Small, continuous flow pipe extending from mossy, root covered rock on west side of road, on west side of Vallecito Lake. Small parking across the road. Clear, crisp, cold water – very good. Please treat this sacred spring with reverence.
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Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
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Bill added water test results to Vallecito Lake Spring, Durango, CO, 81301 11 months ago
Jennifer Added Vallecito Lake Spring, Durango, CO, 81301 to favorites 12 months ago
Brett Added Vallecito Lake Spring, Durango, CO, 81301 to favorites a year ago
Amanda Added Vallecito Lake Spring, Durango, CO, 81301 to favorites 2 years ago
Jessica Added Vallecito Lake Spring, Durango, CO, 81301 to favorites 3 years ago
jane rated Vallecito Lake Spring, Durango, CO, 81301 5 stars 3 years ago
pulpandwire submitted a new spring Vallecito Lake Spring, Durango, CO, 81301 10 years ago
US Find A Spring members can get a 15% discount at WaterCheck.com use coupon code COMMUNITY
Bill
on November 29th, 2023Create an account or login to upload water test results.
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Jeff
The last entry was mostly correct: here are directions from Durango-
written details:
-North on Florida Road
-Right on 240
-Left onto CR 501 towards Vallecito
-You will pass River/Lake resorts and the General store (which you can also find on GPS)
-L onto CR 500 and about a mile down the road you’ll see the PVC pipe/Beautiful spring water on your left.
Tested water, and it’s perfectly safe! Beautiful, cold, and crystal clear! Will be making weekly trips from now on!
Anyone have the test results?
Had a Standard Bacteriological Test done at San Juan Basin public health on 11/28/23. The water was positive (present) for Total Coliform and negative (absent) for E. Coli. I’m not a water expert but Total Coliform being present could cause illness. I have been drinking this water for 4 years and do not believe it has caused me any problems. Will upload test results. Drink at your own risk.
Thanks for Monicas post I found it too!!
There are now two pipes, new obe with a better flow.
Its past that address Monica
Shared, and there is a pulloff across from it on the east
Side of the West road around the lake.
Gps here
Its worth it, its delicious!
37.449705, -107.560543
Has anybody tested this spring?
Has anyone had the water tested recently? Just curious. I was able to locate the spring and it’s got lots of gifts around it suggesting to me people are still using it and it is safe. But wanted to know if it’s been formally tested.
dont drink this water, it is not fit for consumption, it was tested, it will make you very ill. youre better off going to a healthy spring some place else. i live up here almost next to the thing. it is small and unimpressive and may be deadly, take it from me.
As of 01/22/23
Total Hardness: 0
Total Chlorine 0
Alkalinity 80
Ph 7.0
Nitrate/Nitrite: Safe
Copper 0.6
Pesticides Neg
Lead Neg
Yay! I found it too! I was sorta skeered because of that one post but after a couple of gallons I’m still alive. Had some machine water after that just to be cautious before I have some more. Gosh, I don’t even know where to have water tested.
I FOUND IT!!! Dear Findaspring: Here is the nearby address – – as yours is not correct at the current moment:
317 County Road 500, Bayfield Colorado
(It’s on the left side of the road – about a foot of PVC sticking out of a mossy rock while there’s a pull off on the Right side directly across and ponds to your right)
YEA
Here’s some written details:
From Durango:
-North on Florida Road
-When you get to Lemon (before Lemon Resovoire) turn Right on 240
-Left onto CR 501 towards Vallecito
-You will pass River/Lake resorts and the General store (which you can also find on GPS)
-L onto CR 500 and about a mile down the road you’ll see the PVC pipe/Beautiful spring water on your left.
When you turn at CR 500 you will see a sign that has options for directions. Head towards Wits End Campsites.
Yayyyyy – – -after a 3 hour journey I’ve got plenty of spring water and I’ll be back!
Follow these directions – – the address posted is not correct nor is the pinpoint on the map shown here. (As of 2/25/16) – -Hopefully they will correct it. – What a great website! 🙂 Thank you everyone involved!
Thank you so much for the updated directions. I’ve been here twice in a year now. It’s awesome. It appears there was a fire recently real close by but I don’t think it’s affected the water because it taste delicious. Thank God hallelujah.
