsuits and I love sun and water Dancing Bear Cafe has great lunch and breakfast vootions. Staff is professional and friendly. I do not understand why they allow children. Today I observed a family attempting to take their kid to a pool where kids are not allowed. Then their kids proceeded to play so loudly that even thel meditation pool provided no respite read more

This is a review from before the fires, around 2002, so I realized much has changed... but the area deserves gratitude, as it will always provide the harmony. Exceptional place, peaceful surroundings, great pools, one of the best massages ever, tasty healthy food, and a nice selection of holistic classes/yoga/dance, etc. I was going to go this week, but the weather wasn't conducive for 50% of my stay. Prices has definitely gone up, and despite the 20 years plus, I find the massage Prices has been inflated to much (I am a massage therapist, and owned a Spa in Half Moon Bay). Recouping for the loss of the fire makes sense, and paying more for accommodations I'm good with... But, charging Ritz Carlton Prices for massages.... !!! Not so much. To the owners: Please allow this place to remain special..., meaning, let us (retired people, non-tech high income people) all be able receive the gift of touch I would personally get 3 massages in 5 days, but now... ouch... $160/215... + tip.... Just a thought, a Harbin friendly discount for several treatments... So glad you survived, and restoring this magnificent place. read more

For those of us in the Bay Area that want a place to get away from it all for a bit, I see why Harbin Hot Springs has been the contender for many friends for many years. If you are not used to bathhouse culture (and no, not the sexual-undertoned bathhouse culture you might find at seedy ones), I do think Harbin offers one of the best ways to truly experience it. Bathhouse nerds that are in it for the tranquility of the practice, the well-being of themselves among nature and oneself, and the appreciation of water in various temperatures. The facilities are clean for the most part, with the on-site bathrooms being the most iffy at times. The smell of sulphur can be around many of the pools, but if you can get over that, you've got yourself one of the most expansive sauna, spa, and pool experiences you can get. It'll be hard to not find the kind of experience you'll love--there's too many different pools and a sauna to not find something that you feel a bit more at ease. There'll be ones that you absolutely hate (I'm talking to you hot dip pool), but you're free to go to whatever you want, whenever you feel. I highly recommend NOT making a day trip--spend a night. It makes the most sense financially as you get a 24-hour pass (as well as a partner) booking a stay at the Domes (recommended for private pools) or Groves. The best part is that you're secluded from the lights of the Northern Bay Area just a county over and you've got access to the stars after and/or during a relaxing pool float session. Oh and amazing plus is that they have Harmless Harvest coconut water in the vending machine at a reasonable mark-up. Drink that. It has no reason to be that good after a sweat. read more

Tranquil. Old school meets new school. Lots of stay options. Not too commercialized yet. Didn't encounter any creeps, men nor women. A few dudes with sunglasses on solo but weren't approaching people or being weird. Can get crowded but there is always space in whichever pool you want. Great steam and sauna rooms. Drug and Alcohol free, and family friendly. read more

I think it's fair to rate this place proportional to the cost. For two people it comes out to ~$170 24 hour for camping. So you have think, what do I get that justifies that cost? The upsides: 1. Nice restrooms throughout the property. We were pretty impressed on this component. Not just vault toilets, clean and even included showers. 2. Nice car camping platforms near the river. Elevated wood platforms. 3. Extensive property with much to do: river, camping, hiking, hot springs, sauna, food, other nick-nacks. They have 7 main hot springs/pools that I counted. I think an additional one at the dome. 4. Great views throughout the property, located in a canyon. 5. Great atmosphere/energy. The downsides: 1. Cost $$$ 2. They were constructing during Valentine's Day. That was not the vibe with how romantic this place is. Maybe could have paused a day on that. 3. The dry sauna could be better constructed, i.e. better löyly. Standard American sauna. 4. Check-in takes a while. I think all in all this is a solid place: good energy, nice property, but could be less construction and less expensive. read more

Fun free and fascinating living beings from dragonflies butterflies flowers and dragons! Michael too! Middletown

Magical time once again. Love the domes. Wild wind last night! Love coming here and letting nature embrace me!! Thanks again Harbin staff. read more

