Napa Valley Hot Springs Spas - Volcanic Ash Mud Baths

This summer, I went on a cross-country road trip with my boyfriend, Kurt, in our Mini Cooper. The trip lasted 6 weeks, spanned 10,000 miles, and was chock full o' fabulous road trip moments (like this, this, and this). But probably the weirdest moment, by far, was when we visited the Napa Valley and got a couples mud bath at the Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa in Calistoga. Neither of us had any idea what was involved in a mud bath before our visit to Calistoga, and when someone recommended it to us earlier in our trip, we basically thought they were crazy. On a whim, when we got to Napa, we decided to give it a try.

As it turns out, getting a mud bath is a very strange but extremely relaxing experience and, truth be told, I'd do it again. To demystify the process for anyone out there who doesn't know what's involved (like I didn't), I thought I'd write a hub describing the 4 steps involved in a basic hour-long mud bath treatment. We both really enjoyed it, and I'm not sure if we imagined it or not, but we both thought our skin felt healthy and smooth afterward, and any muscle aches we had were gone.

Step 1: The Mud Bath

You enter the treatment room, where you see enormous tubs of hot mud (we got a couples treatment, so there were 2 tubs side-by-side). The mud is a combination of mineral water, volcanic ash, and peat moss. The peat moss is what makes the mixture buoyant, but it also makes it smell a little bit like a farm. We were ready for some serious stink, and the smell was not nearly as pungent as we expected. After removing your clothes, you lower yourself into the mud gently. You can't put your feet in first, because the mud is hotter the lower you go, so you're not supposed to stand in it. You basically ease on top of it and then use your hands to cover yourself up.

After you're in, an attendant comes in, covers your shoulders, applies a mud face mask, and puts a cool cloth on your forehead. You then spend between 10 and 15 minutes in the mud. It feels crazy at first, but once you get over the strangeness of the whole thing, it's really cool. You feel like you're floating, and the warmth is really relaxing.

Step 2: The Mineral Shower

When your time in the mud is up, you get out slowly, using your hands to wipe the mud away. You then take a hot springs mineral shower -- in the same room -- to get the rest of the mud off. The water is hot, and it's not as hard as you might think to get yourself mud-free. Doing the couples treatment is particularly helpful here, since you can essentially hose each other off. You definitely shouldn't do the couples treatment with someone in front of whom you're not ready to let your guard down! This takes 5-10 minutes.

Step 3: The Mineral Jacuzzi

After you're showered and (mostly) clean, you move on to a hot mineral water jacuzzi -- again, in the same room. Jacuzzis are pretty much by definition relaxing, so the soothing effects of the treatment continue. And the water is directly from the mineral springs in the area, which is said to have positive effects on your skin. You also rehydrate by drinking ice water with citrus slices. This step lasts about 15 minutes.

Step 4: The Blanket Wrap

When your time is up in the jacuzzi, you put on a robe and leave the treatment room, moving to a more traditional spa setting. The final step takes place in a candle-lit room with soothing music playing, nice scents in the air, and comfortable beds. You lie down under a sheet, and the attendant comes in to wrap you up in a cocoon of blankets. You stay there for 15-20 minutes "cooling down." It's so relaxing that it's hard not to fall asleep. After the attendant (wakes you up and) unwraps you, you get dressed and your treatment is over. A lot of people also get a massage afterward, but we thought the mud bath was relaxing enough on its own.

If you've ever gotten a mud bath treatment and would like to share your thoughts on the experience, please write a comment below -- I'd love to hear from others who took the leap!