Feel the need to melt all that stress away? You might want to consider planning a trip where you can soak in a soothing hot spring. While there are many hot springs found around the world, there are quite a few throughout the U.S. too. From the wilds of Alaska to the Rocky Mountains and beyond, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from.
Chena Hot Springs - Fairbanks, Alaska
Located at Chena Hot Springs Resort, the natural hot springs lake and other facilities are available for both guests staying overnight and those who want to enjoy them for the day. If you decide to stay during the season, this is a great spot for catching one of Mother Nature’s most popular shows, the northern lights. There are many activities that can be enjoyed here year-round, including visiting the Aurora Ice Museum in any season with sleigh rides, and ice skating available in the winter. No matter where you stay, soaking in the hot springs lake surrounded by the region’s wild beauty is sure to be memorable.
Travertine Hot Springs - Bridgeport, California
Located near the east entrance of Yosemite National Park just south of Bridgeport, Travertine Hot Springs is made up of perfectly warmed, 103-degree spring-fed pools that are segregated by rocks. Relaxing while enjoying the spectacular views of the Sierra Mountain Range is absolutely magical. There are no changing rooms, snack bars, or facilities of any kind here as this is remote wilderness, so bring your own food and drink. While the springs are designated “clothing optional,” most bathers soak in their swimsuits.
Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs - Steamboat Springs, Colorado
One of the most popular hot spring destinations in Colorado, Strawberry Park is home to multiple natural geothermal pools in varying temperatures with rocks that separate each one while sandbed floors are soothing to the feet while walking across them. The closer you are to the spring, the hotter the pool. It’s a great place to stay, too as the pools can be visited by day or with an overnight stay in riverside campsites, rustic cabins, and unique options like a train caboose and covered wagon. It’s open for all ages during the day, but it’s adults-only after sunset when clothing is optional.
Glenwood Hot Springs - Glenwood Springs, Colorado
One of the most famous hot springs in Colorado among those who live outside of the state, Glenwood Hot Springs is home to one of the world’s hottest springs. It flows from the Yampah spring that produces more than three million gallons of water every day at temperatures of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. By the time reaches the pools, the water has cooled to a perfect 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is the largest on Earth so you won’t have to worry about not having enough room to swim or just relax without bumping elbows with others. It comes complete with a diving board and a lap lane. During the warmer months of the year, there are two waterslides available, including the Avalanche Falls Slide which riders whiz down on inner tubes, and the Shoshone Chute, a traditional body slide. There are shaded areas for unwinding out of the sun and a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating too.
Hot Springs State Park - Thermopolis, Wyoming
Thermopolis is Wyoming’s hot spring town. Due to a treaty that was signed with Native American tribes, visitors have been enjoying the natural springs here in Hot Springs State Park where the water is a constant 104 degrees for free. There are other fee-based options too, including Hellie’s TePee Pools and Star Plunge which have indoor and outdoor pools with waterslides, steam rooms, hot tubs, and gift shops. There’s plenty to enjoy nearby too, including outdoor adventures in Wind River and Bighorn canyons, while the park has an interpretive trail where bison can occasionally be spotted.
Lolo Hot Springs - Missoula, Montana
Set in the heart of the Lolo National Forest, Lolo Hot Springs Resort is less than 40 miles from the town of Missoula offering the chance to soak among breathtaking Montana scenery. Its natural hot springs pools range in temperature from 102 to 106 degrees and you can spend the night here too with accommodations including cabins, an RV park with hookups, and tent sites. Take advantage of the opportunity to hike, fish, go horseback riding or even hunt for crystals and then come back and relax the rest of the day. A restaurant and casino are on-site too.
Spencer Hot Springs - Austin, Nevada
If being in the middle of nowhere, enjoying incredible dark night skies for stargazing along with natural hot springs for soaking sounds appealing, you’ll want to consider this hidden gem in the Big Smoky Valley. Located about 20 miles southeast of Austin in Central Nevada, unless you’re right here you’d think it was just another sagebrush-covered landscape as the pools are well hidden, blending into the terrain. While an increasing number of people are discovering this geothermal hotspot, its remote location means you’re unlikely to ever find it crowded. The pools are on public land and some of the more frequent visitors have made significant improvements over the years, creating unique bathing holes using cattle troughs, with props built for the water to filter inside the tub.
Grover Hot Springs State Park - Markleeville, California
Nestled in a picturesque alpine valley south of Lake Tahoe at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Grover Hot Springs Park is the perfect place to relax in a soothing pool after a scenic hike on one of the trails, fall leaf-peeping, or winter snowshoeing. The park and springs are open year-round and include a hot pool with water temperatures between 102 and 104 degrees and a warm pool that’s cooler and ideal for swimming. Showers and changing rooms are available, along with a picnic area and campground.
Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
With so many gorgeous mountains to hike in Idaho, Lava Hot Springs is a great place to go afterward if you want to unwind and soothe those muscles. It hosts multiple outdoor hot pools, an indoor pool complex, heated walkways, and a climbing wall. Immerse yourself in a cocoon of steam while forgetting about your worries, letting the healing waters do their thing. The five pools range in temperature from 102 to 104 degrees, with more than 2.5 million gallons of hot mineral water flowing through every day before entering the Portneuf River, helping to keep them clean and pristine.
Breitenbush Hot Springs - Detroit, Oregon
Tucked into the Willamette National Forest, Breitenbush is a holistic hot spring resort available for both day use and overnight accommodation that not only includes natural geothermal springs but hiking trails, massage, yoga, and performances to enjoy. You can make it a wellness retreat, nourishing your body with tasty vegetarian fare and even taking guided, meditative hikes on the paths that lead to ancient forest cathedrals, passing river cascades, and spectacular mountain views. Either way, clothing is optional in the soaking areas and you’ll be enjoying a digital detox to further reduce stress as there’s no Wi-Fi or cell service.
Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado
The name of the town and its main attraction, Hot Sulphur Springs is located a relatively short drive west of Rocky Mountain National Park close to ski resorts making it ideal after hitting the trails or the slopes. The springs were once used by the Utes, but today, visitors can soak in pools of varying temperatures ranging from 95 degrees to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s also a spa on-site offering a menu of treatments and massage. The town offers several accommodation options but you’ll also find motel-style rooms here in which access to the pools is included in the rates.
Black Rock Hot Springs - Black Rock Desert, Nevada
All about soaking in isolation and solitude, Black Rock Hot Springs is located in one of the most remote, desolate places in the country under the shadow of Black Rock Point. The nearest town with hotels, Fernley, is almost 80 miles away. It sits along the Applegate Trail and was the first watering hole for emigrants crossing the vast playa of the Black Rock Desert. The spring is made up of two connected pools, with the main source of heat coming from the smaller pools to the east which are scalding hot. There’s a wooden plank leading to the pool to locate the most common entry point but you don’t want to get too close to the other end as you’ll risk burning. Camping is available at several sites close to the springs.
