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24 Best Hot Springs in The US You Must Explore

Do you want to know what are the best hot springs in the US? The United States has some of the most diverse spots on the planet for a natural soak outside, ranging from comfortable and best hot springs in US resorts on effervescing outdoor pools of hot water surging up from underground to remote hot springs in the US that require you to snowmobile or dogsled in for the reward.

Natural indoor and outdoor hot springs have long been popular stops for road trippers in the United States.

We made the list of the 24 best hot springs in the US. Some of these require a hike, and some have become resorts since being discovered, but all of the water comes naturally from the earth.

24 Best Hot Springs in The US

1. Hot Springs State Park

Hot Springs State Park
By mkopka from DepositPhotos

There is a free bathhouse in the beautiful surroundings of Hot Springs State Park. However, the healing waters of the local mineral springs, which have brought tourists from all over the world, are the park’s principal attraction.

Over 8,000 liters of water flow down the naturally formed Rainbow Terraces every 24 hours.

Mineral hot springs are cooled to 104°F for therapeutic bathing after emerging from the earth at 128°F. In addition to taking advantage of the bathhouse’s hot springs and viewing the too-hot springs running alongside the Big Horn River, the trip is essential to see the big-horned wildlife park. The bison herd may also be seen here with ease.

2. Valley View Hot Springs

VALLEY VIEW HOT SPRINGS The Facilities and campground

The all-natural, body-temperature bathing pools at Valley View Hot Springs, a clothing-optional getaway, are open to you along nature trails.

You may choose from eight different outdoor pools, so you’re sure to locate the best place to soak in the landscape.

3. Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Colorado

Glenwood Hot Springs is a luxury hot springs resort with massive pools, water slides, a mini golf course, and a luxury spa overlooking the mountains. It is located between Aspen and Vail in its namesake city.

The waters contain 15 different minerals, all of which combine to provide numerous wellness benefits in addition to relieving aches and pains, skin health promotion, and blood circulation enhancement.

Relax in the world’s largest hot springs pool at Glenwood Springs Resort. There is no need to reserve a spot ahead of time; entry is on a first-come-first-served basis, though lodge guests are guaranteed entry.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS HOT SPRINGS: Weekend Getaway | Pool | Resort Tour | Spa Day | Colorado Hot Springs

4. San Antonio Hot Springs, New Mexico

San Antonio Hot Springs can be reached via a scenic 5-mile hike through the Santa Fe National Forest.

You can relax in the crystal clear water while admiring the surrounding valley, trail creek hot springs, and forest.

5. Mammoth Hot Springs

On the Wyoming side of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs is close to the community of Mammoth. In Yellowstone National Park, close to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District, is a sizable hot springs complex.

Mammoth Hot Springs is a must-see hot spring for travelers passing through Montana and Wyoming on their way to Yellowstone National Park, despite the fact that you can’t swim or soak there.

Best Hot Springs in US
Photo By Steppinstars on pixabay Copyright 2022

The hot water used at Mammoth is transported underground along a fault line from Norris Geyser Basin. It’s only a short drive to the Boiling River in Gardiner, Montana, if you wish to soak for even more relaxation.

6. Travertine Hot Springs, California

The springs are situated in a Californian state park and one of Northern California’s most easily accessed retreats is this one.

A number of geothermal fissures in the earth produce hot mineral water that bubbles up at 180°F (82°C), which is cooled to 115°–156°F as it passes through the travertine terraces.

It is accessible to everyone and attire is not required.

7. Olympic Hot Springs, Washington

Olympic Hot Springs is in Olympic National Park in Washington, USA. The Appleton Pass Trail, a 2.5-mile (4.0-kilometer) relatively easy hike, leads to the spring.

The springs have 21 seeps near Boulder Creek, an Elwha River tributary. This hot springs complex has twenty-two natural pools that are the remains of a torn-down resort.

OLYMPIC HOT SPRINGS (an olympic national park gem)

8. Diamond Fork Hot Springs, Utah

Diamond Fork Hot Springs has a waterfall and several soaking hot spring pools with stunning turquoise water that look like they’re straight out of a fairy tale.

These natural hot springs, about an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City, maybe a little more difficult to reach, as it’s about 2.5 miles from the trailhead with a 700-foot elevation gain.

The lower fall drops directly next to the main soaking pool. If you continue hiking up the trail, you will come across the second and most photogenic fall.

9. Boquillas Hot Springs, Texas

The Boquillas, also known as Langford Hot Springs or Big Bend Hot Springs, are a must-see during the trip to Big Bend National Park, West Texas.

After entering the hot springs National Park, it’s about a 2-hour drive to a very narrow dirt road that leads to the trailhead. The springs are only a half-mile walk from the parking lot.

It is one of the well-known geothermal pools along the Rio Grand River. The water here stays at 105 degrees Fahrenheit, making it an ideal place to soak after a day of hiking in the park.

