Beat the winter 'Blues' at Grover Hot Springs

By Don Quilici

There is a California State Park that offers a unique way to help beat the winter "Blues."

If you're interested, that location is only about 40 miles from Carson City and is known as Grover Hot Springs California State Park.

You can reach that very popular, natural hot water spa by driving south from Carson City on a combination of U.S. 395, Nevada S.R. 88 and California 88 to Woodfords, Calif. Then at Woodfords, take California S.R. Nos. 4 and 89 to Markleeville.

In the middle of Markleeville, take the paved road west for about four miles to the park.

There are two pools at Grover's, one hot and the other cold. The hot one is maintained at a constant temperature of 102-104 degrees.

On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, pool hours are 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, pool hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Wednesday, the pools are closed.

The cost is $5 per person or $2 for anyone under the age of 16.

There is a maximum capacity of 75 persons allowed into the two pools area.

The pools are located on the grounds of the 700-acre state park. That park is in Hot Springs Valley at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet. It is situated in an alpine area which contains a large variety of plant and animal life.

Grover Hot Springs State Park is surrounded by mountains, with Hawkins Peak (10,023') three miles northeast of the valley and Markleeville Peak (9417') four miles to the southwest.

At this time of the year, it is a "ton of fun" for snow lovers to spend a day playing on their downhill skis, snowboards, cross country skis, snowshoes, inner tubes, snowmobiles, etc. Then, following that playtime, many of those same snow lovers, plus others, head for Grover's to soak in the hot water pool.

That relaxing natural hot water is guaranteed to bring anyone's fun-filled day in the Great Outdoors to a perfect end.

Visit Grover Hot Springs State Park soon.

For general information, call the Park Pool Office at (530) 694-2248 or for pool information call (530) 694-2249 or you can visit their website at www.parks.ca.gov.