Review: A Health and Wellness Journey at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort in Southern California

By the last morning of my stay at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort — which opened earlier this year in Murrieta, Calif. — I had fully and wholeheartedly embraced “robe culture,” swapping out traditional resort wear for swimsuits and bathrobes morning, noon and night.

Indeed, the laid-back nature of the wellness resort — located just 90 minutes south of Los Angeles and one hour north of San Diego — lends itself well to complete relaxation and restoration, targeting four key pillars: revitalization, nutrition, activity and sleep.

And even before checking into the resort for my two-night stay, I had fully committed to unplugging from the hustle and bustle of everyday life back in Los Angeles and making the most of my time away from home.

It was an intention that was surprisingly easy to adhere to, thanks to the hotel’s purposeful programming.

Revitalization: A ‘Soaking Journey’

Although the property’s ownership is new — and the resort itself is in the final stages of an extensive renovation — Murrieta Hot Springs Resort has a long and rich history in Southern California, when the first indigenous people of the area recognized the healing properties of the area's natural springs (minerals found within the hot springs include potassium, silica, calcium, sodium, boron, chloride, sulfate, lithium and bicarbonate). The land first operated as a health resort in 1902 when it was purchased by German immigrant Fritz Guenther, whose retreat lured such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, entertainer Jack Benny, Warner Brothers’ Mel Blanc and more (the hotel’s old guest register, with celebrity signatures, is on display in the lobby).

And while the land itself has changed hands several times since Guenther’s ownership, its mineral hot springs always remained a key component of the land’s use, and is what ultimately caught the attention of the team at The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colo., who are currently overseeing the renovation and developing the hotel's programming.

With more than 40 hot spring pools available (and soon, up to 50), every guest’s “soaking journey” looks a little different. Each pool is identified by its own unique name; I spent the most time in “Clouds in my Coffee,” heated to about 103 degrees Fahrenheit; and “Warm Embrace,” heated to about 98 degrees.

One resort ritual that I was skeptical of — but came to love — was called “contrast bathing,” an ancient practice that involves alternating between warm soaks and cold plunges, with rest in between. It’s a routine that, while not totally comfortable, provides myriad health benefits, including increased circulation, reduced inflammation and muscle recovery, explained Dr. Marcus Coplin, the resort’s medical director and a specialist in the field of balneology (the study of natural mineral waters as it relates to health and well-being).

I lasted about 90 seconds in my initial cold plunge (in a pool that clocked in at about 56 degrees Fahrenheit), but worked my way up to three minutes on my second circuit. My reward? Fifteen minutes in the Bathhouse’s dry sauna, followed by a 60-minute sleep-focused massage treatment with Osea-branded skincare products that was meant to stimulate my vagus nerve at the on-site spa. (Currently, the spa is operated out of one of the hotel buildings; soon, a standalone spa will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily).

But if guests opt out of a spa treatment, they have plenty of options, including the daily complimentary terrathermal mud therapy session, which includes slathering the body with mud made from the area’s mineral waters and mixed with clay from the Mojave desert, and then rinsing it off.

Although the resort’s pools, bathhouse and spa are open to day-pass users and members of the community who hold annual memberships, there’s an additional perk for overnight guests: 24-hour access to the hot springs. (My partner and I woke at 5 a.m. on our final day to watch the sunrise from the “Bombshell” tub, which overlooks the resort’s lake — it's an experience I would highly recommend.)

Nutrition: “Farm-to-Table,” Health-Forward Menus at Talia Restaurant

Although the allure of the hot springs is what initially drew me to Murrieta Hot Springs, the hotel’s food and beverage program is as much a part of the overall wellness journey for guests.

Dishes are designed with health and nutrition in mind, with a focus on natural, non-processed foods and ingredients from local farms whenever possible (as fennel was in season during my stay, many of the dishes I tried incorporated the herb). Talia Kitchen, which offers breakfast and dinner, is not officially open yet, but I did get a sneak peek during various “preview meals” with dishes crafted skillfully by executive chef Matthew Steffen. Standout items included Turkish-style eggs in a yogurt-dill sauce, drizzled with chili oil; a stack of protein pancakes made with hemp; and a beautiful beet and feta salad with pickled mustard seeds. I also loved the black bean burger, seared Pacific salmon and Gulf White Prawns for dinner.

Although cocktails are available, the resort also has an impressive list of zero-proof mocktail “Vitality Elixirs” that feature chaga mushroom adaptogens, offering a refreshing pick-me up after a mid-day soak. The grab-and-go coffee bar, Brew 1902, also introduced me to what’s now my new favorite caffeinated beverage: The Espresso Tonic, a cold mix of espresso and tonic water, garnished with an orange twist.

Activity: Sweat, Strength and Water-Focused Fitness for Mind, Body and Soul

As somewhat of a gym junkie back home in Los Angeles, I was excited to try out the resort’s state-of-the-art fitness center, with classes programmed and curated by resort fitness director Brad Davidson, the developer of Dynamis Fitness workouts.

Open to both community members (for single-entry access or bulk-class packages) and resort guests (who receive discounted classes), the fitness center features more than 30 high-intensity interval training classes (known as “Sweat classes”) and more than 25 weight-lifting classes (known as “Strength classes”). My strength class — which I followed with a post-workout soak, naturally — included a weight-lifting circuit that targeted muscles throughout my entire body.

Although I’m not usually one for group classes, the high-energy format of this group class kept me motivated and energized, and my trainer, Yvonne, customized my circuit to fit my body’s unique needs (other Dynamis trainers on the property have experience training elite athletes, Navy SEALS and celebrities, and can cater to all fitness levels). 

Another fitness-oriented activity I gladly took part in was an early-morning aqua yoga class, which featured light stretching in a heated thermal pool, and — to enhance my “mental fitness” — an evening meditation and aqua sound bath. Gratitude ceremonies also take place every day at 5 p.m, where guests are invited to write intentions on a piece of dissolvable paper, before dropping it in a tiny glass jar full of the mineral water as a souvenir to take home.

Sleep: Techniques for a Progressive Recovery

The final pillar of wellness at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is certainly not to be glazed over: a restful night’s sleep.

The 174 rooms and suites provided for overnight guests are spread throughout several buildings and span a variety of room categories. These range from one-bedroom suites and lake-view double queen rooms to eight bunk rooms perfectly suited for families with kids (and certain accommodations come with their own private soaking tubs). 

I stayed in the Stone Lodge building, previously used as a dormitory for a bible school of the Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, which owned the property’s land from 1995 to 2021. Although the rooms within Stone Lodge have been renovated, the 1920s building has kept much of its original character.

Our room featured a king-size bed, a minibar with a coffee machine and fridge and an expansive bathroom, but the true piece de resistance was the “sleep tray,” an in-room amenity that provides guests with the tools necessary for the perfect mental unwinding: a “sleep sack” for cell phones, a lavender and vetiver sleep stick, a high-protein bedtime snack and ear plugs.

But, as it turned out — I didn’t need to use many of the items on my sleep tray. My days at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort left me so relaxed, I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow — the mark of a truly satisfactory rejuvenation of mind, body and soul.