The practice of retreat begins as soon as you have the intention to come on retreat and begin to make plans. As we make space for the deeper parts of our life to come forward and be held in lovingkindness, compassion, and mindfulness, obstacles can arise, both logistical and emotional. Planning carefully and without rushing will be very helpful in starting your retreat in a grounded and supportive way. If you are planning on attending a retreat on the land at Spirit Rock, please read this page carefully, as well as the emails you receive from Registration, which will have necessary retreat-specific information.
Please arrive between 2:30-4:30pm to check in and get settled. Check in at the Dining Hall, where you will also receive work meditation assignments. Please arrive no later than 4:30pm If you arrive earlier than 2:30pm, you may walk around the land to orient yourself. Dinner is served on opening day. Explore our beautiful campus.
Please arrive no later than 4:30pm.
Late arrivals are not allowed without prior approval from the teachers. If you are unexpectedly delayed past 4:30pm please call the retreat office at 415.488.0164 ext. 262 and leave a message letting us know to hold your space. If possible, also email [email protected] before 4:30pm. After 4:30pm if retreat staff have not heard from you they will assume you are a 'no show' and release your spot in the retreat.
Our security gate is closed each night between 10:00pm and 6:00am If a late arrival has been approved and you anticipate arriving after 10:00pm, contact the registrars or retreat staff prior to arrival to receive the 4-digit gate code.
The retreat ends by 11:00am on closing day. Breakfast is served on the closing day, but not lunch.
Early departures from the retreat are not allowed without approval from the teachers. If your plans have changed since you registered, please contact the registrars immediately.
Current (effective October 1, 2024) - For Residential Retreats
Our decision to let go of testing is in alignment with other retreat centers and in consideration of CDC guidance which states that testing is appropriate when individuals show symptoms of COVID. Our symptoms-based approach aligns care and protection strategies for COVID with those of the flu, RSV and other illness. The hope is to move towards a culture of self-monitoring. COVID tests will still be available if an individual has symptoms and anyone testing positive must exit the retreat. We will continue to monitor conditions as they change, and will adapt our policies as necessary. We are keeping our "Additional Safety Protocols" in place - READ farther below.
Current (effective since April 2, 2024) - For Non-residential Programs (in our Community Meditation Center)
As part of registration, you will complete an online practitioner questionnaire. In this required form you’ll submit a photo of yourself and answer questions about your meditation practice and psychological health. This form is confidential and will be disposed of after the retreat.
If you are not paid in full, please be sure that your full balance is paid before the start of the retreat by contacting the registration department. If we have a credit card on file for you, we are happy to charge the remaining balance for you. Payment plans are not available following a retreat.
To receive an open credit or donate your fees, please email us by the deadline above so we have a record of your cancellation. Open credits must be used within one year of their date of issue.
To use a personal credit, email [email protected] at least two business days prior to the event.
* Fees may be reduced for serious illness, including COVID, or family emergency. Contact the Registration Department if needed.
Monthlong retreats and Dharma Training programs have specific and different cancellation policies. Refer back to your confirmation email for details.
Travel Information: Find everything you need to plan your arrival and departure, including retreat times, transportation options, and driving directions to Spirit Rock.
Ridesharing Board: Connect with fellow practitioners to offer a ride, find a ride, or share an airport shuttle. This is a self-managed resource, and participants are responsible for coordination. Thank you for supporting our community with your generosity!
If you need to be reached in an emergency during the retreat, the retreat staff office number is 415.488.0164 ext. 262.
Staff are available at this number from 8:00am - 5:00pm PT daily. Calls made after 5:00pm will be routed through an afterhours reception desk. Please leave a message and know that it will take some time to get a message to you. Please let people know this number should be used only in case of emergencies.
Outdoor walking shoes (and hiking shoes if you intend to hike)
Slip-on shoes and indoor slippers if you need them. No outdoor shoes are allowed in the retreat hall or residence halls
Hat and scent-free sunscreen in the spring and summer, rain gear in the late fall and winter for outdoor walking
Flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries (our campus is quite dark at night!)
Wristwatch, if you intend to hike (we have only a few loaner wristwatches)
Earplugs, if you’re a light sleeper (we have some for purchase)
Shawl or lap blanket (for use during meditation practice)
Checkbook, cash, or credit card, for dāna contributions
Water bottle. Filtered water is available onsite in several places. We have water bottles available for purchase.
Optional: Sleeping bag or your own personal linens. Linens (towels and bed sheets), blankets, and a pillow are provided. You do not need to reserve these ahead of time. Linens are available in self-serve linen closets in each dorm on the 2nd Floor.
Optional: Sitting cushion(s) or bench. If you have special sitting supports or you require a large number of pillows, consider bringing your own supply so there are enough cushions for everyone. The meditation hall has zafus (round sitting cushions), zabutons (floor mats), and chairs available.
Optional: Personal scent-free soaps, if you prefer. We provide fragrance-free shampoo, conditioner, and body soap in each shower of the dorms.
For yoga retreats only: If you have specific blocks, straps, or other yoga equipment that you need, you may want to bring them along. We have a good supply, but not enough for everyone on a dedicated yoga retreat.
