Clear
Humidity: 30%
Wind: SW at 0 mph
40.6°F (Station details)
Thursday

32°F - 46°F
Friday

26°F - 43°F
Saturday

28°F - 46°F
Sunday

27°F - 46°F
KWeather is powered by Kaleidoscoop

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

Bat Host, Michael, answering questions
Friday, 10 March 2017

Scheduling Volunteers for 2017!

Volunteers are very important to our organization! In fact, we could not do it without them. In 2016, we had 113 volunteers work over 8,000 hours! Thank you to everyone who made 2016 a success! It's that time of year again when I start scheduling for the summer season. We are looking for individuals who love this special place and have the time, energy, and expertise to share. A positive…
Read more...
Sunlight Breaking Through
Friday, 10 March 2017

Renewal Reminder Letter

Have you been waiting for your letter from Orient Land Trust reminding you that your membership will be expiring? We are not going to mail those letters this year. The cost in time and postage of sending such letters is significant. Based on the follow up from these letters last year, this was not an effective approach; we had only a marginal response from our mailings. If you are curious…
Read more...
North end of the Sangres in the early morning
Thursday, 09 February 2017

More Daylight!

The days are getting longer, the sun is stronger. We're glad that we are getting a respite from the cold temperatures we had for much of January. There will no doubt be more cold and snow. The aquifer can use whatever we get and we will rejoice instead of complaining when more snow comes. However, the past few days have been nice, if a bit hazy. We are technically midway…
Read more...
Hercules the kid goat
Thursday, 09 February 2017

Goat Population Explosion

A lot has changed over the last few years at the Everson Ranch. The hay fields have been restored and improved. A strawbale bathhouse was built for ranch volunteers and interns. New fences put up, old ones taken out and a gated irrigation pipe system installed to keep it all going. Along with these changes, the ranch animals have been brought back! Nancy Roberts, owner of Arrowpoint Beef, runs her…
Read more...
OLT's Hydroelectric Power Plant
Friday, 13 January 2017

Electricity

The electricity generated by OLT's hydroelectric plant is finite. Grid power is miles away. We can make about 62 kilowatts of continuous power. When people turn up their cabin baseboard heaters, that uses electricity. When people cook on the stoves, that uses electricity. When the dryers in the laundry room are spinning, that uses electricity. Vehicle campers that plug into those sites with electricity use electricity. When the air temperature…
Read more...
Colorado camping, year round
Friday, 13 January 2017

Winter Visits

Plan ahead - be prepared. The night time temperatures are cold. Indoor accommodations are typically reserved in advance. Winter campers have many choices and there is no tent site fee for tent camping October through April. Most winters, for most of the winter, there is snow on the ground. Winter campers should be prepared to clear the snow from their tent site to suit their needs. All visitors should bring…
Read more...
Remodeled bathroom with ceiling mural by Adam Richards
Friday, 13 January 2017

Visitor Center Remodel!

This December we remodeled the kitchenette and bathroom in the Visitor Center! The kitchenette has a new commercial refrigerator which required a wall being removed and refinished. The new fridge has a glass front and meat freezer which makes shopping more convenient. Cabinets were rehung and the kitchenette looks great! The bathroom walls, ceiling and floor were redone, including a beautiful mural! The remodel work was donated by Volunteer Adam…
Read more...

Apr
20

04/20/2019 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Jul
12

5:00 pm 07/12/2019 - 12:00 pm 07/14/2019

Jul
20

07/20/2019 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Oct
19

10/19/2019 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Jan
25

01/25/2020 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

  • 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.