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First time here and I think it's a pretty neat place. All of the different pools and temperatures are nice. I was informed of the nudity before I went but that did not bother me. I wore a bathing suit. Id say 80% were nude and 20% were in bathing suits. Everyone was very respectful and friendly. I will be looking forward to all of the rebuilds (there was a fire at some point) and what it ends up looking like ect. If you want super chill and quiet the construction doesn't help but it didn't bother me at all. I ordered a burrito bowl which was good . A little pricey for what you get in my opinion $18. I had looked up prices prior to going so I was not suprised. You can bring your own food and water which I did as well. All in all I'd go back. read more

Harbin Hot Springs - Burrito bowl - Meditation Centers Near Me - Middletown, California

Very pleasant setting up in the Mountains north of Calistoga. It is a motel and hot springs. It was once a nudist colony, but now bathing suits are optional around the pools only. Nudity is not allowed elsewhere on the property. A little nudity is OK in California! read more

Devin was my Hero. So good at his job! A young head of an important department. Professionalism, combined with Compassion and Caring. I am impressed. Very much. read more

I have to preface that I have been waiting to come to Harbin Hot Springs for over 3 years now. The only reason it has taken me so long is I let life live me instead of living life. I had the pleasure to visit and stay in the Domes with my girlfriend on Sunday, January 21st. It was a cold and rainy day but that didn't stop us from having a relaxing time. After we checked in and got our parking tags, we headed over to the little dinner common. I packed a beautiful spread of snacks for us but we all enjoyed their Cuban soup and a coffee. I didn't have the coffee but it smelled good. The soup hit the spot, warm and savory just the right amount of goodness. Check-in to the Domes wasn't until 3pm so we had a few hours to enjoy a dip in the multiple pools. There is a total of 8 pools in the shared common space and a sauna. We indulged in 6 of them. Since it is a clothing optional resort, they provide a designated area to change with racks and lockers for your belongings. Started in the heart shaped pool, which is the perfect temperature of warm, but a slightly on the hotter side but comfortable. My only qualm about this pool was there was an unattended kid aged 7-9 climbing in and out, she brought cold water from the other pool into this one and kicked me when she was swimming. It bothered me so much I just moved to another pool. We moved to the much warmer and bigger pool up top where it is a silent space for mediation. From there I was brave enough to do the hot plunge and cold plunge. It definitely shocked my system but felt really good. We popped into between the 3 pools a few time, then dipped back into the heart shape pool for a few minutes before grabbing the keys to our Dome. Up in the Dome area are two private pools only for guests who are staying in the Domes. Our Dome was simply chic decorated in hues of purple, single bed two closets, bent seat, chair and counter. We unloaded our things, munched on a few other snacks then headed out to soak in the private pools. The temperature in the warm pool was not was warm as I'd like. In this area, there are outdoor showers. Soap and towel are provided for guests. My only two recommendations would be a family designated pool/area. I left my kid at home I don't want to deal with other peoples kids when I am trying to relax. Second would be a trolley or bus service to transport guests up to the pool. I have a bad knee so the hike up the hill was a bit challenging. I had a lovely visit and plan to come back real soon. Since it is roughly an hour drive for me, I would definitely stay 1-2 nights each visit. Thank you kindly Harbin Hot Springs for creating such a serene space to unwind and relax. Cameras are permitted to protect the guests privacy so I don't have photos to share. You will have to come see the beautiful place for yourself. read more

The breakfast ordered was cold and when we requested to reheat, they snapped back with a bad attitude. Also, the quiet area mineral pool and extra hot soak tub were filthy! We've been before and understand the natural residue, but this was disgusting. Will look forward to other locations in the future. read more

Not at all what we expected- probably should have paid better attention to the negative reviews unfortunately. Hate to leave a negative review, but maybe it will save someone a trip and/or disappointment; because after traveling 7+ hours to visit, our visit VERY underwhelming. I've visited many natural hot springs and have never been disappointed but Harbin is more like glorified hot tubs. That was easy to look past but when we arrived (around 1/2pm) the place was PACKED. Clearly no occupancy "suggestions" were being enforced by any means. I completely understand people wanting to be in a social setting like this for meeting new people but I was expecting a relaxing experience and this was absolutely not that. The pools which had a 9 person limit and were "quiet areas" probably had 20+ people in them, with everyone talking over each other, and were, to say the least, not quiet or relaxing. If you're looking for a place to be nude, meet people and socialize, you'll love it! but if you're looking for a quiet, relaxing natural geothermal experience, this may not be the place for you. read more

