TL;DR Travels

What Makes Glen Ivy Hot Springs Special

Since ancient times, people have sought out the healing and relaxation benefits of mineral springs. It’s no wonder, then, that Glen Ivy has become such a fixture in Southern California spa-circles. In fact, the mineral springs bath has been bringing crowds to this desert location for over 163 years (making it only a little bit younger than the State of California).

While the hot springs are Glen Ivy’s specialty, it has since grown to include even more amenities, including various baths, spa treatments, and Club Mud.

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What Amenities Can You Enjoy at This California Day Spa?

Glen Ivy’s amenities can be divided into four main parts:

• The Waters
• Club Mud
• The Grotto
• Spa Treatments

Before I get into briefly explaining the different sections, keep in mind that The Waters and Club Mud are included in admission cost, while The Grotto and spa treatments are an additional (optional) expense. It’s also helpful to know that most facilities are co-ed with the exception of a few things (changing rooms, the steam room, and the roman baths). Towels and water are available (for free) throughout the grounds. You will also be given access to the lockers at no extra charge.

The Waters

In total, Glen Ivy consists of 9 pools, each focused on providing you with a specific benefit. Many people come to Glen Ivy with larger groups and spend the whole day trying out the different pools. I personally found the saline pool to be extremely relaxing. You can read up on what other pool facilities are available here.

As you walk around the grounds, you’ll notice signs telling you the recommended order to help you get the most out of your treatments. Additionally, there is a steam room and a dry sauna (two of my favorite things) for you to enjoy.

Club Mud

Another unique feature at Glen Ivy is Club Mud. Named after a mixture of red clay and mineral springs water, Club Mud allows guests to apply the clay to their skin, let it dry, and then wash it off to provide extra exfoliation and nourishment to the skin.

The Grotto

While the various pools and Club Mud are included in standard admission (discussed more in the next section), the Grotto is an add-on service that requires reservation in advance. If you do add this feature on, you take an elevator down to a human-made cave area where an attendant paints you with a moisturizing masque (you are wearing your swimsuit for the whole portion – they will paint what is visible from under your chin to the tops of your feet). After letting it soak for a little, you rinse off and can enjoy a cup of tea before heading back up to the surface. To make the most out of your day, it’s generally recommended that you do Club Mud first (since it’s more exfoliating) and save The Grotto for later (to keep your skin moisturized).

Spa Treatments

Like most spas, Glen Ivy also has a variety of treatments – ranging from massages, facials, and body wraps.

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How Much It Costs (& How to Make a Reservation)

Cost Breakdown

While prices do change depending on the season and specials, you can generally expect at a minimum around $70-100 for admission, which includes access to the Waters amenities and Club Mud (no additional reservations needed for these services). Check out the specific special events and packages here.

If you are adding on a treatment or booking access to the Grotto, you will be expected to pay the base admission price + the treatment cost + gratuity (for spa treatments). You can also book a private cabana if you want to have an extra-special day at the spa.

Since you can easily spend a full day at Glen Ivy, you will also want to factor in the cost for food and drinks (as no outside food or drinks are allowed). Food and beverage costs have the standard mark-up for an enclosed facility (in my visit, an entree was around $20-30 per person). Parking, however, is free.

How to Reserve Your Spot

You can book your admission and any special services either online or by calling. A few people have mentioned experiencing some difficulty with the online booking service, so you may find it easier to simply call. If the lines are busy, just request a call back – most people have reported success with this method. You can also email them if you have additional questions. All contact information is listed here.

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How To Get There

Address: 25000 Glen Ivy Road, Temescal Valley, CA 92883

Glen Ivy is located inland in Riverside County, making it a doable, but longer drive from some other popular tourist destinations like Los Angeles, Disneyland, or the beach cities. With a long distance, your best way of getting to Glen Ivy is by car – whether you own, rent, or use a driver service.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs also doesn’t have an onsite hotel for guests – something else to factor into your trip. It is, however, certainly doable to make Glen Ivy a partial day trip from other parts of Southern California – just expect to spend some time on the freeway.

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What Else to Do

Aside from soaking up the sun and enjoying the various amenities, there are a few other things that you can check out during your visit.

Firstly, you will work up an appetite at some point. There are four main options for you to check out:

• Lounge 1860: A specialty bar located outdoors near the pools
• Ivy Kitchen: The main dining eatery. I found the food (pictured above) to be pretty good!
• GOCO Cafe: A Starbucks located near the entrance
• Chill Zone: Specializes in juices, smoothies, and small snacks

Aside from dining, you can also join in on one of the various activities at the hot springs. Glen Ivy routinely hosts paint and sips (which require reservation and payment in advance), yoga classes, and water aerobics – all to enhance your experience.

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