Campus

A downhill path from the Lodge brings you to the baths’ upper level. Up top you’ll find an outdoor massage deck, a living roof featuring healing crystals and succulent garden, as well as a hot tub with a lift and a bathroom with a shower for ADA access. Down the stairs on the lower level are the main changing areas, bathroom stalls, showers overlooking the ocean, and a variety of large, communal stone tubs as well as individual claw foot tubs to enjoy the hot spring waters.

Those who visited us prior to 1998 knew a different Esalen baths. That version of yesteryear was destroyed by the El Nino storms in 1999. The current rebuild came under the leadership of David Price, son of Esalen co-founder Dick Price, which included cliffside stabilization before beginning the project. The architect behind our current iteration of the baths was Big Sur starchitect, Mickey Muennig.

The storytelling lore is a-plenty. The Hunter S. Thompson stories are dramatic and mostly true. Andy Warhol had his 15 minutes. Once upon a time ago Robin Williams — clad in his birthday suit — gave an impromptu stand-up performance beneath the stars. We leave the rest to their privacy and your imagination.

Our world-renowned Esalen® Massage sessions take place at the baths, either in one of our semi-private rooms or, weather-permitting, on the upstairs open air deck. Our Healing Arts massage practitioners are globally recognized for their skills in the somatic and healing arts, and specifically in the unique style of Esalen massage. People travel from all over the world for this healing journey. Whether you're staying for a workshop or just visiting for the day, you must book your reservation in advance.

Photography, videos, glass, and use of tobacco/cannabis at the baths is not permitted.

Our produce grows a mere 400 steps from where it is served, and we take advantage of a year-round growing season to produce as much as we can for our kitchen. It all started with a spontaneous dinner party. In 1968 psychologist and resident, Will Schutz had a proclivity for announcing dinner party plans without much time to prepare. His partner at the time, Pam Portugal Walatka, who lived in the North Point House surrounded by land with great soil, was fresh out of the Peace Corps and quite resourceful. In Big Sur produce is not readily available via a grocery store or market so she began growing her own lettuces for these ‘on-the-fly’ dinner salads (and soups!) — noshed on by the likes of guests who included: Abe Maslow, Stan Grof, Virginia Satir, Charlotte Selver, Houston Smith, Ed Maupin, Ida Rolf, John Pierrakos, Michael Murphy, George Leonard, Andrew Young, and Joan Baez among others.

Meanwhile, this was a pivotal moment in U.S. gardening as a 1968 Pam had merely heard of organic farming — the practice, techniques, and knowledge were not readily available. Pam’s organic garden inspired Dick Horan, Goph Albitz, and John Horler to begin growing and providing fresh greens to the Lodge. Over the decades, the garden has since scaled largely under the leadership of Steve Beck and Shirley Ward, to its current expanse where an array of vegetables, fruits, and flowers frequently grow in abundance.

The Farm & Garden of today is focused on regenerative practices. Think: Soil regeneration through a no- to minimal tillage system. Because we make and use our own compost, fertilizing our soil with our scraps — we can proudly boast a closed-loop system.

Like you, our Farm & Garden is evolving, changing, growing, and transforming. Each spring we go deep into planting mode — an operation from seed to feed. That means, all of our food and medicinal herbs are planted by seed at our nursery in the garden — a journey they take before they arrive and are enjoyed on your plate at the Lodge.

At harvest time, we expect an abundance of heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, patty pan squash, carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, basil, sugar snap peas, several varieties of kale, chard, arugula, cabbage, peppers, cilantro, lots of lettuces, chives, oregano and more culinary and tea herbs. The colors pop in our flower beds as there is an intentional push for vibrance and beneficial flowers. You may notice a ladybug sanctuary at the north end of the property. And, if and when you notice a stretch of farm and garden that doesn’t dazzle, know that something pretty magical is afoot.

From Esalen guests taking part in a mindful harvest through our weekend, week-long, 1-month and 3-month programs to coming to campus for a day of volunteering, there are a range of ways for visitors to engage with the earth. We aim to facilitate meaningful, relational experiences that connect people and land.

The pool area, aka the Al Huang deck, has been the location of some truly epic gatherings — most famously, The Big Sur Folk Festival.

From ‘64-‘71 musicians and music lovers gathered to celebrate — spreading love over war and fighting to give power to the peaceful. Joan Baez and former Esalen staff Nancy Jane Carlin kicked off the concept with lineups that included: Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, the Beach Boys, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian, Kris Kristofferson, Arlo Guthrie, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Taj Mahal.

Below ground, heated by the molten core of the earth and laden with minerals, the hot springs flow at a rate of 80 gallons per minute and emerge at a temperature of 119 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Esalen campus hovers at the edge of the Pacific, and the Porter and hot spring waters empty into its wild. There is nothing like a clear view of the ocean to center ourselves in the unity of all things.

Note: Due to dangerous ocean conditions and currents, direct access to the beach and ocean from Esalen is prohibited.