Yes, the spring is way north of where the pin is located. Keep going past the lake until until the road curves 90 degrees to the right, take the paved road on the left and continue a little. You will find a few small lakes on the right and the spring on the side of road on left.
Enjoy and be joy.
Hi, I am the original “finder” of the Vallecito Spring and have also had a tough time locating that spot… It is on the west side of the road, spouting it’s vital elixer, day and night without fail. I suggest stopping into one of the local establishments by the lake, or maybe the fire dept to get specifics. I don’t have a smarty-phone so sorry for the mismarked Google pin.
I’m actually surprised that none of the tech savvy Durangoans have adjusted the marker.
It’s some gooooood wah-wah! Don’t give up~
And this website takes you to Talon Ln by the college, with no mention of CR 501.
G
This spring is not in Durango, cause the CR 501 is outside of it. No wonder the first writer could not find it! I have not tried but I will be trying to next week.
On our many trips to Vallecito creek over the past 20 plus years we have seen hundreds of people pulled over on CO 501 just north of the lake filling jugs with water coming from a questionable piece of PVC pipe. My wife always said gross and made comments about Giardia and other water born parasites. Well last week a local told us it was filtered thru a thousand feet of mother earth and safe to drink. I am currently drinking my morning coffee made with it and plan to take 20 gallons home with me. Simple to find and you can drive to about 10 feet from it.
Hi Ron,
Thanks for corroborating the existence of this site.
Did you take home the 20 gallons? How were they? Did you or your wife test them? What were the results?
Thanks!
Dear Find-a-spring,
I wanted to share my experiences when we sought out to locate the spring in Vallecito, CO. While visiting Durago last week I was excited to discover that there was a spring located about 30 minutes from where we were staying. Full of curiosity and anticipation I enlisted the help of my husband, Cam who is 43 (I am 40 for the record) and my daughter, Sue, 23 and her boyfriend of 5 years, Russ also 23.
We set off towards Vallecito discussing the hope of clear, crisp spring water. At times we sounded like children on the eve of Santa’s arrival. The drive from Durgano to Vallecito is beautiful so our conversations included the beautiful brush strokes of God’s handiwork in the landscape, campgrounds we passed with holiday vacationers, the tolerance to reside in such a semi-remote area and of course the use of marijuana. As we approached the Vallecito area via county roads Russ became our navigator offering detailed instruction and direction via his smart phone. Giddy like school children, we eagerly advanced towards the lake and the general area of the spring, stopping over at the first small “pull off” we hopped out of the car and scanned the country side for the “small, continuous flow” of delicious spring water. Feeling a small twinge of disappointment at our inability to locate the spring we optimistically reevaluated our map and the location of the Google pin.
Like early explorers of the western states, we used the satellite navigation to survey the landscape and set out to narrow the location. The hunt for the water treasure increased as we drove from each foreshore analyzing and searching for the water source. This search continued into the late hours of the evening. As day settled into dusk we became weary, tired and thirsty. Sue, in her desperation climbed up a steep bank only to become stuck and tumble down a short time later, ruining her explorer pants. Russ began to feel as though he had lost his way – both literally and existentially – mumbling that the search for the spring had left him feeling uncertain about his choices in life and he was now questioning his future. Cam, ever the strong leader, continued to press onward offering to drive “a bit further” and suggesting that perhaps the Google pin was placed incorrectly. And I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and responsibility for loss in this journey. I then advised the team that we should turn back before darkness set over the land. Sad, tired, hungry and of course thirsty we set back towards home moving slowly towards the motor wagon hunched over in the preverbal Charlie Brown gait.
I’m writing to tell you this in hopes that if the spring is still there (which it may not be due to the recent fires in that area) that the original finder of the spring references a mile marker to identify the location. While our exploration was at best a reflection of our existence in this universe, at it’s worst it was the promise of something new and exhilarating that was held just outside of our reach then vanishing like innuendo.
Thank you for the adventure, I hope someone else can find the spring someday.
Thanks for the entertaining read. As someone who might had gone on a similar search, I appreciated your experience and insight.
Did you ever return to find the spring? Another commenter says it exists, so I’m curious if you missed it because it comes out of a PVC pipe (that’s what the other commenter here says.)