BOQUILLAS CANYON Trail Hike & Langford HOT SPRINGS | Big Bend National Park, Texas

10. Bagby Hot Springs, Oregon

These natural, beautiful, and amazing hot springs are located 40 miles southeast of Estacada, among towering firs adjacent to a secluded tributary of the Clackamas River.

A 1.4-mile trail leads to the springs, which provide a unique, rustic experience. The primitive facilities are distinguished by hand-hewn tubs and cedar plumbing.

A three-mile hike through the lush Mount Hood National Forest will take you to these incredible springs.

In a community setting, the lower bathhouse has three log tubs and one 6 ft. round tub. The upper bathhouse has a 6-foot-round tub on an open deck.

BAGBY HOT SPRINGS - OREGON [Sony a6300 + Zhiyun Crane]

The Bagby Day Use area is normally open as long as hosts and managers have access to the site. The Bagby Campground officially closes after Labor Day, and no services or hazard monitoring are provided until the following spring, usually in early April.

11. Chena Hot Springs, Alaska

Chena Hot Spring is a beautiful thermal spring tucked away in the Alaskan wilderness. It’s a beautiful remote location with thermal springs that are ideal for watching the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

Soak in the warm waters and take in the breathtaking scenery around you, but the highlight is seeing the aurora borealis, or northern lights, dance across the sky as you soak. In the months between September and March, the Northern lights are best seen.

In the summer, many visitors come to hike the scenic trails before relaxing in the bubbling pool. There’s also an ice museum open all year with intricately carved ice sculptures, as well as an ice bar where you can sip cold cocktails.

If you visit in the winter, ice flake forms in your hair if you leave your head above the water for an extended period.

Chena Hot Springs
By srongkrod481 from DepositPhotos

12. Dunton Hot Springs

Dunton, Colorado, commonly known as Dunton Natural Hot Springs, is a neighborhood of log homes. Small and upscale, it offers daytime and overnight activities at its hot springs resort. Horatio Dunton, a miner, founded it.

Relaxation options for visitors include the reconstructed 19th-century Bathhouse, the pool outside the bathhouse, the nice house cabin, the area behind the Dunton store cabin, and the source itself.

13. Umpqua Hot Springs, Oregon

The Umpqua Hot Springs are among the most well-known in the state. Umpqua Hot Springs are geothermal springs located at 2,640 feet elevation along the North Umpqua River in the U.S. state of Oregon.

These springs are located approximately 75 miles from Crater Lake National Park. You can drive to Umpqua Hot Springs in the Umpqua National Forest, but you must arrive early in the day and in a vehicle capable of handling a few rough dirt road miles.

14. Pagosa Springs, Colorado

The Springs Resort & Spa in Pagosa Springs, Colorado | Deepest Geothermal Hot Spring

Pagosa Springs is only a five-hour drive from Denver. Pagosa Springs sits quietly beneath the Continental Divide, at the foot of the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado. It is one of the most tranquil primitive hot springs in the United States.

The San Juan Colorado River, which is teeming with trout, flows through the town. Chimney Rock National Monument in the Southwest contains the ruins of ancient Ancestral Puebloan dwellings.

It is home to the mineral-rich waters of the world’s deepest hot spring and abundant sunshine year-round, so there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore the Rocky Mountains.

Hiking, skiing, and ancient cultural ruins await outdoor enthusiasts. Those looking to unwind can enjoy the namesake hot springs, as well as shopping and dining.

15. Crowley Hot Springs (Wild Willy’s Hot Spring), California

It’s tranquil and serene at Crowley Hot Spring. Primitive hot springs there provide spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the area, which is in Mammoth Lakes.

Take a right at Benton Crossing Road immediately before the airport if you are traveling north on Highway 395 from Bishop. It is the street where the green church is located at the crossroads.

Wild Willy's Hot Spring: Best Natural Hot Spring Near Mammoth Lakes

The beauty of this place is amazing. Since the route is flat and the platform is in good shape, even young children should be able to use it.

You can swim in this pool, which is about 10 feet broad and 3 feet deep, but you must sit down because it is shallow. Warm and comforting water is present.

This area is fantastic for a thrilling hot springs excursion because it is convenient and well-kept. Check it out and then proceed one stop further up the road to the geothermal area if you’re looking for a fun stop along Highway 395.

16. Goldstrike Canyon Hot Springs, Nevada

Gold Strike Canyon Hot Springs is located about an hour from the Las Vegas Strip, just outside of Historic Boulder City. In the tranquility of Goldstrike Canyon, this spring provides an oasis of pools with a bubbling cascade.

If you hike for another half hour from the hot springs, you will reach the Colorado River.

17. Rainbow Hot Springs, Colorado

Best Hot Springs in US
Photo By MikeGoad on pixabay. copyright 2022

Rainbow Hot Spring is a mineral hot spring located north of Pagosa Springs. It is constructed alongside the fast-flowing San Juan River.

