Tassajara Zen Mountain Center
- Overnight guests
- 3 hr 19 min from San Francisco
A San Francisco Zen Center monastery at the end of a 14-mile dirt road in the Ventana Wilderness, with a historic stone bathhouse on the hot springs. The baths have indoor and outdoor plunges, steam rooms and a sauna; they are clothing-optional and separated by gender. Guests visit only in the summer season, from late April to early September, by reservation.
Closed to the public Sept-April as a monastery. 2027 guest season Apr 27-Sep 5; bookings open January 2027.
- Price
- Overnight guests
- Nearest town
- Carmel Valley
- From San Francisco
- 3 hr 19 min
- Reservations
- Check venue
Plan your visit
Hours & season
| Hours |
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|---|---|
| Season |
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Tickets & booking
| Price |
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|---|---|
| Access | Overnight guests only |
| Booking |
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Rules
| Swimwear |
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|---|---|
| Ages |
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| Dogs | No |
On site
| Lodging | Yes |
|---|
Not stated by the venue: camping nearby.
Water temperature
This venue doesn't publish pool temperatures.
The pools
| Pool | Temp | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Bathhouse plungesIndoor and outdoor plunges on separate men's and women's sides. | — | — |
| Steam roomsAlso a sauna in the bathhouse. | — | Indoor |
| Swimming poolSwimsuit required. | — | Outdoor |
As published by the venue. Temperatures shift with the seasons and the weather.
Facilities
- Showers: yes
- Food on site: yes
- Restrooms: yes
- Sauna: yes
| Smoking | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Good to know |
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What's here
- Buddhist monastery in the Ventana Wilderness
- stone bathhouse with indoor and outdoor plunges
- steam rooms and sauna
- gender-separated baths
- creek access and swimming pool
- vegetarian meals included
- no cell service or visitor wifi
Getting there
- From San Francisco3 hr 19 min155 mi
- From San Luis Obispo2 hr 23 min108 mi
- From San Jose (SJC)2 hr 29 min111 mi
Typical driving time without traffic or snow.
| Elevation | 1,533 ft |
|---|---|
| Road |
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| Cell service | None |
Things to do near Carmel Valley
Ventana Wilderness
Los Padres National Forest wilderness surrounding Tassajara, with trails out of the valley.
Trailheads
- Horse Pasture Trailhead0.9 mi
- Church Creek Trail2.9 mi
- Marble Peak Trailhead3 mi
- Arroyo Seco Trailhead3.5 mi
Straight-line distances. Campground and trailhead data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Nearby springs
Sykes Hot Springs
Backcountry hot springs beside the Big Sur River in the Ventana Wilderness, reached on the Pine Ridge Trail from Big Sur Station. The Forest Service notes that several river crossings are required and can be impassable in winter high water. The trail and trailhead have been closed since August 2026 because of the Timber and Plaskett Fires.
Esalen Institute
A retreat center on the Big Sur cliffs whose hot springs baths sit above the Pacific, fed by springs that emerge at about 119F. The baths have four communal stone tubs, individual claw-foot tubs and an upper-level tub with a lift, and they are clothing-optional. They are open only to overnight guests, and Esalen's public night-bathing reservations are currently closed.
Mercey Hot Springs
An off-grid resort in the Little Panoche Valley, 13 miles west of I-5, where salty mineral water emerges at about 112F. Outdoor tubs run 102-106F and are clothing-optional and adults-only, while the heated swimming pool is 85-90F and needs swimsuits. Day use is by reservation from noon to 5pm, and stays range from cabins and Airstreams to RV and tent sites.
Sykes Hot Springs: 8 mi · Esalen Institute: 9 mi · Mercey Hot Springs: 50 mi
Sources (9)
· checked November 2026
Prices, hours and rules are checked against the official site and land-agency pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.
- Official site: Tassajara
- Official site: Guest season
- Official site: Guest accommodation
- Official site: Guest accommodations tassajara
- Official site: Getting to tassajara
- Official site: Contact tassajara
- Official site: Tassajara hot springs
- fs.usda.gov: Ventana wilderness
- mprpd.org: Garland ranch regional park