It was my first time there today. If I were to do it again I would have brought a robe to move about a little more freely. It's October and where it was not too cold, there was a breeze that made it a little hard. Someone had a Chewbacca robe and I thought that could have been me wandering around all wrapped up. I would have also checked into reservations. When my friends and I got there, they said that they only had 24-hour passes left so ended up paying a little more than we would have normally. That being said it was a pretty nominal fee. It had a pool, sauna, warm pool, hot tub and cold plunge. The cold plunge was a new experience for me. It did plenty to make sure my body was awake. Going between that and the hot tub was easy and really helped to make sure I wasn't too cold. I thought it was going to make me feel dizzy (bad but treated high blood pressure) but I didn't feel bad at all. Lastly, the place is clothes optional. Most people were nude which was nice and I didn't receive or see any creepy vibes happening. As a woman, I feel it's important to state what should be the norm everywhere. It felt like a safe space that if something weird happened that you could report it. Enjoy! read more

Love this place. I've only known it post-fire, soI've only visited during the rebuilding phase, as Harbin develops more structures, activities and community. I was there the first day the sauna opened (my birthday!) and I'm looking forward to the new events pavilion, changing area, and steam room that are currently under construction. The garden area is really beautiful. If I spend multiple days there, I try to spend a good portion reading in the garden. There are lots of hikes to choose from with trailheads starting within Harbin. I also love that there are events now. My last visit was the first time that I ever participated in any events at Harbin. I went to the dance party, anti-stress group session, and the gong sound healing -- and that was all in a 23 hour period, mid week. There are more events scheduled on the weekends (to match the higher population of visitors). I really enjoy how nonchalant and friendly everyone is and at the same time people are clearly doing their best not to come off as creepy. The pool area is clothing optional. Most of the time I visit 90% of people are not clothed, but this last time I would say it was 50/50. I have yet to catch anyone staring. I've tried to get into the hotest pool several times but only put my legs in, its SO HOT. I can count on one hand how many times I've gone into the cold plunge pools. I'm not as hardcore as others, but I am inspired to keep trying and to read about the benefits of alternating between the hot and cold pools. The waters here really are healing. I go there for stress relief and pain relief and always come out feeling better. Sometimes I even leave with new friends! I'm still trying to figure out when is the best day and time to visit for me. I like when the pools are freshly cleaned and I like when there aren't a lot of people in the pools. As much as I love a public swimming hole I *hate* finding someone else's hair on me. On my most recent visit, I went ahead and bought a lifetime membership. Now it's up to me to visit more. Just a heads up, the drive up (from just about every direction) is BEAUTIFUL and INCREDIBLY windy, swithcbacks galore. I *can* do the drive at night but I prefer not to. read more

