Rush Creek Lodge in Yosemite, California provides a relaxed yet sophisticated experience surrounded by a 20-acre wooded hillside setting. The lodge features a mix of 143 lodge rooms, suites, and hillside villas—all with private decks (most with sunset views). For some outdoor relaxation, guests can enjoy the heated salt water pool and hot tubs. At Rush Creek’s restaurant and tavern, visitors can snack on a cheese plate, crispy fried cauliflower, tuna poke, or enjoy a variety of delicious selections. The hotel also provides guided tours and free planning advice for exploring around Yosemite, in addition to daily on-site activities and adventure gear rentals.

When it comes to wellness, there are plenty of options including massages, yoga, and more through the destination’s wellness program. Rush Creek Spa at Rush Creek Lodge is inspired by the wonders of the world-renowned national park with features such as warm waterfall coves, cool mist showers, aromatherapy steam room, Himalayan salt sauna, granite waterfall hot tub, and a sensory room. We caught up with Gigi Richardson, Spa and Wellness Manager at Rush Creek Spa, to learn more about the destination’s spa and wellness offerings.

Why You’ll Love It: Guests love the fact that all of our amenities come with a story or an experience that relates back to Yosemite in some way. For example, our warm waterfall coves were inspired by an amazing experience I had after hiking to one of our favorite local Yosemite waterfalls. We recreated the sensation of having a waterfall cascading over you, added warmth for comfort, and now we couldn’t be happier to see how many guests are embracing the chance for playful relaxation.

Outdoor lounge granite waterfall hot tub.

Key Features: It is a 5,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor spa with five treatment rooms. The indoor relaxation area features warm waterfall coves, an aromatherapy steam room infused with lemongrass and eucalyptus, Himalayan salt block dry sauna, cool mist shower room, a sensory room (combines light, warmth, and sound for quiet contemplation), and heated mosaic lounge chairs. The covered, heated outdoor lounge area features a granite waterfall mineral hot tub, warm river rock beds, hanging daybed, and a variety of lounge seating.)

Safety Procedures and Protocols: We are open for individual appointments and services in addition to private group parties. Individual appointments follow recommended health and safety practices such as use of face coverings, frequent hand sanitizing, and a host of other sanitization protocols such as a 30-minute break between services for ionized disinfecting of air and surfaces, and servicing of hampers between treatments.

A full list of enhanced health and safety protocols is available. It’s worth noting, however, that while our individual treatments are amazing, people are really loving the freedom of having our truly innovative amenities all to themselves through our private party options.

Bonus: Unlike most spas, our spa treatments integrate our signature combination of stone, sound, scent, and warmth for a meaningful and moving multi-sensory journey beyond the conventional spa experience.

Spa Snacks: For small groups, we have a dedicated spa menu of freshly prepared items that are as beautiful as they are tasty, ranging from artisanal cheese and charcuterie boards to Tuscan skewers, house-made falafel, colorful and fresh melon skewers, house-made strawberry shortcake, and more. Specialty beverages and signature cocktails (and mocktails) include lodge favorites such as our Mimosa Bar with a selection of fresh fruit purees and seasonal berries or a pitcher of our house-made Jalapeño margaritas or Bloody Marys.

For couples and individual spa guests, we offer a selection of favorites from our Restaurant and Tavern menus throughout the day. From freshly prepared lox toast or a grain bowl in the morning, artisanal cheese/ charcuterie boards or Ahi tuna poke for lunch, or a selection of flatbreads from our brick oven in the evening. So far, everyone is finding something they love. You can see the full Spa F&B menu here.

Unique Treatment: Our Signature Massage is both our most unique and my most favorite treatment because it’s such a broad spectrum of elements that harness sound, stone, scent, and warmth in a complimentary and meaningful way. It's the entire spa experience wrapped up into a single, personalized treatment. Harmonic sound bowls supply soothing tones, each guest chooses their own Ayurvedic oil to suit their mood, energy balancing stones help with focus and reflection, active hot stone massage techniques provide deep core relief, and you get to take your energy stones and some of your Ayurvedic oil with you for continued focus and relaxation at home. Our guests can’t say enough about what a treasure this is for them.

Splurge Treatment: The private use options have guests walking on air—I’ve never seen anything like it. To have this intimate setting all to yourself with just your loved ones is nothing short of magical. All the indoor and outdoor amenities are set up in a circular fashion, so everyone can enjoy the space together while at the same time use the amenities they like most. Some guests leap at the chance for playful relaxation, like our warm waterfall coves or the granite waterfall hot tub, while others prefer quiet contemplation in our sensory room or Himalayan salt dry sauna. Either way, it’s very freeing for guests to have the space all to themselves. We’ve hosted everything from a 35th anniversary and honeymoon couples to birthday parties. For one party, we conducted a skincare workshop for teens, and even the boys loved it!

Wellness Offerings: Our personalized aromatherapy blending bar is an instant hit that will be fun for everyone year-round. Seasonally, yoga on the Sunset Deck and boga in/on our heated saltwater pool are guest favorites. (Boga is yoga performed on a boga board that is a cross between a paddleboard and a yoga mat, and it’s tons of fun!)

Featured Brands: Biotone massage lotions, Shankara Ayurvedic massage oils, Kali CBD, and EMU massage oil. The Rush Creek Lodge skincare line is 100% natural, private label supplied by Moor Spa. We like it because it’s clean, simple, organic, fine but not fussy, just like us. Body Bliss essential oils for the Aromatherapy bar, Eurospa Shower Sprays, and more.

For more information and to book a treatment, visit the website and follow them on Instagram: @rushcreekspa

[Images courtesy of Kim Carroll/Rush Creek Lodge]

Spa Profile: Rush Creek Lodge in Yosemite, California