The sign is located on the highway’s left (west) side and the southwest side of Wolf Creek Pass. Follow the signs for West Fork Campground and Born Lake to the West Fork Campground Road (CR 648). The West Fork Trailhead parking lot is about 7 miles away.

The hike to Rainbow Hot Springs is 4 to 5 miles long. The trail is usually well-marked at the start of the hike, but it can be difficult to follow near the end. The path includes old forest roads, bridges, streams, and razor-sharp edges.

There are two distinct pools, each built and maintained by previous visitors. You can move the rocks to keep more of the cold river water out and more of the hot mineral water in. The upper pool is closer to the hot spring source and is around 105°F, while the lower hot spring pool range is larger and around 95°F.

18. Goldmyer Hot Springs, Washington

Goldmyer Hot Springs is located in the Upper Middle Fork Valley, 25 miles northeast of North Bend.

It is a lovely gem with consistently flowing 104°F water that flows to a series of tried hot springs pools along the mountainside.

Visitors can enjoy rugged terrain, hiking trails through old-growth forests, a beautiful hot water cascade, and a crystal-clear geothermal hot spring.

Goldmyer Hot Springs, North Bend, Washington

19. Calistoga Hot Springs, Calistoga

The lovely center of Calistoga, in the upper Napa Valley, is where you’ll find Calistoga Hot Spring. There are four geothermal mineral pools in Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, and they are each heated to different temperature to suit different tastes.

While enjoying a bottle of wine from Napa Valley, you can unwind in the therapeutic waters of the mineral pools and volcanic ash mud pits. You can take pleasure in the surrounding trees and fresh air while you relax in the warm, cozy water.

20. Kirkham Hot Springs, Idaho

Kirkham Hot Spring in Idaho is located below a highway campground on the South Fork of the Payette River. Idaho is known for its vast open spaces and pristine natural beauty.

Kirkham Hot Springs is regarded as one of the best undeveloped amazing hot springs in the United States, with pools along the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway.

Water pours over the cliff, where you can sit beneath the waterfall for a warm shower. Even on busy days, you can find a quiet spot to enjoy the beautiful scenery thanks to the 10 separate pools.

A Stunning Hot Spring Too Easy To Get To

21. Conundrum Hot Springs, Colorado

In the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness region of the White River National Forest in the Colorado mountains, there is a geothermal spring called Conundrum Hot Springs.

Two pools and four smaller springs make up Conundrum Hot Spring. It offers guests a distinctive overnight backpacking excursion. The trail is about 8.5 miles long and climbs 2400 feet to get to the pool. It starts at the Conundrum Creek trailhead.

22. Strawberry Park Steamboat Hot Springs, Colorado

Strawberry Park Hot Springs is a beautiful facility that is ideal for relaxing. Strawberry Parks have beautiful Hot Springs, located off the beaten path in Steamboat Springs and nestled in the woods of the Yampa Valley, is the ideal place to unwind after a day of winter skiing or snowboarding or a summer hike.

The water here stays at 100° F, making it ideal for a winter dip from the surrounding snow. The group thermal pools generate steam.

EPIC Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Colorado

After dark, the park is for adults only and clothing is optional. Strawberry Park also has rustic cabins, covered wagons, and train cabooses for those looking for an out-of-the-ordinary camping experience.

23. McCredie Hot Springs, Oregon

McCredie Hot Springs was a historic springs resort in Western Oregon’s Willamette National Forest along Salt Creek. On both sides of the deep creek hot springs, there are a few pools.

Because they are close to the highway, these best hot springs are free and popular with visitors. Clothing is optional here.

The water on the north side of McCredie is 106° F, so use caution when entering the pool.

24. Mystic Hot Springs, Utah

Mystic Hot Springs is located in northeastern Monroe, Utah, and was previously known as Monroe Hot Springs and Cooper Hot Springs. There are two large hot pools and five unique bath hot tubs, each set to a beautiful desert scene.

The spring water is 168 degrees Fahrenheit and contains calcium carbonate, magnesium, iron, and other minerals.

Mystic Hot Springs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What US state has the most hot springs?

With more than 300 hot springs, the state of Nevada accounts for the most number of hot springs in the country.

2. Where are the largest hot springs in the United States?

The largest hot spring, Grand Prismatic Spring, is located in Yellowstone National Park.

3. How long should you soak in hot springs?

You should stay in the water for around 10-15 minutes to avoid dehydration or burns.

Wrapping Up

The list of geothermal and mineral USA hot amazing springs stops here — all of them are incredible! They’re ideal for a road trip in the United States, a winter getaway in the mountains, or a relaxing soak after a long day.

Also read:

Best Waterfalls in Oregon

Last Updated on March 13, 2023 by jyoti