Brrrrrr, it’s cold out there!

Carson Mineral Hot Springs Resort

1st Martin Road

Carson, Wash.

Call 509-427-8292 for more information

Northwest winters can be unkind to the nature-lover in all of us. Only the most dedicated camper can hack the winter weather in our neck of the woods.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like Alaska or The Dakota’s, but it does get a bit nippy around these parts.

���Fortunately for those of us who don’t need to suffer to recreate, there is a haven. The Carson Mineral Hot Springs Resort, located near the Columbia River Gorge, is a warm, inviting place to enjoy the outdoors during the harsh cold of winter.

The hotel, located near the site of the springs, was constructed in 1901, with the cabins and bathhouse arriving in 1923.

In keeping with the history of the area, the nine-room hotel and 12 cabins still have some original furnishings. But don’t go getting soft: The cabins are on the rustic side and have no TV or phones. It still feels like roughing it, just without the pesky nuisance of freezing to death.

The springs themselves are equipped with men’s and women’s bathhouses with individual bathtubs and attendants. All the hot goodness you need with the privacy you want.

To get to the springs, travel east on Highway 14 to Carson, Wash. Once there, you will be directed to the springs by the signs provided by the fine people at the Washington State Department of Transportation.