Limited Reopening - August 3rd

Reservations required. No walk-ins! Capacity and pool access is limited.

New office hours, departure time, and gate entry hours.

Staff and phone lines will be very busy. Thank you for your patience.

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The Orient Land Trust is a non-profit land trust created around Valley View Hot Springs, its unique culture and environment.

With the Orient Mine and Everson Ranch, we now protect 2,200 acres, its wildlife corridor, pristine spring waters, hiking trails, rustic cabins, and camping. Visitors of all ages and walks of life enjoy free educational programs, clothing-optional naturist open space, geothermal warmth, hydroelectric energy, and Colorado's largest bat colony.  Read more...

Guidelines Rates and Reservations Bat Tours

Snowy Mountains Looking North
Friday, November 20th, 2020

Coming Together for the Holidays!

As we approach the holiday season and year end at Valley View, we wish all of you a happy, healthy and safe Holiday Season! This time of year is also the season of giving. This has been a difficult year for the land trust, as well as for many of you. We had to close the hot springs for a few months and have had to limit capacity since reopening,…
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Members Appreciation Weekend 2014
Friday, November 20th, 2020

Virtual Holiday Party: Friday, 12/18 6-8pm

We miss all of you! So...this year we're having our first Virtual Holiday Open House/Party! Please plan to join your OLT friends, acquaintances, and community in a celebration of the spirit of Valley View during this season of peace and giving. Please share stories, photos, songs, dance, art, poetry, etc. Stay for the whole party or drop by to say hello. Bring your own holiday drink and toast the season…
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Rabbits, Rodents, and Squirrels
Friday, November 13th, 2020

Rabbits, Rodents, and Squirrels

This summer saw spikes in the populations of a variety of wildlife. Numbers of individuals for a variety of species are characterized by years of low population and other years when the populations soar. Mice, rabbits, and squirrels are prey for coyotes, hawks, and owls. When the population of the species that are lower on the food chain spike, a little while later there is a spike in populations of…
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Colorado COVID-19 Hospitalizations
Friday, November 13th, 2020

Shrink Your Bubble

In response to an alarming increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) today amended its Safer at Home public health order to limit personal gatherings in all counties at all Safer at Home levels. The revised order reduces the size of personal gatherings to no more than 10 people from no more than two separate households. Recent case investigation data show that…
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Teepee In Winter
Friday, November 13th, 2020

December Closing

Normally, OLT is closed from December 1 through December 28 every year. This year, we are closing December 20 through December 28. We will be open for the first part of December. We will reopen on December 29, as usual. During the closed period, the office will be closed and we will not be making reservations, answering the phone, or responding to messages. Think ahead if you want a reservation…
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Steam at the Top Ponds
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020

Appreciating the Priceless Gift

For more than 40 years, our second home has been Valley View Hot Springs and OLT. Over the years, when we thought about buying or building a place in the mountains, we always came back to "Why would we want to do that? We have Valley View." Recently, in an Orient Land Trust (OLT) External Affairs Committee meeting, we were discussing a topic that has been on the minds of…
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The long road ahead
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020

Stay Vigilant

Valley View has been open for seven weeks. The plan seems to be working fairly well. Having a reduced capacity makes it feel spacious and relaxed. The one area that could use improvement is wearing masks. Some people are a little too relaxed about this detail, which is the one thing we can do to dramatically reduce the risk. One person related that it was confusing as to when to…
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  • Naturism by Neil & Terry Seitz, FoundersHistory of Naturism at OLT
  • Words of Wisdom by Neil & Terry Seitz, FoundersSharing experience and wisdom that helped sustain this special place through the decades.

Orient Land Trust is a nonprofit land trust 
dedicated to the preservation of Valley View Hot Springs (VVHS) and its viewshed—
including natural and biologic resources, agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, 
open space, and historic and geologic features of the northern San Luis Valley—
for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.

Values

  • Dedication to inclusiveness and the public good
  • Accountability to a diverse public community and maintaining their trust
  • Social and environmental justice beyond mandates
  • Respect for the worth and dignity of individuals and nature
  • Embracing naturism through practice and education
  • Modeling collaborative pluralism, transparency, integrity and honesty
  • Pledging excellence and responsibility in stewarding resources
  • Encouraging lifelong learning

Goals

  • Visitor Space Protection and Management: Maintain and protect Valley View Hot Springs as an affordable, peaceful and family-friendly clothing-optional recreational facility that enhances the visitor experience year round.
  • Conservation and Preservation: Follow the highest possible standards for land preservation, agricultural practices, and energy and water conservation.
  • Research and Education: Facilitate scientific research around OLT resources, and promote educational programs and activities suitable for adults and children.
  • Staff Development and Community Relations: Maintain OLT as a responsible citizen of the San Luis Valley.