11 Most Beautiful Hot Springs in the United States
Do you feel compelled to melt all of your worries away? You might want to think about going on a trip to soak in a relaxing hot spring. While there are many hot springs throughout the world, there are also several in the United States. There are lots of possibilities for you to pick from, from the wilds of Alaska to the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
Travertine Hot Springs – Bridgeport, California
Travertine Hot Springs is a collection of perfectly warmed, 103-degree spring-fed pools separated by rocks near the east entrance of Yosemite National Park, about south of Bridgeport. It’s very fantastic to be able to relax while taking in the breathtaking views of the Sierra Mountain Range. Because this is a secluded environment, there are no changing rooms, snack bars, or other facilities of any type, so pack your own food and drink. Despite the fact that the springs are labeled as “clothing optional,” most bathers show up in their swimsuits.
Chena Hot Springs – Fairbanks, Alaska
The natural hot springs lake and other facilities at Chena Hot Springs Resort are open to guests staying overnight as well as those who want to enjoy them for the day. If you stay during the season, you’ll be in prime position to see one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular displays, the northern lights. Many activities are offered year-round, including ice skating in the winter and visiting the Aurora Ice Museum in any season. Soaking in the hot springs lake, surrounded by the region’s wild beauty, is sure to be a great experience no matter where you stay.
Glenwood Hot Springs – Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Glenwood Hot Springs is one of the most well-known hot springs in Colorado, especially among visitors from other states. It is also home to one of the world’s hottest springs. It originates from the Yampah spring, which produces over three million gallons of water every day at 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The water has cooled to a perfect 104 degrees Fahrenheit by the time it reaches the pools. The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is the world’s largest, so you won’t have to worry about running out of room to swim or relax without brushing elbows. It includes a diving board as well as a lap lane. The Avalanche Falls Slide, which riders zip down on inner tubes, and the Shoshone Chute, a typical body slide, are both available during the warmer months of the year. There are shaded spots for relaxing out of the sun, as well as an indoor and outdoor café.
Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Strawberry Park is one of Colorado’s most popular hot springs attractions, with many natural geothermal pools of varied temperatures separated by rocks and sandbed floors that are relaxing to the feet when strolling across them. The pool gets hotter as you go closer to the spring. The pools can be visited during the day or with an overnight stay in riverbank campgrounds, rustic cabins, or unique options like a train caboose and covered wagon. During the day, it’s available to all ages, but after sunset, it’s for adults only, and clothing is optional.
Lolo Hot Springs – Missoula, Montana
Lolo Hot Springs Resort is located in the center of the Lolo National Forest, less than 40 miles from Missoula, and offers the opportunity to soak among spectacular Montana scenery. Its natural hot springs pools have temperatures ranging from 102 to 106 degrees, and you may stay the night here in cabins, an RV park with hookups, or tent sites. Take advantage of the opportunity to go hiking, fishing, horseback riding, or even crystal hunting, then return to relax for the remainder of the day. There’s also a restaurant and a casino on the premises.
Hot Springs State Park – Thermopolis, Wyoming
Wyoming’s hot spring town is Thermopolis. Visitors have been enjoying the natural springs here in Hot Springs State Park, where the water is a constant 104 degrees, for free, according to a pact signed with Native American tribes. Hellie’s TePee Pools and Star Plunge, both of which charge a fee, offer indoor and outdoor pools with waterslides, steam rooms, hot tubs, and gift shops. There’s also lots to do nearby, such as outdoor excursions in the Wind River and Bighorn canyons, as well as an interpretative walk where bison can be seen on occasion.
Grover Hot Springs State Park – Markleeville, California
Grover Hot Springs Park, located south of Lake Tahoe on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is the ideal place to unwind in a soothing pool after a scenic trek on one of the trails, fall leaf-peeping, or winter snowshoeing. The park and springs are available all year and feature a hot pool with water temperatures ranging from 102 to 104 degrees, as well as a warm pool that is somewhat cooler and excellent for swimming. There are showers and locker rooms, as well as a picnic area and a campground.
Spencer Hot Springs – Austin, Nevada
If being in the middle of nowhere, with magnificent black night skies for stargazing and natural hot springs for soaking appeals to you, this hidden gem in the Big Smoky Valley is worth considering. Located about 20 miles southeast of Austin in Central Nevada, the pools are cleverly disguised, blending with the scenery. Unless you’re right here, you’d believe it was just another sagebrush-covered landscape. Despite the fact that an increasing number of people are finding this geothermal hotspot, its distant position ensures that it will never be crowded. The pools are on public ground, and some of the more frequent visitors have made major changes over the years, including building innovative bathing holes out of cow troughs with props to allow the water to filter within.
Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
With so many beautiful mountains to hike in Idaho, Lava Hot Springs is a wonderful location to unwind and massage sore aches afterward. Multiple outdoor hot pools, an indoor pool complex, heated walkways, and a climbing wall are all available. Allow yourself to be enveloped in a cocoon of steam, forgetting about your troubles and allowing the healing waters to do their work. More than 2.5 million gallons of hot mineral water pass through the five pools every day before entering the Portneuf River, helping to maintain them clean and pure.
Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado
Hot Sulphur Springs, the town’s name and main attraction, is a short drive west of Rocky Mountain National Park and adjacent to ski resorts, making it ideal after a day on the trails or the slopes. The springs were previously used by the Utes, but visitors can now relax in pools ranging in temperature from 95 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. On-site, there’s also a spa with a variety of treatments and massages. The town has a variety of lodging alternatives, including motel-style rooms with pool access included in the price.
Breitenbush Hot Springs – Detroit, Oregon
Breitenbush is a holistic hot spring resort nestled in the Willamette National Forest that offers not only natural geothermal springs but also hiking trails, massage, yoga, and live concerts. You may turn it into a wellness retreat by eating delicious vegetarian food and going on guided, meditative hikes through old forest cathedrals, passing river cascades, and admiring stunning mountain views. Clothing is optional in the soaking sections, and there is no Wi-Fi or phone service, so you’ll be getting a digital detox to help you relax even more.