Our stay at Harbin Hot Springs was disappointing. We stayed at domes for a peaceful retreat, but cleanliness was a significant issue. The sheets were dirty, and I was glad I brought my own blanket. The shared bathroom had black long hairs draped over on the soap, and the floor mat was never replaced, because they draped the dirty mat over the tub pubes were all in tub. I was assured there would be a coffee pot in the kitchen, but there wasn't, no microwave is not included in the fully equipped kitchen and there were no tissues in the room, which felt odd for such a basic need. None of the windows opened the handles were broke or the glass was cracked glue together.Having visited before, I've noticed a concerning decline in cleanliness. For $220 a night, I expected much better. I hope Harbin takes this feedback seriously, as I care about this place and want to see it improve. My recent stay at Harbin Hot Springs was unfortunately disappointing, and I feel compelled to share my experience. We opted for the domes, expecting a serene retreat, but cleanliness was a major concern from the start. Upon arrival, we noticed the sheets on our beds weren't clean heck the bedspread was dirty. There was a big gray course hair laying across our bed. Luckily, I brought a blanket and a pillow to get through it . The shared bathroom's long black hair strands were draped across the hand soap bottle , floor mat was never replaced during our three-day stay, and it was disheartening to see it draped over the tub, which dumped a tragedy amount of pubes and people's hair all into the tub, . It got so bad that I felt the need to rinse it myself. I had called ahead to confirm the availability of a coffee pot in the shared kitchen, and was assured it would be fully stocked. However, upon arrival, we found there was no coffee pot at all. We brought our own coffee press on the off chance that not the case and sure enough no coffee pot, but it was disappointing to find the kitchen lacking basic amenities. Additionally, there were no tissues in the room. It seemed odd that wouldn't provide something as basic as Kleenex. The heart-shaped pool, which I was looking forward to, was also a let down it was filled with floating hair and so much more it was uninviting. I've visited Harbin several times in the past, and I've seen a decline in cleanliness standards, which is quite concerning. After our stay, I ended up feeling unwell, and while I can't definitively attribute it to the environment, it certainly didn't help. For the price of $220 a night, I expected a much higher standard of cleanliness and care. I truly hope Harbin takes this feedback seriously, as I care deeply about this place and would love to see it return to its former glory. read more

Harbin Hot Springs - Meditation Centers Near Me - Middletown, California

Oh Harbin, where oh where art thou? Down the little road from Middletown and there it is. But is it? So sad to see something so beautiful so squandered by people who don't seem to know what made the real Harbin so wonderful. I won't dwell on the trailer park esthetics, the disappearance of quiet courtesy in and around the pools, the loss of the Blue Cafe, the failure to re-create so many sources of fond memories. These losses have been covered by others' comments here with depressing accuracy. Instead, let me post a hearty caveat emptor to those considering staying in one of the private cabins. In addition to a hefty hammer blow to your wallet, be prepared for: * Slimy microfiber sheets (Bring your own) * A hike or drive to get to the pools or to get a roll of toilet paper or clean towels. (Don't expect the roll of TP when you arrive to be new) * A lack of adequate hot water if you arrive after 9pm. (WTF?) * Limited privacy or ability to close the curtains to block out nightime lights. (Bring clips) * Iffy levels of cleanliness in the bathroom - especially the walls * No instructions for the A/C - heating system. (The cover of the controls pops off to show the real controls) * No interest from the housekeeping staff to see if you need towels or anything else as they buzz around on their carts. No matter how many nights you're staying * No easy way to bring meals to your cabin without driving to the take-out restaurant onsite twice OR ordering and waiting for as long as 30 minutes for your turn to pick up your order * Nice architecture * A comfy mattress * An early checkout time that may leave you with 6+ hours of visit time with no room to go to. And one more thing: What Harbin-lover can stand to see the Dragon Gate left unrepaired! Tempus fugit. In 9+ years since the fire - the Harbin team has fuged things royally. read more

Notice all the good reviews were BEFORE the fires, BEFORE Harbin was rebuilt. I just came back and wow- it used to be so wonderful and now its ..well..so horrible. 1. all the cabins and domes are so spread out you can't even walk to the pools, you have to drive 2. There is no cafe, no restaurant. You order food from a trailer, pick it up and another trailer window. It was less than mediocre. The only place to sit indoors is, you guest it, another trailer Which is SO cheap and cheap looking. Plastic chairs and tables. cracked linoleum flooring, cheap and cheezy white "curtains"----its just so Uninviting. 3. The "Dome" we stayed in, #4 , the most requested is just a hotel room not even in a Dome. There were so many bugs and moths stuck up in the light fixtures it was disgusting. They are just hanging over you. There are new buildings being build wherver you look and guess who is paying for them? YOU ARE. I got a parking ticket way up at the domes for taking 2 spaces. This was a mistake because the lighting is basically non exsistent. A parking ticket inside Harbin! And you can't talk to anyone about it, you have to email some outside source...... This place is no longer anything special, its not special at all. It's dirty and overpriced and gross. We need to find a new place to soak and so do you. read more

Harbin Hot Springs - lots of dead bugs in lighting fixture in Dome #4 - Meditation Centers Near Me - Middletown, California

