Tips For Your Stay
Here are some recommendations for packing and what to wear. We have also provided video tours of different features and of the house and how to best use them.
Packing Recommendations
Layers, Layers, Layers!
Where the high desert meets the mountains, the weather can change by the hour. Here are a few creature-comfort tips to help you stay comfortable year-round.
Clothes
* Always keep a light rain jacket handy. You can often watch rain clouds roll in from the San Juan Mountains to the west — and disappear again within an hour.
* Even in the summer, long sleeves and pants can be useful during the day for protection from the sun and mosquitoes (which usually arrive in June).
* Summer mornings and evenings can be chilly. Be prepared to add or remove 1–3 layers depending on the time of day.
* In the spring and fall, you’ll likely start with a flannel shirt over a T-shirt, then add or subtract a sweater or sweatshirt as temperatures shift. Depending on conditions, you may also want a light jacket — or even a heavy coat. (It snowed here on May 6, 2026.)
* In winter — and often in late fall and early spring — thermal underwear is common. From November through March, night time temperatures regularly drop below 20°F, and daytime highs may struggle to reach 40°F. The good news is the Valley is usually sunny, so with proper layers, it often feels warmer than the thermometer suggests.
Shoes
* Sturdy walking or running shoes work well most of the year unless you’re hiking in the woods or snow.
* Small cacti (1–2 inches tall) grow throughout the sandy soil in the area. Their thorns probably won’t penetrate the soles of your shoes, but they can poke through the sides of canvas or fabric shoes. In wooded areas, rocky and uneven ground can make ankle twists possible. Merrells or hiking boots help prevent both problems, though they’re not strictly necessary.
* Avoid flip-flops or open sandals anywhere except roads, sidewalks, or indoors — including trips to the Sand Dunes, where the sand can become extremely hot.
* Indoors, consider house slippers or socks to leave snow or sand outside.
Hot Springs, Altitude, and Water
* Always pack a bathing suit. There are five very different hot springs within an hour’s drive.
* If you go river rafting near Salida, rent a wetsuit locally or bring your own. Mountain water stays very cold.
* Drink lots of water. Always bring a water-bottle on day trips. The altitude here is around 7,900 feet, and staying hydrated helps combat shortness of breath. Heavy alcohol consumption can make altitude effects worse.
* The air is very dry, so saline nasal spray can help relieve dry noses and sinuses.
Video Tours and Tips
The Treehouse Retreat house has many features that you may be unfamiliar with. Below are video tours of different spaces and how to use them.