By: Babs Harrison
An hour’s drive from Phoenix takes you to a stunningly beautiful place that is so far removed from the chaos of everyday life, just being there has a profound effect on how you feel. Castle Hot Springs is that place, and it’s perfect for an Arizona weekend getaway. This luxury boutique resort has restorative natural hot springs, outstanding wellness treatments, outdoor adventure, and a farm-to-table culinary program…all the ingredients for a rejuvenating getaway.
In this desert oasis embraced by the Bradshaw Mountains, each stay encourages a restorative vacation experience. That’s because Castle Hot Springs designs your itinerary with you in advance via phone or email. By the time you arrive, there is nothing to be concerned about. Resort fees and tipping have been eliminated, bookings for activities, treatments and dinner pre-arranged, so all you need to do is exhale as the anticipated enjoyment begins to unfold.
Spend time relaxing, walk in nature, challenge yourself, learn something new, and discover what makes you happy. Unplug if you can. After all, there are so many other things demanding the attention of your senses, like the changing color of the desert sky, the sound of the flowing springs, and the scent of herbs from the kitchen garden. The healing power of nature is all around you at this luxury oasis resort.
Farm-to table dinners in Harvest are a nightly event to look forward to. An ever-changing, five-course menu features flavors of the season from the living pantry of the on-site farm, which is well worth touring during your stay. Meals are complemented with an award-winning wine list of more than 500 selections.
Relaxing is encouraged, and your private bungalow or cabin is supremely well-designed for just that. Windows are sited to frame gorgeous views, bringing the outdoors in. Deep outdoor soaking tubs spout water from the hot springs–try a soak before bed to induce a restful night’s sleep. Comfortable lounging chairs are placed indoor and out, and the in-room amenities are generous–beverages, snacks, books, games.
Three perfect days at Castle Hot Springs might include these activities for a mix of immersive wellness, adventure, culinary and relaxation experiences.
Day 1: Check-in, Soak in the Hot Springs, Custom Massage
Check-in, grab your swimsuit and head for the natural mineral hot springs. A soak in these warm, clear waters (containing primarily lithium, magnesium and bicarbonates) works to lift your mood, calm your mind and soothe any aching joints and muscles. Three pools at the base of the canyon walls range in temperature from 86-106 degrees. Float beneath the palms and listen to the waterfall, or try invigorating contrast circuits, alternating warm soaks with cold showers.
Healing soaks are a preamble to the spa treatments offered in private creekside tents with sliding glass doors that open to the palm forest. You can’t go wrong with a Castle Hot Springs Custom Massage, attuned to your needs after a discussion with the intuitive therapist who will draw from techniques including neuromuscular therapy, trigger point massage, myofascial release, stretching and percussion therapy, to address whatever pain points you may have.
Want more? Add on a Shirodara scalp treatment, marine collagen face mask, heated Himalayan salt stones, dry brushing, gua sha, cold stone face massage, a foot scrub, or aromatherapy to make this the singular best massage you’ve ever had.
Day 2: Scenic Desert E-Bike Tour, Sound Bath
This morning, ride across the desert like a modern cowboy, from the saddle of a quiet, electrified bike. If you can ride a bicycle, you can ride these powerful pedal-assist bikes. The fat tires take you comfortably off-road and the battery-powered motor allows you to easily climb hills and bike farther to explore historic stagecoach and mining roads on a two-hour guided tour of the surrounding area. Watch out for the wild burros, and you may spot a coyote or javelina.
An E-bike is a fun way to explore the hilly desert terrain with a guide who will bring you up to speed on everything you need to know. (If you’re a pro, consider booking the Cow Creek Loop E-bike adventure, a more advanced 17-mile ride.
This afternoon, ride waves of sound in a healing sound bath session. Rhythmic patterns of sound have the power to shift our frequency to a higher level through entrainment. When our brainwaves sync with the tones produced by the orchestra of gongs, chimes, flutes, tuning forks and other musical instruments played by the therapist, we feel more relaxed. A sense of calm washes over us, guiding us to a contemplative state where we sense higher frequencies of love, joy and gratitude. This hour-long session is immensely relaxing as you lay comfortably on the floor with pillows, blankets and a lavender eye mask.
Day 3: Via Ferrata, Farm Tour
Challenge yourself on Arizona’s first Via Ferrata, a not-to-be-missed adventure of fixed-anchor rock climbing. Invented by the Italians in WWI to help soldiers move gear across the steep northern Alps, Via Ferrata has become a thrilling experience for the outdoor enthusiast. Attired in a lightweight safety harness with carabiners, helmet and gloves, you’ll be taught the basics on a practice wall, walk across a 200-foot long suspension bridge, and climb up 400-feet to summit Castle Peak for a panoramic view of the Sonoran Desert. If this is your first time, lucky you. Castle Hot Springs’ expert guides are incredibly patient, the equipment is topnotch, and the mountain is all yours. If you’re seeking even bigger thrills, try the resort’s steeper West Wall VIa Ferrata for a more advanced climb.
One of the more popular activities is the Farm Tour where guests often have a flavor epiphany when the Farm Director pulls vegetables, fruit and herbs from the gardens for them to taste. Regenerative farming, which goes a step beyond organic, emphasizes the health of the soil and the ecosystem. It’s an environmentally conscientious approach that’s used across the three acres of on-site gardens, producing a more flavorful and nutrient-dense product. The farm team is passionate about their work and readily shares tips for home gardeners. At the end of the tour, you’ll have a greater appreciation for farm-to-table fare, knowing where your food comes from.
Day 4: Overlook Hike, Meditation
Put on your hiking shoes for a guided trek through one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world. The Overlook Hike is an intermediate trek with some elevation gains, taken at a gradual pace with stops along the way to drink in the views and learn about the plants, animals and geological history of the terrain. Borrow trekking poles and a backpack from the adventure guide desk. Nine private hiking trails crisscross Castle Hot Spring’s 1100 protected acres of Sonoran Desert, and they can be hiked on your own. Not only is hiking a great exercise, spending time outdoors is part of the Castle Hot Springs wellness philosophy.
Finally, join a guided meditation, a powerful tool to help feel grounded and diffuse stress. Learn a method that works for you. Mountains have classically been places of stillness, conducive to calm reflection, and this is a good place to start or restart a daily practice. One-on-one sessions with Wellness Curator Colleen Inman can recalibrate your life through breath and movement. Drop in for a final soak in the hot springs, see if you can be more aware of your breath and the present moment, and feel the energy shift.
An inclusive Arizona weekend getaway at Castle Hot Springs can take us back to the natural rhythm of nature, putting us on the path to becoming our best selves.
