Paso Robles Hot Springs

Hot mineral springs beneath downtown Paso Robles gave the town its early identity as a health resort. Several hotels and spas still draw on the geothermal water, though the therapeutic frenzy of the late 19th century has largely given way to wine tourism. The Paso Robles Inn, on the site of the original 1864 hotel, has individual outdoor soaking tubs fed by the springs in some of its rooms.

If you are staying in Paso Robles for a few days, a soak in the mineral water makes a pleasant counterpoint to the wine tasting. The water temperature and mineral content (sulphurous, saline) are genuinely therapeutic, or at least relaxing. The Franklin Hot Springs facility offers day access for those not staying at the inn.

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A story
The springs were known to the Salinan people long before Europeans arrived. The town was essentially built around them: the 1864 El Paso de Robles Hotel positioned itself directly over the hottest vents, and for decades the town advertised itself as a spa resort. The mineral water still flows at around 98°F (37°C), high in sodium and sulphur.