Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.
Buoyancy
Standard buoyancy
LowHigh
Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.
FerBicarbonatesManganèse
Tucked among the redwoods of Mendocino County, Orr Hot Springs was founded in 1858 by settler Samuel Orr, making it one of the oldest continuously operating establishments in the area. It grew into a stagecoach stop on the road between Ukiah and Mendocino, with the grounds once holding a hotel, post office, stables and dance hall. Five springs rise near the site, feeding pools and soaking tubs.
The property burned down and was rebuilt three times — in 1867, 1894 and 1938 — after which it was reconstructed as individual cabins rather than grand hotel buildings. It stayed in the same family for generations, run for a time by Alfred Weger, Samuel Orr's great-grandson, before being sold in 1975 to the Orr Springs Association, a community rooted in the back-to-the-land movement.
Insider tip — Orr Hot Springs Resort is a secluded off-grid retreat in the redwood hills above Ukiah, known for its clothing-optional communal soaking tubs fed by naturally warm mineral springs emerging from the coastal mountain geology. The half-dozen hand-built tubs range from hot to cool and are nestled among old-growth redwood and madrone, creating an atmosphere of primeval tranquility. Accommodation is in rustic cabins, Airstream trailers, and a historic bathhouse building, and day-use visits must be reserved in advance. The mineral water has a soft iron-mineral quality that leaves skin feeling exceptionally conditioned after extended soaking.