Silence all notifications on smartphones and watches if you bring them. We typically have a renunciation ceremony on the morning of the first full day of the retreat, where you can choose to relinquish your smartphones and watches for the duration of the retreat.
Printed books, ebook readers, magazines
Intoxicants: alcohol, chemical, and psychoactive/hallucinogenic plant-based drugs such as ayahuasca, psilocybin, and others. (But DO bring prescription medications and continue taking your prescribed medications through the retreat.)
Scented personal hygiene products. (See Please Be Fragrance Free for more details.)
Candles or incense
Given the complexity and challenges that face our global sangha, please refrain from wearing attire that expresses a sociopolitical slogan or message.
Clunky jewelry, which can be noisy in the retreat hall
If you leave anything behind, please email us at: [email protected]. We will keep items for 30 days before giving them to charity. Spirit Rock can ship items if needed. You will be responsible for all costs related to shipping your lost items.
To ensure that our retreat environment remains one of safety and refuge for those who come here, all retreat center dormitory rooms have locks. You may request a key at retreat check-in and keep it for the duration of your retreat. In addition, we have installed a gate at the main entrance near Sir Francis Drake Boulevard that will prevent automobile access to the land at night. The gate automatically opens from the inside, and emergency vehicles have full access at all times. The gate is closed from 10:00 pm until 6:00 am.
If commuters are allowed on this retreat, and you are a commuter, you will be given the gate code so you can exit and enter as you need to daily. Lastly, please lock your car and leave valuables out of sight or bring them with you into the retreat center.
Spirit Rock is located in the coastal hills of northern California. The wooded campus includes separate buildings for dining, meeting, and sleeping. Spirit Rock has two-story residential buildings with single and double rooms. Go to Spirit Rock Accommodations to read more details about our residence rooms and dining hall.
There is a 6% slope from the dining room to the residence halls. Practitioners will need to navigate this steep incline several times throughout the day including for meals. This incline may be a challenge for some. In addition, all second floor residence dorms as well as our upper and lower walking halls in the upper meditation center require the use of stairs. If you have physical access needs that prevent you from climbing stairs, please contact us in advance, so we can assist you with your participation in the retreat. We do have four (4) scooters and one electric wheelchair with a joystick control for those in need.
Our center has some limitations, so if you are a person with a disability, we would greatly appreciate a conversation with you in advance of your arrival. This way, we can better understand what is needed to support you. We would like you to be able to participate in this retreat as fully as possible. If you need support and you haven’t yet let us know, please contact us at: [email protected], and either the Registrars or the Retreat Operations Manager will be in contact with you.
Most retreats allow a limited number of commuters—retreatants who stay off-site. Commuters are expected to attend the entire retreat and follow the daily schedule. While you will not have a room on campus, we will have a resting area with futons for folks to use. Commuters will be given the gate code so you can exit and enter as you need to daily. The gate is closed from 10:00 pm until 6:00 am. Lock your car and leave valuables out of sight or bring them with you into the retreat center.
The cultivation of generosity is at the heart of the Buddha’s path. Dāna is the Pāli word for giving, and refers to the spiritual practice of generosity and letting go. Your giving supports our teachers and staff to continue offering the Dharma in an accessible and open-handed way. To read more about the practice of dāna, go to Dāna: The Practice of Giving.
Dāna for Retreat Teachers: When teachers offer retreats on-land at Spirit Rock (or 4+ day online retreats), they receive dāna as an expression of gratitude. This dāna comes from the community of practitioners who participated in the retreat.
At the end of your retreat you’ll be asked to offer dāna both to the teachers and to Spirit Rock. Typically, teachers receive no compensation for teaching at Spirit Rock beyond what practitioners give. Your gifts support teachers to continue their practice and teaching, maintaining the ancient system of interdependence between teachers and community.
Dāna for Spirit Rock: Spirit Rock depends on the generosity of our community to continue offering the teachings in an accessible way. Retreat registration fees gather only part of our budget, and donations are needed to supply the rest, including scholarships, staff, and all other expenses. Giving to Spirit Rock benefits every aspect of offering the Dharma on-land and online to an ever broader community of practitioners worldwide.
At the end of your retreat you’ll be asked to give dāna both to the teachers and to Spirit Rock, and you can give anytime at our giving page. For those who are inspired to support Spirit Rock’s sustainability into the future, consider joining the Stewardship Saṅgha, Sure Heart Saṅgha, or Legacy Saṅgha.
Dāna is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Please retain your payment information as evidence of your gift. Deep appreciation for your generosity!
We offer CECs for many retreats. In order to qualify for CECs, you must:
Pre-register and pay for CECs prior to the retreat. We cannot offer retroactive payment for CECs.
Attend and sign-in to all required sessions within 5 minutes of the start of the session
Submit your evaluation at the end of the retreat
Fulfill the attendance requirements, which includes completing the attendance sheet, and certificates will be available to you at the end of the retreat
If you have questions about CECs, please contact the registration department at: [email protected]. CECs are not refundable once the retreat begins.
