These Are Hands Down the Best Spas for a Wellness Reset This Winter

Winter has a way of quietly asking us to slow down, and there’s no better way to do that than soaking in the season at some of the best spas in the West. Unwinding after the stressful holiday season with heat, hydrotherapy, and top-notch treatments is the perfect way to reset at the beginning of a new year. From desert hot springs and alpine Nordic pools to Japanese-inspired sanctuaries and tropical wellness hideaways, these retreats are designed to melt tension and set 2026 off in the right direction. 

Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs in Calistoga is the crunchy California retreat of your dreams. There’s a blend of vintage charm and laid-back wellness on property with the combination of its retro-chic rooms and soothing communal geothermal mineral pools. The real center of any visit is the mud baths, which will make you feel like you’re in your very own episode of I Love Lucy. Pair that with wellness-focused Southwest-inspired cuisine that doesn’t lean too healthy (you must try their fresh baked hand pies) and nearby Napa Valley charm, and you’ve got the ultimate weekend in wine country.

Alyeska Nordic Spa

Alyeska Spa and Resort 

Opened in September 2022, Alyeska Nordic Spa has all the Norse wellness bells and whistles that are so on trend right now. The 50,000-square-foot spa includes a series of outdoor hot and warm hydrotherapy pools, massage treatments, and wellness experiences that call on the region’s unbridled Alaska charm, including forest aromatherapy, wood burning soaking tubs, and barrel saunas. Set amidst the wild landscapes outside Anchorage in Girdwood, the Nordic-inspired spa has long been on our bucket list for its built in hot-cold plunge experiences that come along with being set in this part of the state.

Thomas J. Story

Castle Hot Springs

One of the most restorative getaways in the West, this 1,100-acre, adults-only hot-springs resort in the Sonoran Desert is in a class of its own. The property’s 31 cabins and villas are all centered around its very own hot springs, which once hosted Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, and Astors. There’s also a farm on property that feeds into the culinary program, and wellness offerings expand well beyond the typical programming, including via ferrata, horseback riding, and canyon bathing. Just an hour outside Phoenix, this is an Arizona icon and very worthy Sunset cover star.

Thomas J. Story

Murrieta Hot Springs 

Just 80 miles from L.A., this recently renovated 46-acre sanctuary graced our recent Sunset Wellness Issue cover, and for good reason. Murrieta is built around dozens of geothermal soaking pools, cold plunges, and tranquil water features designed to restore body and mind—and given its size, it’s easy to feel like you’ve got the whole place to yourself. Guests can spend their time swapping between pools and sipping on wellness elixirs or deepening their well-being with yoga classes and soothing floating sound baths, all rooted in the healing power of the natural mineral springs that have drawn Hollywood A-listers since the early 1900s.

Golden Door 

Golden Door 

Ever since it opened in 1958, the pioneering Golden Door in San Marcos has been one of the most iconic wellness resorts sought after by California elite. In fact, it’s credited with starting the luxury spa trend back in the day. Situated on 600 acres with a five-to-one staff-to-guest ratio, it provides a bespoke experience for guests who enjoy the serene Japanese-inspired design, hyper-local food sourcing, and activities tailored to individual needs. Instead of focusing on just the here and now, Golden Door is known for providing a framework for an entirely new way of living back at home—the true definition of wellness.

Dunton Hot Springs

Dunton Hot Springs 

Perhaps the dreamiest place to soak out West, Dunton Hot Springs is a former ghost town-turned-restorative retreat. Just across the mountain from Telluride, it has over 1,600 acres accessible to explore. Your home base will be one of the immaculately restored 1800s log cabins now done up in an ultra-luxe, Arcadian style. The service might be white-glove all the way, but the experience is completely laid-back and all about reconnecting to the natural world.

Two Bunch Palms

Two Bunch Palms

Two Bunch Palms has a lot of competition being so close to the countless spas and retreats in Palm Springs, but recent upgrades really leveled things up, drawing on the beauty of the natural surroundings and the hotel’s 80-year history to create bespoke common areas, suites, restaurants, and a spa featuring low-sulfur (a.k.a. minimal smell) springs. The naturally heated spring water is also high in lithium, giving it anti-inflammatory and mood-stabilizing properties.

Sensei Lanai

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

Set on 90,000 serene acres in the uplands of Lanai, this world-class wellness retreat founded by Larry Ellison and Dr. David Agus is all about helping guests create a roadmap to living longer, healthier lives. With personalized programs led by expert guides, spa hales, onsen baths, and dining by Nobu, it’s a luxe sanctuary for top-tier athletes and wellness seekers alike. Don’t miss out on their one-of-a-kind hydrotherapy massages or the guided fascia stretching sessions, the latter of which will unlock daily wellness in a whole new way.

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort 

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort 

This adults-only sanctuary is designed to mimic a cocoon, and you will indeed emerge feeling reborn. Situated on 48 acres of pristine coastline in Nayarit, guests can engage with the local Indigenous culture in many ways, including a transformative temazcal ritual that combines physical cleansing with spiritual healing. The jungle property is just a few miles away from the bustling surfers’ haven of Sayulita, but it’s so secluded that you’ll feel lightyears away.