Calistoga Mud Baths For Beginners: A Guide On What To Expect

Calistoga mud baths are legendary in California for some dirty bliss. Besides being relaxing, mud baths are said to be good for detoxifying with anti-inflammatory benefits and for helping skin conditions like acne. Sign me up! How much of is it true? I’m not sure, but it’s truly an experience that’s worth checking out. But what is it like? We’ll take you along our latest journey where we visited Indian Springs Resort for one of the best Calistoga mud baths around.

Arriving at Indian Springs: Our Top Pick for Calistoga Mud Baths

My husband Kevin and I lived in San Francisco about a decade ago — though we only made it up to Calistoga once. At that time, there were only a handful of spas offering Calistoga mud baths. Flash forward over a decade later, and we gotta tell you, that the spas in Calistoga have upped their game. You’ll still find that Calistoga offers a variety of mud baths from posh to rustic. But most are leaning towards the fancier side these days. Indian Springs spa recently went through a renovation — while shutdown for COVID. Originally opened in 1861 as a geyser-fed spa and lodge for elite Bay Area families, the 17-acre oasis has gone through a $20 million renovation to add new, modern luxury accommodations. We thought it was nice over a decade ago, but they really stepped it up.

What Can We Expect? And Why Be The Mud Man?

The natural muds of Calistoga are famous for their curative, beautifying properties. The land’s original residents, the Wappo tribe, settled Calistoga some 8,000 years ago. The Wappo believed the geysers’ steaming mineral water had healing powers. Calistoga baths are particularly coveted since they combine two cherished ingredients: natural hot springs water rich with minerals, and volcanic ash that’s abundant in the area’s soil from the eruption of Mount St. Helena millions of years ago.

Upon checking in, we were taken back to our mud bath room. We signed up for their signature 50 minute “Ritual of the Indian Springs Mud Bath” ($135 per person). You basically strip down completely naked, then after showering, an attendant will cover you from neck to toes with warm volcanic mud. You’ll stay in this muddy, squishy spot for the next 10 minutes. You may just decide to sleep (like my hubby). Or be oddly intrigued by the feeling like I was, squeezing the mud between my hands and flailing my arms like making snow angels.

It feels a little weird at first but oddly calming. After a quick rinse in the shower, you’ll get to soak in your own tub filled with clean geyser water, minerals and salts for 15 minutes. You’re also given bamboo sticks to help get the mud off your toenails. Or in my case, give myself the full pedicure treatment.

Next up, sauna time! This was completely new from our previous visit. We ended up getting about 10 minutes inside a dry sauna where we were able to detox even more. Finally, we made our way to the final stop of the Calistoga mud bad treatment — a private rooms where we were able to lay down on the bed to cool down or maybe take a 15-minute nap.

Wrapping Up the Spa Treatment

After your treatment, all guests are allowed to enjoy some time around the Buddha Pond. Once again, this is a new addition to the resort from when we were here over a decade ago. The enclosed private area features a geyser-fed meditation pond, palm trees, gardens and an outdoor fireplace lounge. They encourage guests to relax and meditate. Or in our case, we used the backdrop for a personal photo shoot. Though, I’ll subject you to just 2 of the 20+ photos I took here!

Geyser-Fed Swimming Pool

Indian Springs still maintains its signature 1910 Olympic-sized mineral pool. It’s an additional $50 per person cost to use the pool, but we certainly think it’s worth it. This was honestly what we remembered the most from our previous visit to Indian Springs, lounging in the hot spring waters as the chilly northern California evening set in.

The pool is fed by the hot geyser on site. And while it wasn’t exactly the coolest day when we visited, it still was incredibly relaxing. There is also a poolside restaurant, which is perfect if you’re looking for a quick bite without having to wear anything besides your swimsuit or robe.

The seating for the restaurant is super comfy and shaded (a plus for our zero tanned bodies!). There is table seating as well as comfy seats by the outdoor fireplace, where we sat. Okay, it was like 80 degrees the day we visited, but it was just too cozy not to sit by the fire!

We spent about 2 hours after our spa treatment enjoying lunch and the pool. Honestly, we could have easily been here all day lounging in the water and trying out all of the floating “noodle” positions.

But all good things had to come to an end. Plus, we had wine tasting reservations at nearby Chateau Montelena (famous for its starring role in the movie Bottle Shock). It was sad to say goodbye. Though we were ready to enjoy that delicious Napa wine. This is truly the life!

Looking for other ideas of things to do in California wine country? Check out all our wine country adventures here, including our previous travels through Sonoma and Northern California. Have a few more days to explore? We highly recommend a trip to Napa and reading our guide on how to spoil yourself silly. Going to San Francisco? And on the hunt for something a little romantic? In that case, be sure to check out the top 5 unique and cheap things to do on a date in San Francisco.