Harbin remains one of only three public facilities in the entire state of California not required to use chlorine as the primary disinfectant in its pools, thanks to our historical water management practices and state of the art engineering systems. We have been state- and county-approved to continue cleaning our pools and their water primarily with a combination of hydrogen peroxide (what our grandmothers used for treating cuts and scrapes), ozone gas, and ultraviolet light. It’s a more complex and costly way to do it; but it’s also far gentler and healthier for the skin, eyes, nose, and lungs – and it gives Harbin’s pools the kind of water you’d be happy to soak in all day. As many of our guests do! Harbin’s historic pools are heated with natural temperatures of the hot spring water. Other pools are heated with an energy efficient system.

Warm Pool

As you walk up the road into the pool area, the Warm Pool is directly in front of you: you’ll see the curved stairs leading up to it, and the familiar white railing around it. When people refer to Harbin’s “main pool”, this is likely the one they mean; it’s also where Watsu® was initially developed. The water temperature here is ideal for enjoying long, meditative soaks without getting either too hot or too cold.

Hot Pool

Harbin’s signature pool is its enclosed Hot Pool, under the peaked roof with manzanita-mullioned stained glass. You can enter this structure from the far end of the Warm Pool, or by walking around either side of that pool. The water in our Hot Pool is EXTREMELY HOT – so please enter it with awareness and care. And if you’re not experienced soaking in water this hot, please limit your initial dips to less than a minute.

Cold Plunge

Around the back of the Hot Pool and up a half flight of stairs is Harbin’s Cold Plunge, and the fig-shaded sitting area that is home to our Quan Yin statue. This pool has very cold water, which comes directly from its spring and flows quickly through the pool without any treatment. Many guests enjoy alternating rounds of soaking between this Cold Plunge and our Hot Pool.

Trellis Cold Plunge

The square pool closest to the entrance of the Sauna building is our Trellis Cold Plunge. Thanks to the physics of a pool-to-pool heat exchanger, its water is actually refrigerated – making this pool a truly bracing refresher following a hot plunge or a sweat in the Sauna.

Trellis Hot Plunge

This square pool is located just in front of the Trellis Cold Plunge, and is a perfect mirror of it. Together, these twin Hot and Cold Plunges offer Harbin guests a second option for alternating rounds of hot and cold soaking. The water in this plunge is partially solar heated, and can be VERY HOT.

Heart Pool

Our easily recognized Heart Pool is named for its shape, and located in the trellis area. As in the Warm Pool, the water here approximates body temperature, making it another perfect place to relax for extended periods. Unlike the Warm Pool, quiet talking and socializing are welcome here – as are supervised children from 10am-dusk.

Swimming Pool

Harbin’s big Swimming Pool is the place to swim laps or exercise, lounge about, socialize, and play underwater in the deep end. For safety reasons, though, we do not allow diving into any Harbin pool. The water temperature here varies with the seasons, but is usually on the cooler side, appropriate for active enjoyment; during cold weather, we warm it slightly.

Spa Services Pool

The oval pool under the oval roof was designed and built specifically to give our guests a more-private setting for their professional Watsus® and other aquatic bodywork sessions. Its body-temperature water is the ultimate medium for long, blissful treatments. Call our Spa Services office to book a water session now, (707) 987-2477 ext. 2000.

Sundeck

Clothing-optional sunbathing is a favorite Harbin activity. Our sundeck (accessible by elevator from the ADA parking below) gets beautiful sunlight from early morning through mid afternoon.

Sauna

Our dry Sauna is more than twice as large as the one it replaced. It’s a beautiful cedar Sauna with ample seating and custom woodworking – including window, lighting, and railing details crafted from Harbin trees.

Changing Area

Showers & Restrooms. The pool area features a covered changing area with storage cubes, outdoor showers, and a temporary restroom trailer with small private rooms with toilets and showers. All facilities are gender-neutral.

Fern Dressing Room and Steam Sauna

Construction is nearing completion on the new Fern building, bringing more poolside showers, restrooms, a steam sauna, and an enclosed changing room to Mainside.