After many failed attempts to contact staff to make an online reservation for a three hour pass, one very unhelpful contact with staff, and subsequently reviewing the yelp posts regarding this venue we decided to look elsewhere. read more

The most thing that I love about this place is its closeness to nature. Different from other commercialized places among Calistoga, this place is hidden, private, serene. With 30 more minutes of hilly drive, It has a great view of the valley. It has multiple pools with different temperatures and settings, even a koi pond and small waterfall. When we got there, the bay hasn't rained for almost the whole year. However we were able to enjoy the drizzle in the mountain. The hike next to the spring facility is also quite enjoyable, it provides the same view but more throughout and a glance at its other cute accommodations. We enjoyed the warm sheltered pool the most, its so relaxing. Everyone else are so quite and respectful. read more

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I've been going to Harbin for years and the day back then we always used to camp, and use the communal kitchen. Since the fire there (over 9 years ago) Harbin has rebuilt the moneymaking pieces of Harbin but not the spiritual ones! So there's no Temple anymore, no Moon ceremonies in the pools, etc. I loved magical old Harbin; it's still the same waters but not nearly the same experience. Why can't they accommodate campers and families, like in the past? Now we stay in a motel in town, because Harbin has RV accommodations, and that's it, cutting out all but the richest people. I'm sure Harbin's management can do better to serve everyone who seeks the healing waters. read more

Loved our whole experience. We were never able to experience it before the burn, however it looks like it is healing well. We live two hours away and we were originally going to just do a 6 hour pass, but since they started requiring 24 hr passes for the weekend we decided to tent camp. I do have to say that I wish we arrived during day light so we could find the wood flats by the creek to set up, but the meadow wasn't a bad place to be (close walk to the restroom). Really enjoyed the availability to drive down to the springs and back to the tent to sleep and then back in the morning. Food was delicious!! I want to know how they get the chia seeds to swell so much. The Chinese breakfast was delicious and nutritious. Very flavorful. So many options for drinks. The pools were very interesting and enjoyable. I liked that we started at dusk to learn the area and feel comfortable with the mass of people, however it was 10x more relaxing first thing in the morning. 1 large meditation pool (warm), 1 small HOT pool (6 people max), 1 small cold dunking pool (1-2 people), two hot tubs (I think) for families and talking, and a sauna. I didn't get to participate in the yoga but I wish I did. read more

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I've been going here for at least 10-ish years! So pre and post fire. I do miss the old Harbin, but really just the beautiful yoga temple and the fact that it had more amenities (which they are slowly rebuilding). Pre fire, I had stayed in almost all the overnight options (domes, cabins, yurts and the dorms), but never camped! Def wish I would have taken advantage of camping under the stars on the decks, when they used to let you do that. Post fire, I've stayed at a handful of the domes. But I have yet to stay in the trailers or the new cabins. So I'm eager to stay in them soon! And I'm hoping they allow people to stay in the yurts they have again, dive those were my FAV! I think Harbin is a MAGICAL place, but it's not for everyone!! Post fire, it has less ick and I like that a lot. It has a rustic vibe to it, and super hippy vibes! When I go solo, I like to just listen to people's conversations, since it's sooo funny! And great people watching too! So if you're an open minded person, that's ok w nudity, then you'll really like Harbin! They currently have a coffee shop and cafe w really yummy and nourishing food, and are rebuilding their restaurant (that I guess will be open 24/7-just not serving food 24/7). They have yoga classes, and movies and other cool things your day pass/overnight grants you access to. Theres 8 tubs/pools in the common area ( +1 dry sauna) and then if you stay at the domes, a few more to choose from. As well as tons of spots to just sit, relax, read, nap and just zen out. So if you're debating going, just go w an open mind and heart-which I'm sure will be full when you leave! read more

Ahh, Harbin. The place of community, spiritual renewal, and sacred waters. I've been a long time member and I remember the Harbin before the fire. A lot has changed but I was so grateful to be able to return to my beloved sanctuary. Hiking trails, wholesome food, a nice hot sauna, and unplugging from electronics. Bathing in spiritually renewing waters, finding peace and forgiveness and deep healing from whatever physical or emotional trauma one endures in life. Finding community in group meditations or yoga, chanting or dance. The beautiful temple is long gone and replaced by portable trailers. Definitely feels different, the community kitchen and indoor bathrooms and showers are gone. Lots of lost infrastructure, but the pools remain. The new sauna is amazing but the intergalactic spaceship steam room is gone. Things are (very) slowly being rebuilt. The structures aren't detailed works of art, but hopefully with time they can create a space that reflects the culture of Harbin by adding artistic touches, like how the temple bathroom had agate and crystals built into the walls, or the winding garden pathway had interesting art built in. The tea house up on the hill is long gone, the forest and path is gone too but new ones were created and are slowly growing back. There used to be a labyrinth up there on top of the mountain where you could find yourself again. You can still find yourself again, but the place will be less familiar. Camping by the small creek has always been my jam, I recommend it. Waking to the sound of the babbling creek and the birds and squirrels foraging outside your tent is part of the experience. It's the closest you'll bet to the main pools. Some things to consider...small children often visit here and can be loud. Prepubescent young teens can sometimes be here. Everyone is welcome but now and again a creepy pervert will be there just to look at young girls who haven't developed quite yet. For this reason I personally would not bring my own children. It's just not appropriate to have children present in an adult setting. It definitely made me uncomfortable to see a young girl being watched by a creepy pedo. While rare, I've encountered it in a couple visits in the past decade. Nudity is definitely to be expected, some people do wear clothing. But I highly discourage bringing children here, for their own protection. It's an adult place, other guests don't want to be around children. Myself included. It disrupts the tranquility. Bring a water bottle, your own shampoo and conditioner, and towel, and a robe if you are modest (or in cooler weather, it's nice to wear one between pools in winter). read more

I read all the nasty reviews and here's what I found to be true and not true: Harbin is a true hippie retreat. I went on a whim one Tuesday and found it to be a decent, clean hot springs with some glamoing features. Cabins I rented a dome which I may not do again, but the domes have a pretty private warm and cold pool. There was hardly anybody in it. There was no construction noise I could hear per other reviews. The people The crowd is run of the mill hippie set. Yes they are mostly white, and the bodies range from bouguereau to crypt keeper. If you squint your eyes it will look like a Pre-raphaelite masterpiece, open them and you'll see hairy lesbians and droopy cougars. You choose. Massages This is a luxury at what could be a decent camp site. I thought Tracy was great and the nice thing is the baths and the massages go late. I think 8 is the last massage but you can soak under the stars afterwards. The food A food truck serves organic American faire. Nothing stellar but pretty convenient if you don't want to lug your igloo. The staff I found the office staff friendly and nice. No alarm bells went off. The pools If there were no people the pools would be lovely. I lt felt like I was in Nice or some European village. The quasi spiritual vibe could be fun or annoying given your mood. Even on a Tuesday it was a bit crowded with nowhere to sit but cement. I would recommend adding a few mor chairs and even a hammock. I didn't see any creepos but I could see how this can be hard to control. Kids were not abundant, and I did feel a bit of my inner Puritan coming out around them. read more

I first went to Harbin Hot Springs way back in 2004. I heard they had a fire here that was pretty intense as they had to close for a few years. They are now open and nice to see some trees and plants growing back on the premises. Harbin sits on 1,600 acres of forest, meadows, and streams. It is clothing optional here. The natural Mineral Pools here vary in temperature to the hot plunge of 112 F to cold plunge 60 F to medium temperature pools of 97 F and 80 F. When I was here in 2004 they had a communal kitchen yet they no longer have that. Instead is the Dancing Bear Cafe. There are veg and non-veg options. One nice option at the Cafe for breakfast or lunch is the $10 bowl where you choose a base such as greens or rice. You choose up to 5 toppings eg beans, sprouts, sauerkraut, and so on. Harbin is hip. Being here is a great place to lose track of time while enjoying your soak. For urbanites know it is just over a two hours drive to reach here from San Francisco. Harbin is a special place and look forward to future visits here. read more

Harbin Hot Springs - Meditation Centers Near Me - Middletown, California

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